Reading for Meaning: "The Monkey's Paw"
1. Why does the story start with the father and son playing chess? Does the father’s
strategy at the chess game tell you anything about his personality? If so, what?
2. Note any of the characters’ actions you feel are significant on the chart below. What
conclusions can you draw about each of the characters from analyzing their actions?
Character
Action
Conclusion
Mr. White
Yells about the foul
weather and the poor
condition of the road
they live on.
He’s frustrated because
he has lost at chess and
he is getting rid of his
emotions.
Mr. White
Mrs. White
Mrs. White
Herbert White
Herbert White
Major Morris
Major Morris
3. Sergeant Major Morris describes the monkey's paw in this way:
"It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,…a very holy man. He wanted to show that
fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow."
p. 203.
What does Morris’ statement mean when you first read it? What does it mean after
you have read the entire story? Is his comment significant? If so, why?
4. Why does Major Morris throw the monkey's paw onto the fire and why do the
Whites react so strongly?
5. What happens to Herbert White?
6. What do you think happened at the end of the story? Why does Mr. White
beg his wife not to let "it" into the house? What does he mean? What is he afraid of?
Who or what was outside of the house?
