"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs

Plot Diagram

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Characters

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Literary Conflict

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Themes & Symbols

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Consequences of a Wish

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Visual Vocabulary

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Essential Questions for "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs

1. Is life controlled by fate or free will?
2. Why is it important to be satisfied with what we have?
3. How can curiosity be dangerous?
4. Why are people drawn to the unknown and magical possibilities?
5. Why is it important to think about consequences before taking an action?

Fate in Other Cultures

Have students research some of the different ways fate/destiny has been depicted in other cultures, and the role fate plays in their folklore, religious observances, and daily life.

Fate is a concept that has been revered and feared in other cultures across the world. It has many different names:

• The Fates: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos (Greeks)
• Fortuna (Romans)
• Fortuna and her Rota Fortunae (wheel of fortune) (Medieval Europe)
• The Norns (Norse mythology)
• Yuanfen (China)
• Good Luck (Modern Western ideology)

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Ideas for Post-Reading Activities

Storyboard That is an excellent tool for students to create fun and engaging projects as a culminating activity after finishing a novel. In addition to our premade activities, here are some ideas that teachers can customize and assign to students to spark creativity in individual students, pairs, or small groups for a final project. Several of these ideas include Storyboard That templates that can be printed out or copied into your teacher dashboard and assigned digitally. All final projects can be printed out, presented as a slide show, or, for an extra challenge, as an animated GIF!

1. "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs is filled with many interesting literary devices for students to explore. One element that is used so well is in this compelling and eerie short story is irony. Students can storyboard the examples of irony they come across in the text! To learn more about how to teach irony in the classroom, see our article: The Three Types of Irony which includes an example storyboard pertaining to "The Monkey's Paw".


2. For Groups: Choose a scene from the story and write a short play to reenact to the class. Use the traditional storyboard layout to plan out your scenes. You can add text to your storyboards, or simply use the cells to visualize each scene of your play.


3. Using the timeline layout, retell the story in chronological order. Our timeline layout gives you the options to include year, month, day, and even hour! You may also choose to omit these altogether.


4. Choose a setting from the story and create a map of the setting using the small poster or worksheet layout. Use free form or other text boxes to include a key or label the different parts of the map.


5. Using one of Storyboard That’s board game templates, create a game based on the book for your classmates to play!


6. For Groups: Divide the chapters of the book amongst your group members. Each member of the group creates a storyboard for their assigned chapter. This can be done as a collaborative project, or separately for longer novels.


7. Using the worksheet layout and Storyboard That’s worksheet assets, create a test or a quiz for other students in the class. You can create all kinds of questions such as multiple choice, short answer, and even matching! When you are done, be sure to make an answer key.


8. Using one of Storyboard That’s biography poster templates, create a poster about the character of your choice. Be sure to include important biographical features such as: place and date of birth, family life, accomplishments, etc.


9. Choose a chapter from the novel and create a storyboard that shows that chapter from another character’s point of view. For an extra challenge, use the T-chart layout to compare the original point of view with another character’s point of view!


10. Create a book jacket of the novel using one of Storyboard That’s book jacket templates. Use Storyboard That art to create the cover, and write a summary of the story on the back, just like real books have!


11. Using one of Storyboard That’s social media templates as a starting point, create a social media page for one or more of the characters in the novel. Be sure to think how the character thinks while creating this page.


12. Create a scrapbook page made by one of the characters in the novel. Storyboard That has lots of premade templates that you can use as is, or change to fit your character’s personality! Check out our scrapbook templates today!

Frequently Asked Questions about

What is the main theme of 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs?

The main theme of 'The Monkey's Paw' is the danger of interfering with fate and the unintended consequences of wish fulfillment. The story warns readers to be careful what they wish for, as fate often restores balance at a high price.

How can I use 'The Monkey's Paw' in a quick classroom activity?

You can use 'The Monkey's Paw' for a quick classroom activity by having students storyboard an example of irony from the story, or discuss the consequences of wishes in small groups. These activities encourage critical thinking and engagement with the text.

What are some creative post-reading projects for 'The Monkey's Paw'?

Creative post-reading projects include making a storyboard of key scenes, reenacting a short play, designing a board game based on the story, or creating a character biography poster. These projects help students explore literary devices and deepen understanding.

Why is curiosity considered dangerous in 'The Monkey's Paw'?

Curiosity is dangerous in 'The Monkey's Paw' because it drives characters to make wishes without considering the consequences, leading to tragic outcomes. The story illustrates that unchecked curiosity can disrupt fate and result in loss or regret.

How is fate portrayed in different cultures compared to 'The Monkey's Paw'?

Fate is depicted differently across cultures, such as the Greek Fates, Norse Norns, and Roman Fortuna. 'The Monkey's Paw' presents fate as a powerful force that punishes attempts to change destiny, similar to many global myths and legends.