illustration of an open-faced monkey's paw with a skull design on the palm

The Monkey's Paw

by W. W. Jacobs

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The Monkey's Paw Questions on First Wish

The Monkey's Paw

After Mr. White wishes for 200 pounds in "The Monkey's Paw," his son Herbert dies in a workplace accident, and the family receives 200 pounds as compensation. This tragic event underscores the...

2 educator answers

The Monkey's Paw

The first hint that the monkey's paw is not a good thing comes when Sergeant-Major Morris tells the Whites that the first man who possessed the paw asked for death as his third wish. This is a clear...

2 educator answers

The Monkey's Paw

In "The Monkey's Paw," the characters' responsibility and key decisions revolve around their choices to use the paw despite warnings. Mr. White's decision to wish for money leads to tragic...

4 educator answers

The Monkey's Paw

After Mr. White's first wish, the family's mood remains light-hearted and skeptical, filled with playful sarcasm. Herbert jokes about becoming rich and famous, while Mrs. White pretends to be...

1 educator answer

The Monkey's Paw

Mr. White's hesitation and reaction to making his first wish in "The Monkey's Paw" demonstrate his initial skepticism and underlying fear. He is unsure about the paw's powers and feels a sense of...

2 educator answers

The Monkey's Paw

Immediately after the first wish, Mr. White claims the monkey's paw moved like a snake, suggesting it might have understood the wish. This incident creates ambiguity about whether the paw has magical...

1 educator answer