Answer Key: Story Elements Worksheet (Plot and Mood)

Sample Answers for "The Monkey's Paw"

Note: These are sample answers based on the short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. Student answers may vary but should demonstrate understanding of how events and dialogue influence plot and mood.

Part 1: Identifying Key Events

What's an important event in the story?

Mr. White makes his first wish on the monkey's paw.

This event is crucial as it sets the main conflict of the story in motion.

Part 2: Exploring Dialogue

Write down an important line of dialogue from the story:

"If you don't want it, Morris," said the other, "give it to me."

This line shows Mr. White's eagerness to possess the paw, despite warnings.

Part 3: Connecting to Plot

How does the event or dialogue you chose change what happens in the story?

Mr. White's decision to take and use the monkey's paw drives the entire plot. It leads to his son's death, Mrs. White's desperate wish for his return, and the terrifying climax of the story. Without this event, none of the subsequent tragic events would have occurred.

Part 4: Feeling the Mood

List 3 words that describe how the story feels after your chosen event or dialogue:

Ominous, tense, foreboding

These words reflect the growing sense of unease and danger in the story.

Part 5: Putting It All Together

Write a paragraph explaining how your chosen event or dialogue influences the story's plot and mood:

Mr. White's decision to make a wish on the monkey's paw is a pivotal moment that shapes both the plot and mood of "The Monkey's Paw." This event drives the entire story forward, leading to a series of tragic consequences. It creates a sense of foreboding as the reader anticipates the potential negative outcomes of the wish. The mood becomes increasingly tense and ominous as the characters deal with the aftermath of their choices. The dialogue where Mr. White eagerly asks for the paw highlights his disregard for the warnings, setting a tone of impending doom. This event and the associated dialogue transform the story from a cozy family scene into a dark, suspenseful tale of supernatural consequences, demonstrating how a single choice can dramatically alter both the events and the emotional atmosphere of a narrative.