Unpleasant weather is always a sure sign that something bad is going to happen. We read that "the night was cold and wet." The reference to such unpleasant conditions is a portentous suggestion that something sinister may occur later in the story. By contrasting the somewhat pleasant conditions in the White household with the conditions outside, the reader is alerted to the fact that things may not be as comfy as they seem. This much becomes evident when we discover that Mr White and his son, Herbert, are involved in an intricate pastime. The cut-and-thrust of the game adds an element of tension to the story.

The two men are playing chess and Mr White's actions, especially, draw attention. He realizes that he has made a bad move and tries to distract his son, but his blunder is discovered and he loses the game. Mr White's resultant outburst heightens the tension and gives a clear indication that all is not well. The fact that he "bawled ... with sudden and unlooked-for-violence" makes the reader aware of the possibility that more of the same might occur at some future point in the story.

In addition, the language suggests some danger and paints a bleak picture. Mr White, for example, "possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes" and puts "his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils." These descriptions predict future danger and risk. Furthermore, Herbert surveys the board "grimly" and Mr White's use of strong adjectives such as "beastly" and "out-of-the-way" adds to the negative mood. This also suggests that the Whites live in an isolated area and are, obviously, not only in some discomfort, but are also at risk. Further statements such as "the gate banged" and "heavy footsteps came toward the door," add an ominous quality. Something unpleasant is surely going to happen. 

This story begins at night with the White family safe and warm inside their home while a storm rages outside. The contrast between the coziness inside the house and the threat outside the house suggests that danger is coming from outside. Mr. White and Herbert are playing chess, and Mr. White, "seeing a fatal mistake [in moving one of his chess pieces] after it was too late," tries to distract Herbert during the game. This comment foreshadows Mr. White's first wish. When Sgt. Maj. Morris arrives, the action of the story begins, and we learn the strange history of the monkey's paw. 

Consider how different the mood for the story would be if the story had been set during a bright, sunny day. What would we have to fear? The author wants to create a suspenseful atmosphere in the opening paragraphs to prepare us for the bizarre events to come.

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.

In the story "Monkey's Paw," what is the type of mood established in the beginning of the story? 

In the short story "The Monkey's Paw," an ominous mood is established at the very beginning of the story. However, even though the weather outside is "cold and wet," inside the White's house, the "fire burned brightly." The mood in the house prior to the visit of Morris is safe, secure, and warm. Father and son are playing chess as the mother is knitting "placidly." A degree of calmness pervades the house.

However, the wild, windy weather outside sets the tone for the remainder of the story. Mr. White violently complains that they live in a "beastly, slushy, out of the way" place. This isolated, somber mood foreshadows Morris's warning about owning the monkey's paw. However, Mr. White does not heed the warning and takes possession of the paw. The ominous mood that set the scene at the onset of this story is continued throughout the tale with the White's wishes on the monkey's paw and the death of their son.

In the story "Monkey's Paw," what is the type of mood established in the beginning of the story? 

The type of mood that is establish at the beginning of the story is dark, foreboding, and fearful. The small details of the story establish the mood.

According to the first paragraph it is dark, windy, and raining outside. The Whites are inside by the fire playing chess. This contrast between the outside and inside gives the impression that the Whites are safe as long as nothing foreign comes in the house. Outside there is "evil." 

In addition to this, there is the howl of the wind outside. Mr. White even draws attention to it to distract his son as they are playing chess. 

"Listen to the wind," said Mr. White. He had made a serious mistake and wanted to distract his son’s attention so that he wouldn’t see it.

When Sergeant Major Morris begins to talk about the monkey's paw, the mood is perfect for a something ominous to happen. The mention of India, something foreign, also adds to the fear, especially as a foreign object, the paw, is now in the Whites' house. 

In The Monkey's Paw," what effect does the setting have on the plot at the beginning of the story?

The setting of the story has a dual effect of establishing that the Whites are a close family, they are cozy and content in their home. 

"Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnum villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly." (Jacobs) 

But, the Whites also seem a little bored by their simple life.  Outside the home, the location of the home relays a sense of isolation and remoteness.  Mr. White gets mad thinking that Sargeant Major Morris is unlikely to come for a visit because of the weather and because of the condition of the road. The Whites live in a rural area, they don't get many people walking outside in their neighborhood. They believe that they have been forgotten by the town or village in which they live.  They have been cut off from civilization and are alone.  It is a little spooky.

"That's the worst of living so far out," balled Mr. White with sudden and unlooked-for violence; "Of all the beastly, slushy, out of the way places to live in, this is the worst. Path's a bog, and the road's a torrent. I don't know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses in the road are let, they think it doesn't matter." (Jacobs)

The remoteness of the location also helps the reader understand that the knocking on the door that occurs after Mr. White makes the second wish is most definitely their son, Herbert risen from the grave.  The reader does not know who is knocking on the door for sure, but because of the rural area in which they live and the fact  that it is unlikely that anyone would be walking near their home, the Whites believe and so does the reader the knocking is from Herbert. 

"He stood motionless, his breath suspended until the knock was repeated. Then he turned and fled swiftly back to his room, and closed the door behind him. A third knock sounded through the house."

"The Monkey's Paw" is a horror story. How does the setting create a mysterious and frightening atmosphere?

Author W. W. Jacobs uses several devices to create the creepy atmosphere found in "The Monkey's Paw." The setting is an out-of-the way location and most of the story takes place at night, punctuated by wind and rain. The subject matter--the paw of a monkey--immediately draws the interest of virtually any reader. The mysterious nature of the paw and its origins further intrigue the reader; and the "three wishes" powers that it offers should make any reader stop and think about what three wishes they would choose. The sergeant's decision to fling such a powerful object into the fire for its destruction creates more mystery, and when the first wish comes true in such terrifying reality, we can only wonder what can come next. Jacobs' use of the supernatural should attract new readers in greater numbers today, since fantasy and horror stories and films are among the most popular with today's readers.

"The Monkey's Paw" is a horror story. How does the setting create a mysterious and frightening atmosphere?

In "The Monkey's Paw," written by W.W. Jacobs, the author's description of the setting contains key elements necessary for creating a setting that adds to the horror of the story.  In the first paragraph, Jacobs writes that 

...the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlor of Laburnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly..."   

Immediately, the reader is given a mental image of a dark, stormy night in which an intimate gathering takes place in a secluded setting.  These details create a sense of distance from safety, as well as being surrounded by an atmophere in which anything is possible, particularly anything evil.  Had the setting been a Southern front porch on a warm spring day, the element of horror would have been significantly more difficult to convey.

The author's description of a room illuminated by firelight also contributes to the notion of mystery and fright.  Shadows and darkness are virtually synonymous with fear.  The power of the mind to create scenarios and dreadful possibilities is what creates the power of horror stories.  Flickering, unsteady firelight is perfect for a scary story. 

In "The Monkey's Paw," how does the author, W. W. Jacobs, set the mood and the tone? 

The classic horror short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs tells of an old couple named Mr. and Mrs. White and their adult son Herbert who come into possession of a mummified monkey's paw from India that grants its owner three wishes. Sergeant-Major Morris, the previous owner of the paw, warns them not to use it. However, Mr. Morris wishes for 200 pounds to pay off their house.

In a terrible ironic turn, he and his wife receive that exact amount of money when Herbert is killed by the machinery where he works. Mrs. Morris then wishes to bring Herbert back to life. After they hear a knock on the door, Mr. White realizes that the mutilated ten-day-dead body of their son would be a thing of horror, not a comfort to them. As Mrs. White frantically attempts to open the door, Mr. White makes the last wish, presumably to return their son to the grave.

W.W. Jacobs sets the mood and the tone of this terrifying story in part 1 through the time of day, the weather, the physical setting, and the back story that Morris tells.

As the story opens, it is night, and the weather is cold and wet. Mr. White remarks on the sound of the wind even though they are in a closed-up house. He comments that their home is in out-of-the-way, slushy place where the path is a bog and the road is a torrent. This is the perfect setting for a frightening tale.

Morris's story about how he came by the paw in India is mysterious and unsettling. He says that the Fakir who put the spell on the paw warned that those who interfered with fate "did so to their own sorrow." He also says that the paw's previous owner's last wish was for death. He throws the paw into the fire, and when Mr. White pulls it out, Morris cautions him not to use it.

All of these story elements—the dark night, the foul weather, the remote setting, and Morris's back story and warning—set the dark, horrifying mood and tone of the tale and foreshadow the frightening events to come.

In "The Monkey's Paw," how does the author, W. W. Jacobs, set the mood and the tone? 

The author of "The Monkey's Paw," W. W. Jacobs, sets the tone and mood of his story with descriptions of the weather and with foreshadowing. 

In the exposition of his narrative, Jacobs writes that the night is wet and cold. Then, as Mr. White and his son Herbert play chess, Mr. White tries to distract his son because he is a reckless player who moves without thinking through his moves. He says, "Hark at the wind," hoping his son has not noticed his reckless move. 

This recklessness of Mr. White's chess moves foreshadows his impulsive wishes on the monkey's paw, wishes that bring tragic consequences. Added to this, the description of the weather creates a foreboding atmosphere and mood.

This sense of foreboding continues as Mr. White grumbles,

"That's the worst of living so far out," bawled Mr. White, with sudden and unlooked-for violence; "of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Pathway's a bog, and the road's a torrent."

This tone of foreboding continues with the arrival of Sergeant-Major Morris, an old acquaintance of Mr. White. He pulls from his pocket a monkey's paw, a talisman given him by an Indian fakir. But, as he mentions that he had three wishes granted by this paw, "his tones were so grave that a hush fell upon the group." 

Further in the narrative, there is more mention of the weather as stormy, descriptions which continue the suspenseful and dark mood. In the final part of the story, this mood becomes nightmarish as the Whites have been told of their son's horrifying entanglement in a machine at work. Then, when the Whites cannot resign themselves to the death of their son, Mrs. White remembers that they have two more wishes and demands that her husband wish Herbert back to them. However, their inability to think through this wish effects terror as a mood in the end of the story.

How does the setting of "The Monkey's Paw" help to create the story's mood?

The setting of a story consists of the location and description of the place where the action takes place. It also serves as the backdrop that determines the tone and atmosphere of the situation.

The Monkey's Paw is a story told in the "three-wish folk tale" form, and meant to be a cautionary tale. It is also a Gothic story based on the following elements found in the setting:

• isolation
• nature (the night was cold and wet)

That's the worst of living so far out," bawled Mr. White, with sudden and unlooked-for violence; "of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Pathway's a bog, and the road's a torrent....

• the encounter with the supernatural (the entrance of the monkey's paw in their lives)

This being said, Laburnam Villa at nighttime, cold, wet, isolated, helps to create the mood of the story by offering the perfect Gothic setting that will allow for anything to happen. Even the main characters wonder what people think when they choose a place such as this to live in. You can see that both, the setting and the characters, are already creating the mood of anxiety, desolation and discomfort that will propitiate the rest of the events. 

The setting also sets the characters up for failure, and the reader knows it: If "something bad" were to happen to them, what could they do about it? They are in a faraway place and with nature working against them. All of these factors promote the sense of impending doom that will eventually wreak havoc in this tale. 

How does the author set the mood in "The Monkey's Paw"?

W. W. Jacobs sets the mood of the story through his description of the setting and threatening weather as well as the atmosphere surrounding Sergeant-Major Morris's visit and interaction with the White family. At the beginning of the story, Mr. White plays his son, Herbert, in a game of chess on a dark, stormy night. The natural environment outside of the home is described as being "cold and wet." Mr. White then attempts to distract his son by calling attention to the strong winds outside.

After losing the game, Mr. White complains about the location of their home, which is "out-of-the-way" and removed from other homes. Mr. White goes on to say:

Pathway's a bog, and the road's a torrent. I don't know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses on the road are let, they think it doesn't matter. (Jacobs 1)

By setting the story on a dark, stormy night in an isolated, remote home, Jacobs creates an unsettling, dark atmosphere. The secluded setting and threatening natural environment contribute to the foreboding mood of the story.

In addition to the setting and menacing weather, Jacobs uses the family's interaction with Sergeant-Major Morris to contribute to the unsettling mood. When asked about the monkey's paw, Sergeant-Major Morris becomes noticeably pale and attempts to dismiss the topic. Sergeant-Major Morris then explains the paw's background and gives short responses when asked about his three wishes. Even mentioning the monkey’s paw makes Morris anxious and upset.

Morris proceeds to tell the White family that the first person's last wish was for death, which is both unnerving and ominous. His grave tone and serious attitude toward the monkey's paw create a foreboding, sinister atmosphere. The reader experiences a tense, threatening mood surrounding the monkey's paw, which turns out to be malevolent.

What are some descriptions of the setting in the story "The Monkey's Paw"?  

In the early paragraphs of W. W. Jacobs' "The Monkey's Paw," we discover that the Whites live in an "out-of-the-way" place called Laburnam Villa. (Laburnum is a type of tree of which all parts are poisonous, an ominous name for such a home.) The name of the town is not given, though virtually all of Jacobs' stories are set in England, usually in coastal or seaport towns. It is a cold, windy and rainy night, and the "Pathway's a bog, and the road is a torrent." Inside, the house is warm and comfortable, and sitting in front of the fireplace proves to be a perfect place for the eerie story that Sergeant-Major Morris presents about the monkey's paw. Following Morris' departure, the wind outside causes an upstairs door to bang, and "A silence unusual and depressing settled upon all three." After his parents go to bed, Herbert sits alone "in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it."

The "brightness of the wintry sun next morning" proved to be a false promise of a better day. Following Herbert's death, Jacobs introduces another setting always indicative of death: the cemetery. The old couple return from burying Herbert to the darkness of their house, with most of the remaining action taking place at night. The candle threw "pulsating shadows on the ceiling and walls," further magnifying the setting of impending evil. Jacobs adds additional sounds of terror--a creaking stair, a rattling chain, and a "perfect fusillade of knocks reverberated through the house." Jacobs creates a traditional gothic setting for his horror story, ending it with the ambivalent conclusion that suggests the unseen return of Herbert's corpse.

What is the mood, setting and foreshadowing of "The Monkey's Paw"?

The setting of W.W. Jacobs short story "The Monkey's Paw" is somewhere in the English countryside at a place called Laburnum Villa. The name of the place immediately provides a good deal of foreshadowing since "laburnum" is a type of poisonous tree and portends the tragedy which follows. The fact that it is a dark and stormy night provides more evidence to believe that there will not be a happy ending.

The mood of the story tends to go back and forth between somewhat light hearted scenes, but then dominated by suspense and horror. In the beginning things seem normal at the villa, and the Whites, father, mother and son, appear to be a happy family who get along well together. One hesitation is the description of Mr. White as being somewhat reckless in the chess game with his son. This foreshadows his eventual procurement of the paw despite the warnings of Sergeant Major Morris.

When Morris is describing the paw the reader is confronted by suspense as he describes how one man who had the paw eventually wished for death. Then, Herbert sees horrible images in the fire providing more foreshadowing for future events. But, the next morning everything seems normal again as "the dirty, shriveled little paw was pitched on the sideboard with a carelessness which betokened no great belief in its virtues." This atmosphere of normality, however, is broken with the tragic news of Herbert's death which leads to a sense of apprehension and abhorrence in the last episode of the story when Mr. White wishes for Herbert to be alive again.  

What is the mood, setting and foreshadowing of "The Monkey's Paw"?

SETTING.  The setting of W. W. Jacobs' "The Monkey's Paw" is in Laburnam Villa, an out-of-the-way area (probably near London, where Jacobs grew up and where most of Jacobs' stories are set). Most of the action takes place at night.

MOOD.  The mood is dark and ominous--perfect for a horror story. In the opening chapter, it is a dark, windy and rainy night, and the Whites hear all sorts of sounds both outside and inside the house. The fireplace serves to warm and illuminate the house, but it also becomes a power of possible destructiveness (when the paw is tossed into it) and mystery (when Herbert sees faces in the flames).

FORESHADOWING.  The first examples are shown during the chess match, when Mr. White makes a "fatal mistake" while putting his pieces into "sharp and unnecessary perils." Throughout Sergeant-Major Morris' visit, he warns the Whites of the power of the paw--particularly that the previous owner's third wish had been for death-- but they fall on deaf ears. Herbert's twisted appearance upon his return from death is hinted at by the description of him being "caught in the machinery."

How does the setting of the story add to the eerie nature of the plot in "The Monkey's Paw"?

The dark and stormy night and the isolation of the house add to the eerie nature of the setting and reinforce the spooky nature of the plot.

Setting helps create a mood by making things seem possible.  In a dark night, it is easier to create a dark mood.  It is raining, and the road is boggy.  The house is isolated because it is far out in the country and there are a lot of empty houses on the street.

"That's the worst of living so far out…of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Pathway's a bog, and the road's a torrent. I don't know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses in the road are let…

Even without explicitly saying something bad is about to happen, the rain and lonely house foreshadow trouble.  The reader will not be surprised when a magic monkey paw appears, and danger follows.  After all, how can something good happen on such a dark night?

It is also important to note the contrast between the family before the sailor arrives and after.  Yes, it is raining outside.  However, there is a fire going and things are peaceful inside.  There is a mostly homey scene.  When the sailor arrives with the paw, there is mention of how isolated the house is and how bad the road is.  This is no coincidence.  The reader is being told that things are good, but they are about to get worse.