the monkey's paw close reading assignment figurative language answers

• International
• Schools directory
• Resources Jobs Schools directory News Search

"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs Close Reading Analysis Questions

Subject: English

Age range: 14 - 18

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

24 July 2023

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

Engage middle and high school students with a classic example of horror and supernatural fiction, “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs, and use this set of rigorous questions to promote close reading analysis skills. A variety of question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, examining how word choices influence a reader’s interpretations, applying knowledge of literary devices, and articulating ideas in writing with clarity and precision. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Analyze the author’s word choices to gain deeper insight into setting and characterization
• Explore the role of setting in terms of developing characterization
• Make logical inferences about characters based on their actions
• Find deeper meaning in a given allusion
• Discern the tone of a character’s dialogue
• Explore how complex characters think and interact
• Determine the function of a given detail
• Examine details that represent a shift in tone
• Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
• Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony and euphemism
• Analyze how Mr. and Mrs. White’s marriage is affected by grief
• Identify specific details that contribute to the vampiric characterization of Mrs. White
• Defend claims and support ideas with relevant textual details
• Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 33%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs Quiz and Close Reading Bundle

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering W. W. Jacobs' short story "The Monkey's Paw." Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading questions, a craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, a word search, a crossword puzzle, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: * Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly * Discern the intended effects of the author's word choices * Explore the role of setting in terms of developing characterization * Examine how the tone of the narrative shifts as the plot develops * Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop * Analyze how Mr. and Mrs. White's marriage is affected by grief * Identify specific details that contribute to the vampiric characterization of Mrs. White * Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, situational irony, and euphemism * Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence * Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

This resource hasn't been reviewed yet

To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:

7 Super Strategies for Teaching “The Monkey’s Paw”

Aug 29, 2023

Do you need a spooky story to teach during the Halloween season, your short story unit, or at the end of the year when you are just DONE with your upper middle and younger high school students? Check out “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs ! This short story tells the tale of a couple who experiences the untimely death of a loved one and uses three wishes to ask for what they think they want. The end is quite unexpected…and horrifying!

Keep reading for 7 Super Strategies for Teaching “The Monkey’s Paw!”

Need help with teaching what reading strategies will work while using Test Prep? Check out this  FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities  to help students achieve success on standardized tests!

Table of Contents

1. Focus on the Setting

The setting plays a significant role in the story from start to finish. So choosing to focus on the setting is a good place to begin teaching “The Monkey’s Paw!”

Setting is the description of the time and place.  Let’s look at the very beginning of this story:

Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.

You could start your students off by reading this paragraph, underlining words that connect to the setting, and examining the effect of the words!

Here are some examples to start off your students’ analyses:

• Ex. “night was cold and wet” – Typically, this language evokes sadness, horror, or loneliness; the family, however, is playing games and having an enjoyable time.
• Ex. “small parlour” – This location depicts a normal, comfortable, familial setting.
• Ex. “fire burned brightly”-These words have more positive connotations with brightness and light.

Need more help with teaching short stories? Check out this post below for teaching elements of short stories!

2. Focus on Characterization

In the process of teaching characterization, you may want to follow these steps:

•  Explain the concept of character traits. Every person has external (physical) and internal (emotional, mental, spiritual) traits. If you have students identify their own external and internal traits first , the process of teaching types of characterization will be MUCH easier!
• Define direct and indirect characterization. Direct characterization refers to what is directly said in the narration/description concerning the character. Indirect characterization uses actions, words, and events in order to characterize the character(s). After explaining these concepts, connect back to the students’ own traits. What is directly said about them by family, friends, teachers, coaches, etc.? What traits are revealed through your students’ actions, words, and events?
• While students are reading, you could guide them in analyzing characterization throughout the beginning, middle, and end of “The Monkey’s Paw.” They could choose to analyze the traits of one or both of the parents!

Want help with teaching character traits for “The Monkey’s Paw?” Click the image below!

3. Focus on the Plot

Identifying plot elements might seem super basic, but for older stories with higher-level language, this process is super helpful. Sometimes, there is no absolutely right or wrong answer for each element; as long as students have evidence and explain their responses, that is the ultimate goal!

Terms to Introduce and/ or Review:

Exposition:  the introduction to the characters, setting, and conflict; helps to set the stage for the reader

Rising Action:  action that takes place after the exposition and leads up to the climax; develops the characters and builds suspense

Climax:  the most important part of the story; the highest point of action that causes a change in some way

Falling Action:  action that takes place after the climax; leads to the resolution

Check out this plot elements pack to make teaching the plot for the short story “The Monkey’s Paw” much easier!

4. Focus on Imagery

Imagery is defined as language that connects to the five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.

Too often, students only notice descriptions related to sight, but imagery can be so much more! Because our culture is inundated with images, we need our students to see the varying purposes of imagery.

Here are the last paragraph and imagery analysis ideas from Part 1 of “The Monkey’s Paw:”

He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it. The last was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement. It got so vivid that, with a little uneasy laugh, he felt on the table for a glass containing a little water to throw over it. His hand grasped the monkey’s paw, and with a little shiver he wiped his hand on his coat and went up to bed.

Touch: Ex. “ His hand grasped the monkey’s paw, and with a little shiver he wiped his hand on his coat and went up to bed.” This description highlights this character’s fear associated with the monkey’s paw and foreshadows impending events.

Sight: Ex. “ He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it.”  As the character sees “faces” in the dying fire, the reader should understand that there will be a death coming soon with this description of upcoming doom.

Click below to get print and teach activities for “The Monkey’s Paw!”

5. Focus on the Mood

Mood is the emotion brought about by the description and events in the story. What is tough about this concept is the vocabulary students need to identify the mood. We don’t want to see “bad,” “good,” or “neutral” in their responses.

We want students to get specific. Let’s take a look at this excerpt from Part 2 of “The Monkey’s Paw.”

In the brightness of the wintry sun next morning as it streamed over the breakfast table he laughed at his fears. There was an air of prosaic wholesomeness about the room which it had lacked on the previous night, and the dirty, shriveled little paw was pitched on the side-board with a carelessness which betokened no great belief in its virtues.

Clearly, the author is trying to throw off or disarm the reader by providing a sense of relief or lightheartedness after the end of Part 1. So we see a shift in mood from one of fear to ease. Of course, the author uses this shift to illustrate how people can change perspectives from the darkness of night to the brightness of morning.

An easy activity for your students might be to offer them 3 excerpts to analyze. They can identify the mood, use evidence to support their ideas, and explain why the author incorporated each mood!

6. Focus on the Diction

Diction is simply word choice, but we really want students to get specific as they use the word diction. I like connecting the diction to a tone word. Otherwise, you will have students saying that “The author uses diction…” Um yeah, so the author is using words. Thank you!

We could use the following examples based on the word choice near the end of the story:

Ex. heartbreaking diction, horrified diction, mortifying diction

She broke off as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned on her and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the others averted face. She caught her breath, and turning to her slower-witted husband, laid her trembling hand on his. There was a long silence.

“He was caught in the machinery,” said the visitor at length in a low voice.

There are so many words that contribute to the tone/diction: “sinister,” “awful,” “fears,” “trembling,” “silence,” “caught,” and “low.”

After students notice the tone is positive or negative, help them to get a bit more specific! Specificity is key to analyzing tone and diction!

7. Focus on Literary Devices

After defining the following concepts, you could encourage students to find evidence for each literary device in the story! Remember, you don’t have to have students analyze EVERY literary device; pick and choose 2 or 3 concepts to teach!

Here are some literary devices and/or elements you could focus on as you guide your students through this story:

Foreshadowing- events, dialogue, or descriptions that offer hints to later happenings in the story/text

Symbolism- images, objects, or even people that represent an idea

Irony- outcomes with unexpected/opposite results

Why should you teach “The Monkey’s Paw?”

• Students are engaged almost immediately with the introduction of the monkey’s paw!
• The language, although difficult at times, will challenge ALL of your students in some way.
• There are so many strategies and concepts you can focus on as you teach this story!
• You could thematically link this story to other short stories that have a twist or surprise ending.

Check out the BUNDLE below for EASY-TO-TEACH lessons and activities for “The Monkey’s Paw!!”

Want more ideas, lessons, or activities for teaching The Monkey’s Paw ? Check out my store  Kristin Menke-Integrated ELA Test Prep !

Hi, I’m KRISTIN!

I primarily focus on  integrating multiple disciplines and subjects. The goal is to make teaching simplified and effective!

Let's Connect

• Follow Follow

Click below to download “13 Simple Strategies to make test prep a breeze!”

The Monkey's Paw

46 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Introduction

Before Reading

Reading Context

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

After Reading

Discussion/Analysis Prompt

Essay Questions

Exam Questions

Exam Answer Key

Reading Check

1. Playing chess (Paragraph 1)

2. India (Paragraph 16)

3. 200 pounds (Paragraph 57)

4. He is killed in an accident. (Paragraphs 84, 87)

5. To bring Herbert back to life (Paragraph 126)

Get access to this full Teaching Guide and much more!

• 7,400+ In-Depth Study Guides
• 4,900+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
• Downloadable PDFs

Short Answer

1. Sergeant-Major Morris tries to burn the monkey’s paw because he thinks it will cause more harm than good, and he is trying to warn his friend about the danger. (Paragraph 42)

2. The man from Maw and Meggins visits the Whites to break the news of their son’s accident and give them a payment of 200 pounds. (Paragraph 95)

3. Mr. White is reluctant to wish his son back to life again. (Paragraph 124)

4. Mrs. White accuses Mr. White of being afraid of his own son because Mr. White tells her not to open the door and let “it” inside. (Paragraph 139)

5. The monkey’s paw only allowed three separate men to have three wishes, and Mr. White was the third. No one else would be allowed to wish on the monkey’s paw after him. (Paragraph 26)

Don't Miss Out!

Access Teaching Guide Now

Featured Collections

View Collection

Mortality & Death

The Monkey’s Paw

W. w. jacobs, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

The Monkey’s Paw Digital Close Read (Digital and Traditional Print)

$ 10.00 $ 7.00

Engage your students in digital close reading and literary analysis! This digital close reading activity for “The Monkey’s Paw” is aligned with the common core state standards (reading literature and writing) and requires students to go back to selected passages from the text to read and closely analyze specific literary elements: figurative language, mood, and foreshadowing.

With an emphasis placed on close reading, students will gain a better understanding of W. W. Jacobs’ short story, as well as increase their understanding of conflict, suspense, and theme. Students will then be able to write a one-paragraph literary response that includes quotations and analysis.

In this assignment, students will complete these tasks:

• Read the short story
• Go back and closely read selected passages
• Annotate the short story and/or the selected passages
• Find and cite evidence of specified literary elements
• Write literary analysis paragraphs

This assignment includes:

• Teacher instructions for assigning this file via Google Classroom
• A link to the short story
• A 16-slide Google Slides presentation for student work
• A suggested answer key
• A secured, PDF file for in-person teaching

SMARTePlans™ is a registered trademark of The Daring English Teacher, Inc. All SMARTePlans units are Google-based teaching units that run on either the Google Slides, Google Docs, or Google Forms platforms. Each SMARTePlans teaching unit is good for a single teacher license. Resources may only be posted online in a secure platform such as Google Classroom™, Canvas, Schoolology, or a similar learning management system.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

The Monkeys Paw Close Reading Annotation and Activities Bundle

Products in this Bundle (2)

Description.

Everything you need to teach "The Monkey's Paw" in an organized way!

This resource includes the following:

• Book Cover Poster for Classroom Display
• Student copy of the full text with space for annotations, including number lines, questions and discussion prompts
• Teacher copy of Annotation Answer Keys
• Narrative Arc graphic organizer
• Foreshadowing graphic organizer
• Vocabulary Context Clues worksheet
• End-of-Unit Choice Board Assignment with grading rubric
• Answer keys

These resources can be used as a traditional paper-based assignment or a digital activity. Includes graphic organizers that focus on plot, setting, characterization, literary elements, literary devices and thought-provoking questions to prepare your students for standardized testing. Students may work individually or in groups/jigsaw to complete the activities.

If you enjoyed this resource, please "Like" and consider leaving feedback and following me on my platforms.

Happy reading and annotating!

Christine Varvaro

Secondary ELA with MsV

Questions & answers.

• We're hiring
• Help & FAQ
• Privacy policy
• Student privacy
• Terms of service
• Tell us what you think