Wednesday, October 24, 2012

"Monkey's Paw" Questions, etc.

HW for this week:

Due Tuesday, Oct. 23
FD Movie Poster
Due Wednesday, Oct. 24
Go to blog for MP vocab.
Due Thursday, Oct. 25
MP Thought Q's (from board)
MP Story Q's (from blog)
Do Story Q's in JE #19/Left & Right.
Friday, Oct. 26
MP Vocab Test/Comprehension Test


"Monkey's Paw" TQ's (ones on the front board in class--JE #17/right)


The wording may be slightly different, but the questions are essentially the same.

1. Do you believe that fate, coincidence, or chance determined the outcome of events in the story? Why?

Explain your answer. 

2. In your life (or life in general), what do you believe determines the course of events? Is it:


  • fate
  • coincidence
  • chance
  • a combination of these?
  • other?
Why do you believe this?  Give examples to support your opinion.

*********************************************************************************************

"Monkey's Paw" Story Questions:

Do Story Q's in JE #19/Left & Right. Flippy in the Q's on the left; use the left and right side for your answers.
  • Click on this link to download and print the questions. The chart is a little different on the printout, but both ask for the same info.
          https://www.dropbox.com/s/sf2f09j46nu7lvq/MPstoryQ%27s.doc
  • If that doesn't work, copy and paste them into a word document and hope they come out ok.


1.   Why does the story start with the father and son playing chess? Does the father’s strategy at the chess game tell you anything about his personality? If so, what?



2.   Note any of the characters’ actions you feel are significant on the chart below. What conclusions can you draw about each of the characters from analyzing their actions? 

  Character
Important Actions
(List at least two)
 Conclusion you've drawn about the actions of this character
Mr. White





Mrs. White





Herbert White





Major Morris







3.   Sergeant Major Morris describes the monkey's paw in this way: "It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,…a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. ". What does Morris’ statement mean when you first read it? What does it mean after you have read the entire story? Is his comment significant? If so, why?


 4.   Why does Major Morris throw the monkey's paw onto the fire and why do the Whites react so strongly?


5. What happens to Herbert White?


 6.   What do you think happened at the end of the story? Why does Mr. White beg his wife not to let "it" into the house? What does he mean? What is he afraid of? Who or what was outside of the house?


 7.   What makes Jacobs' style of writing unique? Read the following passage and think about how he puts his words together to create a mood. Underline words or passages that seem important to you.


"…and a horrible fear that his wish would bring his mangled son before him ere he could escape from the room seized upon him , and he caught his breath as he found he had lost the direction of the door. His brow cold with sweat, he felt his way around the table, and groped along the wall until he found himself in the small passage with the unwholesome thing in his hand."



8.   How does Jacobs set the mood and/or tone of the story? How does he build suspense? Think about the way he uses silence as a way to create a mood. What does he describe at the end as the husband and wife lie in bed waiting for their wish to come true?



9. List three questions about the story that are still puzzling you. Think about: character's

    actions, motives, outdated expressions, details, etc. that don't make sense for you.

    List the questions here:





















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