The Monkeys Paw Introduction

What is “The Monkey's Paw” about?

• a retired sergeant major who brings a magical monkey's paw home from India

• an unsuspecting son who dies as a result of his mother's greed

• a monkey's paw that grants three wishes to three different people

• a magical but evil monkey's paw that ruins the quiet life of a family

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Why is Mr. White afraid to wish a second time?

• He does not believe the paw can grant wishes.

• He is so grief-stricken that he forgets the paw.

• He realizes his wishes can have bad consequences.

• He has become angry since Herbert's death.

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In the resolution of “The Monkey's Paw,” what most likely happened to Herbert?

• He is killed in an accident.

• He returns to the grave.

• He mocks the monkey's paw.

• He beats his father at chess.

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In “The Monkey's Paw,” which line spoken by Mr. White hints that the wishes can only change his life for the worse?

• “And what is there special about it?”

• “It seems to me I've got all I want.”

• “There's no harm done, but it gave me a shock all the same.”

• “The things happened so naturally ….”

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In Part I, Herbert White says about Sergeant Morris,

“If the tale about the monkey’s paw is not more truthful than those he has been telling us,” said Herbert, as the door closed behind their guest, just in time to catch the last train, “we shan’t make much out of it.”

What does he mean by this, and what attitude is conveyed by his words?

• He is eager to use the monkey’s paw to wish for 200 pounds to pay off the house.

• He is afraid of the magical powers of the monkey’s paw and wishes Sergeant Morris would have taken it with him.

• He doesn’t believe the story of the monkey’s paw and convinced it will not work.

• He doesn’t understand why someone would use a monkey’s paw to make wishes in the first place.

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Which of the following is the most accurate and detailed summary of W.W. Jacob’s short story The Monkey’s Paw? Read each answer choice carefully.

• A man presents a family with a supposedly magical trinket. The family then makes a series of wishes on the trinket, each of which yields strangely coincidental and unfortunate side-effects.

• A military man presents a family with a magically enchanted monkey’s paw. He warns the family of potentially harmful side-effects caused by wishing on the paw. The family makes wishes anyway, each of which yields a more unfortunate and horrifying side-effect than the last.

• A monkey’s paw is delivered to a family. It causes tremendous trouble for everyone.

• The White family is gifted a magical monkey’s paw by an acquaintance. The gift is so ridiculous that the family gives it back to the original owner after making a series of wishes. The side effects of the wishes cause the family to wish they had never made the wishes in the first place.

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Which piece of textual evidence from the beginning of the story foreshadows the end?

• "What was that you started telling me the other day about a monkey's paw or something, Morris?"

• "If you don't want it, Morris," said the other, "give it to me."

• "I threw it on the fire. If you keep it, don't blame me for what happens. Pitch it on the fire again like a sensible man."

• "I wish for two hundred pounds," said the old man distinctly…

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Which event represents the primary conflict of "The Monkey's Paw"?

• Sergeant Major Morris advises Mr. White to throw the paw into the fire.

• The man from Maw and Meggins delivers bad news of their son's death to the Whites.

• Mr. White hears knocking on the door after the second wish and he is terrified.

• Mr. and Mrs. White disagree on whether or not to open the door.

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"There was another knock, and another. The old woman with a sudden wrench broke free and ran from the room...But her husband was on his hands and knees groping wildly on the floor in search of the paw. If only he could find it before the thing outside got in." This scene is an example of-

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

• Exposition

• Climax

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Why did Sergeant Major Morris decide to not sell the Monkey’s paw?

• He thinks no one would buy it

• He wanted to give it as a present

• He is saving it for his kids

• He feels it has caused enough trouble

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