The

Monkey’s
Paw
By W. W. Jacobs
 History
First published in
1902 as a short story,
in a collection of other
horror stories.
W.W. Jacobs was a
famous humor writer.
However, his most
famous story is a
horror story called
“The Monkey’s Paw.”
 The story has been retold
many times in movies, TV,
and plays. The “monkey’s
paw” has become a symbol
you can find in many shows,
comics, and video games.
Many people know that a
“monkey’s paw” is
something that looks like
Pop-culture good luck, but it really is bad
luck.
 Theme
Why is it famous?
It is a memorable story
about regret, and an
example of the saying,
“Be careful what you
wish for…”
“…because you may
get it.”
 Author’s Background
The author (W.W. Jacobs) grew up
in London. His father was a dock
worker. When he was young, he
talked to a lot of sailors.
Sailors and fishermen are known to
be superstitious, and to exaggerate
their stories. He heard a lot of tall
tales.
 exaggerate [v] : to lie, and make a story more interesting
tall tale [n] : a funny story that is obviously not true
“I caught a huge fish!” “I almost drowned!”
 Plot Summary
A sailor gives a family a
monkey’s paw. The paw can
give them three wishes. But,
the wishes will have
consequences. They will get
what their wish, but their wish
will backfire.
The family doesn’t believe the
sailor and make three wishes.
The wishes come true!
And though they get what
they want, they also get things
they do not want.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a hint about what will happen at the end of a story.
fore / shadow :: before you see someone, you see their shadow
When we notice foreshadowing in a story, we expect something to
happen.

What happens in the beginning? What do we expect at the end?

1) We know that sailors exaggerate and have
crazy superstitions.
2) A sailor tells the family that they will have
bad luck if they use the monkey’s paw.
3) The father asks, “How bad could it be?”
1) The family will not listen to the sailor’s
warning.
2) Something bad is going to happen to the
family.
3) It’s going to be really bad.
 The White family is rich, and do not
need anything. However, they must
make one more mortgage payment
before they finally own their large
The first wish : house. Herbert, the son, tells his father
the expectation to wish for the same amount of money.
It is not much money to ask, so what
could go wrong? When they make the
wish, the monkey’s paw moves; one of
its fingers curls up.
 Herbert goes to work at a factory the
next day. Then, someone from the
factory tells Mr. and Mrs. White that
The first wish : their son died a painful death at the
factory that afternoon. His body was
the result destroyed by the machinery. They give
the White family some money; it is the
same amount that Herbert told Mr.
White to wish for!
 Mr. and Mrs. White go to their son’s
funeral. They cannot see his body
The second because it is too badly damaged. They
wish : the are very sad. Mr. White wishes that his
son will come back to them. The
expectation monkey’s paw moves; another finger
curls up.
The second wish : the
result
An hour later, there is a knock on the
door of their house. Their wish has come
true, and Herbert has come back! Mrs.
White starts to open the door, but Mr.
White tells her to stop. What if the
monkey’s paw is playing another trick?
What if their son has come back, but he
is still dead? Can they trust the monkey’s
paw to give them something good?
The third wish
Mr. White makes a third
wish. The monkey’s paw
moves; a third finger curls
up. When Mrs. White opens
the door, they see there is no
one outside.
Discussion
1. How did you think “The Monkey’s
Paw” would end? Was the sailor right?
2. What did you think would happen after
the first wish? Did you expect Herbert
would die? Do you think he was
responsible for his death?
3. Do you think Mr. White did the right
thing at the end, to wish his son away?
4. Can you think of a way the White
family could use the monkey’s paw to
wish for something where nothing bad
happens?
Activity
Let’s think of some wishes to ask from
the monkey’s paw.

1) One student thinks of a wish to ask

the monkey’s paw.

2) Another student thinks of how the

wish might backfire.