The Monkey's Paw Group

Question:

sarahhfifee
sarahhfifee
Student
High School - 9th Grade

What is the atmosphere at the beginning of "The Monkey's Paw" and what are five words or phrases from the story that describe it?

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Posted by sarahhfifee on Sunday August 17, 2008 at 8:02 PM and tagged with characters, setting, the monkey's paw, tone.

Answers:

  1. missrice
    missrice Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    The atmosphere appears to be one of happy family bliss (the fire "burns brightly"; the mother speaks "soothingly"), but at the same time, there is underlying tension.  Note that the father and son are playing chess--a game that naturally calls up the idea of war--and that the father is exploding with "unlooked-for violence" about where they live.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/monkeys-paw-text

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    Posted by missrice on Sunday August 17, 2008 at 8:37 PM