Week of January 10 – 14, 2011
Story: "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs
"Anchor Text"
Author:
Subject:
Text Type:
Reader's Age:
Grade Levels:
Reading Level:
Jacobs, W. W.
Fate
Short Story
12 to 13
7 to 8
7.0
Word Count:
3,812
DAY 1 or Lesson 1
 There are some words in the story that you may be unfamiliar with. For #1 – 5, read the sentence, part of
speech and guess, deduce what the definition maybe. For # 6 – 10, the definition & part of speech is given
to you. Write a sentence using the word.
 When you are done, place the vocabulary words in the vocabulary section of your 3 ring binder.
 (See Worksheet)
Vocabulary:
1. Apathy: Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal;
indifference
2. Avaricious : adj : greedy
3. Averted : To turn away
4. Credulity : A disposition to believe too readily
5. Frivolous - Unworthy of serious attention; trivial
6. Inaudible : That is unheard or that cannot be heard
7. Maligned - To make evil, harmful, and often untrue statements about; speak evil of
8. Placid: adj : calm, peaceful, tranquil
9. prosaic : Lacking in imagination and spirit; dull
10. presumptuous : Going beyond what is right or proper; excessively forward
11. talisman : An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural powers or
protection
DAY 2 or Lesson 2
 Literary Element: Point Of View
 Also: character, setting, plot, theme, suspense
 Jacobs’ uses foreshadowing in the short story to create a feeling of suspense. Suspense is also created in
the short story through the use of repetition. The reader understands that after the first wish is granted
that there will be two more wishes that will also come true.
DAY 3 or Lesson 3
 We will read and discuss this classic horror story that gives three wishes that go wrong.
 This story came in a close second place for favorite story in 2006-2007.
 While reading this story, the student will begin to make meaningful predictions based on illustrations or
portions of the text.
DAY 4 or Lesson 4
DAY 5 or Lesson 5
 QUIZ TODAY
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Teacher Notes
Title: "The Monkey's Paw"
Author: W.W. Jacobs
Point of View: third-person narrative
Setting:
Time: Written in 1901
Place: House
Mood: Horror
Conflict: Man vs. Man (Rainsford vs. Zaroff), Man vs. Nature (Rainsford vs. quicksand/ocean)
Theme: What do you think W. W. Jacob’s is trying to relate to the reader about fate? It is that it should bring you
all you want, but it only brings misery.
Characters:
1. Name: Mr White (Father)
 Personality description:
 Physical description:
2. Name: Mrs White
 Personality description:
 Physical description:
3. Name: Herbert White
 Personality description:
 Physical description:
4. Name: Major Morris
 Personality description:
 Physical description:
Literary Terms and Techniques
Plot Details:

Exposition –

Rising action –

Climax –

Falling action –

Resolution –
Alliteration –
Flashback –
Foreshadowing – Instances of foreshadowing occur in “The Monkey’s Paw” when the sergeant is reluctant to speak
of the monkey’s paw, and when he says the last man to handle the paw had wished for his own death.
Imagery –
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Irony –There are many instances of verbal irony in “The Monkey’s Paw”



When Herbert says “Well, I don’t see the money and I bet I never shall” (page 33) his statement
becomes verbally ironic because he actually does not get to see the money, though his
comment at the time is meant only as a statement of disbelief over the supernatural powers in
the monkey’s paw.
There are many instances of verbal irony in “The Monkey’s Paw”
When Herbert says “Well, I don’t see the money and I bet I never shall” (page 33) his statement
becomes verbally ironic because he actually does not get to see the money, though his
comment at the time is meant only as a statement of disbelief over the supernatural powers in
the monkey’s paw.
Metaphor –
Personification –
Simile –
Symbolism –
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Name _________________________________
"The Monkey's Paw"
Date _________________________________
Vocabulary: English 7
Directions: There are some words in the story that you may be unfamiliar with. For some of the sentences I have
given you the part of speech and definition. For the others I have given you the part of speech and a sentence.
Your job is to fill in the missing blank given the information.
When you are done, place the vocabulary words in the vocabulary section of your 3 ring binder.
Part of
Speech
Apathy
Definition
Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general
Sentence
adjective
Avaricious
greedy
Verb
Averted
Credulity
To Turn Away
A disposition to believe too readily
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Frivolous
Unworthy of serious attention; trivial
Inaudible
That is unheard or that cannot be heard
Maligned
Placid
prosaic
To make evil, harmful, and often untrue statements about; speak evil of
calm, peaceful, tranquil
Lacking in imagination and spirit; dull
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presumptuous
talisman
Going beyond what is right or proper; excessively forward
An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural
powers or protection
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Name: ______________________________________________ Date: ___________
Literary Analysis Skill Builder
Conflict
Most stories are built around a central conflict, or struggle between people, or between people and nature, an
obstacle, or society. Sometimes the struggle may go on inside a character.
 An external conflict involves a character pitted against an outside force.
 An internal conflict occurs when the struggle takes place within a character’s own mind.
List instances of each kind of conflict in the story. Then answer the questions.
Internal Conflict
Mr. White
Mrs. White
External Conflict
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Obstacle
Follow Up: On the back of this paper answer the following questions
 Which conflicts added the most excitement to the story?
 Which revealed something important about one of the characters? Explain.
 Why do you think Connell included the other conflicts that you identified?
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RECIPROCAL TEACHING STRATEGIES WORKSHEET (non-fiction)
Predict.
I think I will learn that ___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
because ______________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
List Main Ideas. As you finish reading each paragraph or key section of the passage, summarize the main idea of
that paragraph or section in one or two complete sentences. Then Generate Questions. For each main idea listed,
write down at least one question that the main idea will answer. Good questions should include words like “who,
“where”, “when”, “why”, and “what”.
Main Idea 1: ___________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Question 1. ____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Main Idea 2: ___________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Question 2. ____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Main Idea 3: ___________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Question 3. ____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
CLARIFY
1. __________________________ is a difficult word because ___________________________________________.
So I (check the strategies that you used) __ checked parts of the word that I know, __ sounded out the word,
__thought of a word that looks like this, __ read on to find clues, __ reread to find clues, __tried another word.
2. _______________________________________________________________ is a confusing idea or part because
_____________________________________________________________________________________________.
So I (check the strategies that you used) __reread, __read on, __thought about what I know, __ talked to a friend.
Summarize.
Here is a one to three sentence summary: ____________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
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Name _______________________________________ “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
Date ___________________
Friday - Quiz
Selection Test
Critical Reading
In the blank, write the letter of the one best answer.
____ 1. What is “The Monkey’s Paw” about?
a. a retired sergeant major who brings a magical monkey’s paw from India
b. an unsuspecting son who dies as a result of his mother’s greed
c. a monkey’s paw that grants three wishes to three different people
d. a magical but evil monkey’s paw that ruins the quiet life of a family
____ 2. Which of the following phrases from “The Monkey’s Paw” best describes the Whites’ lives
before the first wish is granted?
a. “wild scenes and doughty deeds”
b. “an air of prosaic wholesomeness”
c. “steeped in shadow and silence”
d. “the hopeless resignation of the old”
____ 3. In “The Monkey’s Paw,” which of the following lines spoken by Mr. White hints that the wishes
can only change his life for the worse?
a. “And what is there special about it?”
b. “It seems to me I’ve got all I want.”
c. “. . . there’s no harm done, but it gave me a shock all the same.”
d. “. . . the things happened so naturally. . . .”
____ 4. Which of the following lines from “The Monkey’s Paw” is an example of foreshadowing?
a. “When he went away he was a slip of a youth in the warehouse.”
b. “I should like to see those old temples and fakirs and jugglers. . . .”
c. “[The monkey’s paw] has caused enough mischief already.”
d. “Did you give him anything for it, Father?”
____ 5. Which of the following lines from “The Monkey’s Paw” foreshadows what happens to Herbert?
a. “. . . I don’t see the money . . . and I bet I never shall.”
b. “Why, we’re going to be rich, and famous and happy.”
c. “If you only cleared the house, you’d be quite happy. . . .”
d. “I expect you’ll find the cash tied up in a big bag. . . .”
____ 6. In “The Monkey’s Paw,” when a stranger comes to the Whites’ door, Mrs. White thinks at first
he has come to
a. announce Herbert’s death.
b. give Mr. White 200 pounds.
c. ask them for the monkey’s paw.
d. present a bill from the tailor.
____ 7. In “The Monkey’s Paw,” Herbert is “. . . caught in the machinery. . . .” In this context, machinery
may also indicate the effects of ______.
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a. destiny
b. carelessness
c. everyday life
d. industrialization
Unit 1: On the Edge
____ 8. In “The Monkey’s Paw,” when Maw and Meggins offers Mr. White compensation, he
faints because he
a. is overcome with grief by Herbert’s death.
b. knows he should have wished for something else.
c. realizes he sold his son for 200 pounds.
d. cannot bear the anguished cries of his wife.
____ 9. In “The Monkey’s Paw,” why is Mr. White afraid to wish a second time?
a. He does not believe the paw can grant wishes.
b. He is so grief stricken that he forgets the paw.
c. He has become apathetic since Herbert’s death.
d. He realizes his wishes can have only bad consequences.
____ 10. At the end of “The Monkey’s Paw,” what does Mrs. White realize just after she opens the front
door?
a. Her husband has made the third wish.
b. The monkey’s paw killed her son.
c. She no longer wants her son to return.
d. The knocking sound is not Herbert.
____ 11. A central idea of “The Bridegroom” is that
a. parents often fail to understand their children.
b. matchmakers do not know what real love is.
c. dreams sometimes reveal what the future holds.
d. charming exteriors can hide awful truths.
____ 12. Why does Natasha fear the bridegroom?
a. He plans to punish her for spying on him.
b. He is a wealthy lord who bows to no one.
c. She saw what he did to the other woman.
d. He threatened her when she was in the hut.
____ 13. In “The Bridegroom,” what is the most likely reason that Natasha chooses at the wedding feast
to tell her story as if she dreamt it?
a. to avoid revealing that she had been in the hut
b. to make her fears seem real until she can prove them
c. to make the guests believe that she is a prophetess
d. to warn the bridegroom that she knows his true intentions
____ 14. In “The Bridegroom,” Pushkin draws upon themes from
a. supernatural events.
b. folklore.
c. social reform.
d. upper-class customs.
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____ 15. Which of the following details in “The Bridegroom” foreshadows the groom’s fate?
a. Natasha’s disappearance
b. Natasha’s first reaction to the handsome young man
c. the matchmaker’s unexpected visit
d. Natasha’s request to invite the law
Vocabulary and Grammar
____ 16. Which of the following sentences contains a pronoun that does not agree with its antecedent?
a. Mr. White tried, unsuccessfully, to distract his son during a chess game.
b. The visitor brought bad news to the Whites; he told him that their son was dead.
c. Mr. White could not have known the results of his first wish.
d. Sergeant Morris took the monkey paw and threw it upon the fire.
____ 17. Which of the following words or phrases is closest in meaning to the word maligned?
a. praised
b. lingered
c. flattered
d. slandered
____ 18. Which of the following words is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word tumult?
a. order
b. commotion
c. chaos
d. tremor
____ 19. Though upset by ________ betrothal to the groom, Natasha devised a plan that would bring
the young man to justice.
a. his
b. its
c. her
d. their
____ 20. What is the antecedent of the word them in the following sentence?
After she calmed down, Natasha asked her parents to prepare a feast for the guests and told them to
invite the law.
a. Natasha c. guests
b. parents d. law
Essay Questions
21. In “The Monkey’s Paw,” many hints foreshadow future events. In an essay, identify two examples of
foreshadowing from the selection, and explain in detail the specific future events they suggest.
22. What might have happened to Natasha had she married the handsome bridegroom? In an essay,
explain your prediction and identify evidence in Pushkin’s ballad that helped you to make it.
23. “The Monkey’s Paw” comes to a disturbing end. What does the father understand that the mother
does not? How would the ending be different had Mrs. White opened the door before Mr. White made
his third wish? Why were you surprised or not surprised by the story’s conclusion? Answer these
questions in an essay, and support your main points with details from the story.
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