The Monkey's Paw Questions on Symbolism
The Monkey's Paw
Herbert White's Attitude and Role in "The Monkey's Paw"
In "The Monkey's Paw," Herbert White exhibits a playful and skeptical attitude towards the paw, dismissing its supposed magical powers as superstition. Despite his sarcasm, he inadvertently prompts...
The Monkey's Paw
Mr. White's Character Development in "The Monkey's Paw"
Mr. White in "The Monkey's Paw" is depicted as a dynamic, major character who undergoes significant change throughout the story. Initially skeptical of the paw's powers, his attitude shifts from...
The Monkey's Paw
Who appears at the door at the end of "The Monkey's Paw"? Is it Herbert's decomposed body?
The author of "The Monkey's Paw" leaves it ambiguous who appears at the door. It could be Herbert's decomposed body, suggested by the knocking's coincidental timing with the father's wish. However,...
The Monkey's Paw
Sergeant-Major Morris's perspective, experiences, and motives with the monkey's paw
Sergeant-Major Morris, a character in W.W. Jacobs's "The Monkey's Paw," views the paw as a dangerous and malevolent object, having experienced its harmful effects firsthand. He acquired the paw from...
The Monkey's Paw
In "The Monkey's Paw," does Mrs. White's reference to The Arabian Nights have hidden significance?
Mrs. White's reference to The Arabian Nights in "The Monkey's Paw" has hidden significance. It alludes to the magical and exotic elements of the story, foreshadowing the consequences of the wishes....
The Monkey's Paw
What is the first hint that the monkey's paw is malevolent?
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...
The Monkey's Paw
What is the significance and role of the monkey's paw in Indian culture?
The meaning and function of the monkey's paw in Indian culture is to show that fate rules people's lives and that anyone who interferes with it "does so at their sorrow."
The Monkey's Paw
What happened to the first man who made his three wishes in "The Monkey's Paw"?
The first man who made his three wishes in "The Monkey's Paw" used his third wish to wish for death. This ominous outcome foreshadows the disastrous consequences of using the monkey's paw, which was...
The Monkey's Paw
Herbert's Role and Fate in "The Monkey's Paw"
In "The Monkey's Paw," Herbert initially dismisses the paw's powers, joking about it despite his parents' interest. However, after seeing disturbing images in the fire, he becomes uneasy. Tragically,...
The Monkey's Paw
Sergeant Major Morris's Role and Connection to the White Family in "The Monkey's Paw"
In "The Monkey's Paw," Sergeant Major Morris is a complex character whose reactions and actions reveal the ominous nature of the paw. His pale face and grave demeanor suggest fear and past trauma...
The Monkey's Paw
Analysis and Response to "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
"The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs is a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and interfering with fate. The White family receives a cursed monkey's paw that grants three wishes, but each wish...
The Monkey's Paw
How does the monkey's paw affect the husband-wife relationship?
The monkey's paw adversely affects Mr. and Mrs. White's relationship by causing dissension and distancing them after their son's tragic death. Initially amicable, their relationship deteriorates as...
The Monkey's Paw
Symbols and Origins of the Monkey's Paw
In W.W. Jacobs' "The Monkey's Paw," the monkey's paw symbolizes the power and danger of fate, emphasizing the futility of humans trying to control it. The White family, who use the paw to make...
The Monkey's Paw
Why does the mother believe the second wish will fix everything in "The Monkey's Paw"?
In part 3, Mrs. White wakes up in the middle of the night and reminds her husband about his first wish. She asks him to wish for their son to return back to life. She naively believes that a second...
The Monkey's Paw
Key events surrounding Mr. White and the monkey's paw in "The Monkey's Paw."
In "The Monkey's Paw," Mr. White makes three wishes using the cursed paw. First, he wishes for £200, leading to his son's death and the family receiving compensation. Second, he wishes for his son to...
The Monkey's Paw
How does the author's word choice reveal the powers of the monkey's paw?
The author's word choice in "The Monkey's Paw" reveals its sinister powers through Sergeant Major Morris's hesitant and ominous descriptions. Jacobs uses words like "offhandedly" and "ordinary" to...
The Monkey's Paw
Mr. White's hesitation and reaction to making his first wish in "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...
The Monkey's Paw
What does Mr. White do with the paw in "The Monkey's Paw"?
Mr. White retrieves the monkey's paw from the fire after Sergeant-Major Morris discards it and makes three wishes with it. His first wish for 200 pounds results in his son Herbert's death, as the...
The Monkey's Paw
In "The Monkey's Paw," how does the text reflect feelings about imperialism and colonization?
The text reflects imperialism and colonization through its portrayal of British fears and attitudes towards Indian culture. Set during British rule in India, it illustrates a xenophobic perspective,...
The Monkey's Paw
Motivations behind the first owner's wish for death in "The Monkey's Paw."
The first owner's wish for death in "The Monkey's Paw" stems from the overwhelming grief and horror caused by the consequences of his previous wishes. The paw's malevolent power led to such tragic...
The Monkey's Paw
Why does Morris attempt to burn the monkey's paw?
Morris attempts to burn the monkey's paw to prevent harm from befalling anyone else. He knows the paw's spell, cast by an old fakir, demonstrates the power of fate and carries dangerous magic....
The Monkey's Paw
In "The Monkey's Paw," what happens immediately after the first wish, and what can be inferred?
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...
The Monkey's Paw
How would you describe the appearance of the monkey's paw in "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs?
In "The Monkey's Paw," the paw is described as a mummified monkey's paw, appearing ordinary yet unsettling. Sergeant-Major Morris, who introduces it to the Whites, explains it has magical powers due...
The Monkey's Paw
Do the Whites believe in the monkey's paw legend in "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs?
Initially, the Whites are skeptical of the monkey's paw legend in "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs, treating it as a fantastical story. However, after their son Herbert's death and the coincidental...
The Monkey's Paw
What does G. K. Chesterton mean by "His horror is wild, but it is a sane horror" in The Monkey's Paw?
G. K. Chesterton's phrase "His horror is wild, but it is a sane horror" in "The Monkey's Paw" suggests that the horror experienced is rational and grounded in reality, rather than being a paranoid...
The Monkey's Paw
What does Morris give to Mr. White in "The Monkey's Paw"?
Morris gives Mr. White a magical monkey's paw that grants three wishes, though it comes with dire consequences. Despite Morris's warning to throw it away, Mr. White is persuaded by his son Herbert to...
The Monkey's Paw
In "The Monkey's Paw," what details of Sergeant Major Morris's appearance suggest he is "a very holy man?"
In "The Monkey's Paw," Sergeant Major Morris is not explicitly described as a "very holy man." However, his association with the "holy man," the fakir who enchanted the monkey's paw, might imply a...
The Monkey's Paw
What does the Sergeant-Major mean by "it's just a bit of what you might call magic" in "The Monkey's Paw"?
When Sergeant-Major Morris refers to the monkey's paw as "just a bit of what you might call magic," he is downplaying its significance to deter the Whites' curiosity. His reluctance to discuss it...
The Monkey's Paw
How did Morris acquire the talisman in 'The Monkey's Paw,' and what happened to its previous owner? Why did the fakir...
Sergeant-Major Morris acquired the monkey's paw after its first owner used his final wish for death, implying disastrous consequences from his previous wishes. Morris, despite knowing this, took the...
The Monkey's Paw
Does "The Monkey's Paw" suggest humans naturally seek shortcuts to success?
"The Monkey's Paw" suggests that while humans may be curious and tempted by shortcuts to success, they do not inherently seek them without consideration. The White family uses the paw out of...