"The Monkey's Paw"

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

At the end of this lesson, my students will be able to infer and analyze universal themes as well as analyze foreshadowing in short stories.

COMMON CORE STANDARDS

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.2

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.6

Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.3

Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.2

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Monkey's Paw is a supernatural short story written by W.W. Jacobs and published in England, in 1902. The plot revolves around a mystical monkey's paw brought into to the home of the White's Family by one of their friends, Sergeant-Major Morris, who spent twenty years in India.

Our story begins on a cold, rainy night when the family is relaxing next to the fireplace. Sergeant Morris decides to visit them, and begins to entertain them by sharing one of his exotic tales of his life abroad. He tells them about a mummified monkey's paw which has the ability to grant 3 wishes, but the wishes come with a high price for interfering with fate.

ANTICIPATION GUIDE

If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? Would you be willing to pay the consequences of your wishes? Describe in detail what would you wish for and why.

Money? ~ Ending world hunger ~ To live forever, etc.

Could there be a downside to any of these wishes?

Live forever? ~ Hmmmm... All of your friends will die...

A million dollars? ~ What if you got it in pennies?

READING: BDA STRATEGIES

(Before ~ During ~ After Reading)

Answer the following questions as we read the story:

1. What is the setting of the story?

2. Write all the descriptive details (IMAGERY) found in lines 1 -10.

3. Who are the main characters in "The Monkey's Paw"?

4. What is the mood of the story?

5. What spell was put on the monkey's paw by a Fakir? Why?

6. Is Sergeant Morris an untrustworthy character? Is he trying to make Mr. White want the cursed paw?

7. What does the main character want?

8. What is his first wish and its consequences?

9. What is his second wish and its consequences?

10. How does the story end?

11. Does the story end the way you expected?

STORY ELEMENTS.pdf

Graphic organizer to be used for questions 1-4.

The Monkey's Paw Plot Overview

The plot is the sequence of events in a story. The plot includes the following elements:

1. EXPOSITION or introduction. It is the beginning of the story where the characters, setting, background information and the conflict are introduced. (HINT: You learn about what the story is going to be all about. You also learn about the setting and the characters of the story) ~ See storyboard below.

2. CONFLICT: The conflict is the problem of the story. ~ See storyboard below.

3. RISING ACTION: This is part in which the story develops and complications arise. (HINT: This is getting good!) ~ See storyboard below.

4. CLIMAX: It is the most interesting and intense part of the story. (HINT: This is the OMGhosh part) ~ See storyboard below.

5. FALLING ACTION: This part comes after the climax and leads towards the end of the story. (HINT: It is falling towards the end) ~ See storyboard below.

6. RESOLUTION: The resolution is the end of the story where the conflict is resolved and loose ends are tied up. (HINT: Problem solved. THE END) ~ See storyboard below.

Storyboard created by Mrs. Farge

CRITICAL VOCABULARY

Common Core Standard

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

CLICK ON THE LINK: https://quizlet.com/240833703/the-monkeys-paw-critical-vocabulary-flash-cards/?new

VISUAL VOCABULARY

fakir

[fuh-keer, fey-ker]

noun: a Hindu or Muslim holy man

talisman

[tal-is-muh n]

noun: an object that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.

India

It is a country in South Asia. It shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, Bhutan to the northeast; Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

bog

noun: a swamp

antimacassar

[an-ti-muh-kas-er]

noun: a piece of cloth placed over the arms or back of a chair or sofa.

simian

[sim-ee-uh n]

adjective: ape or monkey-like

LITERARY DEVICES

"The Monkey's Paw focuses on the following literary devices:

1. mood

2. imagery

3. foreshadowing.

1. MOOD

If you have ever felt nervous or happy while reading a short story or a book, you have been affected by the story's mood.

Mood is the feeling or atmosphere the writer creates for us, the readers. There are as many moods as there are emotions. (e.g. mysterious, creepy, foreboding, scary, gloomy, cheerful, anxious, or lighthearted)

How do authors create mood?

Authors create mood through setting, imagery, and dialogue

NOTE # 1: e.g. is an abbreviation meaning 'for example'. It is short for the Latin 'exempli gratia')

(NOTE # 2: Dialogue = conversations between characters).

2. IMAGERY

They are descriptions that appeal to our senses. In other words, the author paints a picture with words (e.g. "...the night was cold and wet"; "...the fire burned brightly" ~ "The Monkey's Paw")

AUDITORY

VISUAL

TACTILE

OLFACTORY

GUSTATORY

3. FORESHADOWING

Foreshadowing is a literary device in which writers provide hints that suggest future events in a story. HINT: 'to point ahead'

What is its purpose?

Foreshadowing creates suspense and makes us, the readers, want to find out what will happen next.

4. SUSPENSE

Suspense is a feeling of growing tension and excitement. It makes us curious about the outcome of a story or event within a story.

VIDEO CLIPS

MOOD and TONE

IMAGERY

ELEMENTS OF SUSPENSE

THE MONKEY'S PAW (2011).mp4

"THE MONKEY'S PAW"

READING SELECTION:

"The Monkey's Paw"

The_Monkeys_Paw_from_book.pdf

Story from the book (PDF File)

THINK~PAIR~SHARE ACTIVITY

(Use the worksheet provided by Mrs. Farge or download the PDF file at the bottom of this section)

QUESTIONS

1. What do you think Herbert would have looked like if Mrs. White had opened the door in time? Do you think it was really an undead Herbert who was knocking?

2. What is the lesson or lessons we can learn from the story? What is the main theme of the story?

3. How would you change the ending of "The Monkey's Paw"? Write a new ending for the story.

THINK ~ PAIR ~ SHARE Worksheet (PDF)

THINK PS MY HANDOUT.pdf

READING COMPREHENSION

Guiding Questions (HMH ~ Collections ~ Resources)

“The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs

1. Lines 1–10: Which descriptive details help establish the setting?

2. Lines 3–7: Which details tell something about the father’s personality? How could this aspect of his personality affect the plot?

3. Lines 39–42: Explain how this description of Sergeant-Major Morris helps build suspense.

4. Lines 73–77: Which ideas in this passage suggest what the theme of this story might be? What might those ideas foreshadow in the story?

5. Lines 90–92: Explain what makes the foreshadowing in these lines effective.

6. Lines 110–116: Look for evidence in these lines of a universal theme related to interfering with fate. Which words warn of interfering with fate?

7. Lines 138–152: How does this passage contribute to the theme? How does the author provide a new twist to the universal theme through the White family?

8. Lines 176–182: Which words and phrases foreshadow something frightening? What effect does this word choice create?

9. Lines 214–225: Describe the behavior of the man outside. What might cause him to act that way? How does this foreshadowing propel the story’s action?

10. Lines 242–250: How do these lines of dialogue move the plot along?

11. Lines 271–281: How does the information from the man from Maw and Meggins support the theme of the story? In what way have the Whites interfered with fate?

12. Lines 330–340: In line 332, Mr. White calls the granting of the first wish “a coincidence.” Does he really believe this? Why does he say it?

13. Lines 344–353: What imagery is in these lines? What might it foreshadow? What effect does it create?

14. Lines 385–391: Based this dialogue between Mr. and Mrs. White, what lesson, if any, has each character learned?

EXPLORING THEME

The Dangers of Wishing

The Whites wish for more than what they actually needed. Even though they are a happy family, have a comfortable home, and plenty of love, the head of the household uses the monkey’s paw to wish for money that he doesn’t really need. The author suggest that making a simple wish could only intensify and magnify desire as each subsequent wish becomes more outlandish. Mrs. White jumps to the conclusion that the paw has unlimited power after receiving two hundred pounds for Herbert’s death. She also forces Mr. White to wish to bring Herbert back to life. Unchecked greed, therefore, only leads to unhappiness, no matter how much more one asks for. Intense desire also often leads to unfulfilled expectations or unintended consequences as with Herbert’s unexpected death and rise from the grave as a living corpse. The author pf the story is reminding us to be careful what we wish for because it may just come true.

The Consequences of Interfering with Fate

Mr. White, one of the main characters in the story, is determined to try to change something about his life, rather than being satisfied with all that he already has. According to Morris, the old fakir who bewitched the paw, “wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow.” The twisted irony of the paw is that it does, in fact, grant the wish; however, because magic interferes with the way things are supposed to be, the wishes are granted at a serious price.

The Danger of Taking Curiosity Too Far

Mr. White wants to test his luck by satisfying his own curiosity, but his curiosity leads to deadly consequences for Herbert and sadness for Mr. and Mrs. White. Do you think that some questions are best left to be wondered about, rather than pursued..?

SYMBOLISM

Symbolism is a literary device used to represent bigger ideas or messages. It is generally an object representing another, with the purpose of giving an entirely different and deeper meaning than its literal sense. Symbols could be characters, settings, images, or other motifs that signify ideas and qualities about life.

The Monkey’s Paw

The monkey’s paw represents greed and desire. This power makes the paw very alluring even to people that have everything they need. In the story, Mr. White takes the paw from the fire, even though he acknowledges that he wouldn’t know what to wish for if he owned it. Herbert also indicates that wishing for money is something the Whites don’t really need. The monkey's paw also grants Mr. White’s wishes by killing Herbert and raising his corpse from the grave .

The Cold Wind

What do you think it represents...? The wind could be foreshadowing a warning to the family because they are interfering with fate and might also symbolize bad luck. What are your thoughts?

Chess

What do you think it represents?

VIDEO CLIP: "The Monkey's Paw"

Be careful what you wish for...

CREATIVE WRITING PROJECT (100 Points)

"The Monkey's Paw" Three-Paragraph Alternate Ending

DUE DATE: Thursday, November 30, 2017.

Materials

You will need:

1 sheet of white paper and a sheet of lined paper

1 sheet of brown construction paper

1 sheet of black construction paper

1 sheet of red, orange or yellow construction paper

A pencil, a pen, color pencils, black and red markers

Glue stick

A pair of scissors

NOTE: At the end of “The Monkey’s Paw,” Jacobs leaves the reader hanging. What was Mr. White’s third wish? What ended up happening after the wish came true? Who did it affect, and what were the consequences, if any? How did the plot resolve?What happens to Herbert White? What do you think Herbert would have looked like if Mrs. White had opened the door in time? Do you think it was really an undead Herbert who was knocking? Is Mrs. White upset with her husband? Where did Sergeant Major Morris go? What will become of the talisman? You can answer all of these questions and more! Keep in mind that your use of tone and suspense will influence the mood of the story.

NEED EXTRA 25 POINTS...?

Illustrate and color your alternate ending of "The Monkey's Paw". Add a caption at the bottom of the page.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Prepare your woven paper mat to resemble a chessboard (See instructions below: Construction Paper Weaving)
Trace your hand on a sheet of brown construction paper. Elongate the fingers into a "monkey paw". Cut this shape out.
Draw vertical lines over the hand.
Cut the base of the wrist jagged and paint the jagged edges with a red and black marker.
Glue the talisman ("monkey's paw) to your woven paper mat.
On the white sheet of paper, print your last name, first name and period. Cut it and paste it on the upper right hand corner of the canvas. (Optional: Write a warning phrase to the reader (e.g. "Be careful what you wish for...") Set your canvas to the side.
On the white sheet of paper, write the title of the assignment ("The Monkey's Paw" Alternate Ending) and the first paragraph of your alternate and more conclusive ending to “The Monkey’s Paw.”
Paste your FIRST paragraph on the woven paper mat .
Use the sheet of lined paper to write your second and third paragraphs. When done, staple it to the back of your project.

BE CREATIVE

BRAINSTORMING OUTLINE MP.pdf

Alternate Ending Requirements:

1. Start from the climax of "The Monkey's Paw" (Someone was knocking on the door). "...The knocking ceased suddenly, although the echoes of it were still in the house. He heard the chair drawn back, and the door opened."

Yes! The door opened, but it opened to an empty street. Your task is to reimagine the ending of the story from the moment the door opens.

Your ending must match the tone and mood of the original story. (Use the outline provided at the end of this section to help you brainstorm three possible endings. Pick one. Be creative.)

2. Include 2 characters (You will have to make a decision – Do you want to include the mother and Herbert? Or the father and Herbert? Or Herbert and someone else? Stick close to the story…)

3. You must include dialogue (when characters are talking in a story) ~ You need to include a minimum of 5 lines of dialogue.

NOTE: Please check your spelling, grammar and punctuation before submitting this assignment.

RUBRIC FOR THE "MONKEY'S PAW" ALTERNATIVE ENDING

RUBRIC ALTERNATE ENDING.pdf

POWTOONALTERNATE PDF-copy.pdf

SAMPLE

MY ALTERNATIVE ENDING TO.pdf

INSTRUCTIONS: Construction Paper Weaving

PERFORMANCE TASK

(Research Report)

(Writing across the curriculum: Social Studies)

Your task is to write a short research report about the history of British India.

Your report must include the following information:

1. An explanation on how Britain came to rule India.

2. What years did England rule India? How long did the British rule in India?

3. What was the role of the East India Company?

4. What was the attitude of the British towards Indians and vice versa?

Image description: The Surrender of Tipu Sultan - East India Company

General Lord Cornwallis, receiving two of Tipu Sultan's sons as hostages in the year 1793. Oil on canvas.

(Source: Wikipedia ~ Public Domain ~ National Army Museum)

VIDEO CLIP: INDIA

BRITISH RULE and INDEPENDENCE

VIDEO CLIP: INDIA

18th CENTURY AND THE START OF THE BRITISH RULE ON THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

EXTRA CREDIT

India's Fact Sheet (Writing across the curriculum: Social Studies)

Be ready to present your project to the class.

(See Mrs. Farge for more details)

Download the Cool Country Report here:

Cool+Country+Reports.pdf

http://slideplayer.com/slide/4116611/

americanliterature.com/the-monkeys-paw-study-guide

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