Plot, conflict and suspense overview
What is Tom’s big idea (what
does he have written on his
yellow sheet)?
On the yellow sheet, Tom has
written an idea for a new grocerystore display method.
Why does Tom open the
window a few inches?
Tom opens the window because
it is hot in his apartment.
How does the paper fly out
the window?
A current of warm air caused by air
from the hall rushing through an
open door pushes the paper
against and out the window.
What is Tom’s reason for not
going to the movies with his
wife?
He says he has to work.
Why is the grocery store
display idea so important to
Tom?
Tom thinks the idea will earn him a
promotion and raise.
Why does Tom decide to go
out on the ledge?
He doesn’t want to lose the paper
that has all his important ideas on
it.
When Tom is out on the
ledge, how does the author
create suspense?
The author uses descriptive
phrases and slow pacing, and
shows us Tom’s thoughts to build
suspense.
Name one conflict in this
story.
Possible answers:
Tom vs. himself – whether to work
or go to the movies
Tom vs. himself – enough courage
to retrieve the paper
Tom vs. himself – more important
to work or spend time with wife?
When Tom is on the ledge,
why does he get scared?
He looks down onto traffic and
realizes how high he is and how
possible death is.
When Tom retrieves the piece of
paper, where does he put it?
Tom puts the yellow piece of
paper in his mouth after he
retrieves it.
When Tom gets back to the
window, why is it jammed shut?
In Tom’s panic to get back to the
window sill, he accidentally
knocked it shut.
How does Tom try to get
inside the closed window?
He bangs a fist on it, throws a
half dollar at it, hits it with his
shoe, drops coins hoping to get
people to notice him and lights
paper on fire as a flare.
Why won’t Clare be able to
help Tom when she gets
home?
Clare is not strong enough to
open the window by herself.
When Tom finally thinks
about Clare, how much time
has passed?
Eight minutes.
What will happen to Tom if he
stays on the ledge for four hours
and waits for Clare to get home?
Tom’s arms and legs will give
out and he will fall to his death.
Where does the title of the
story come from?
Tom realizes that if he falls to his
death, no one will be able to
identify him because the only thing
he has in his pocket is his grocery
idea. The contents of his pocket
seemed important before, but are
less so now.
What do the contents of
Tom’s pockets symbolize?
The yellow paper symbolizes a
wasted life. Tom spent more
time worrying about his idea
than spending time with his
wife.
What is Tom and Clare’s
relationship like?
Tom cares more about work
than spending time with Clare.
The relationship is a bit
strained.
How does Tom feel when he
realizes he might die?
Tom is regretful that he cared so
much about work.
How does Tom get in the
apartment? Why is that a risky
thing to do?
Tom punches his way through. It is
risky because if the glass didn’t
break, the impact of the punch
would have sent Tom backwards to
his death.
What is the climax of the
story?
The climax occurs when Tom
punches his way through the
window into the apartment.
What ultimately happens to
the yellow piece of paper?
The paper flies back out the
window as Tom leaves to meet
his wife at the movies.
How is Tom’s conflict with
himself resolved?
Tom no longer cares about the
sheet of paper and thinks time
with his wife is more important
than his career.
Where does irony occur in
this story?
Irony occurs because we expect
that now that Tom is safe and has
the paper back in the room, that
the paper will stay in the room. But
the opposite happens, and the
paper flies out the window again.