“The Monkey’s Paw”

Connections and Theme

SummaryHave you ever felt a bit dissatisfied with your life? Have you ever wished that something

in your life would magically change – no hard work required?

Admit it: you've made a wish or two in your day. Don't pretend you haven't wished on a

shooting star, some birthday candles, a four-leaf clover, or a dandelion. We all do it.

As we grow up, we're often told that wishes can come true. Just think about the dreamy

Disney theme song: "When you wish upon a star makes no difference who you are/ anything

your heart desires/ will come to you." We are encouraged to dream big and wish for our hearts'

desires.

In "The Monkey's Paw," wishes do come true, but there's a catch. These wishes are

granted with dark, scary magic that involves no Disney happily-ever-afters.

This is one of those "be careful what you wish for" stories. It makes us think about

everything we've wished for in the past, and everything we might wish for in the future.

Instead of making us feel more desperate for a new Mustang, though, by the end of the story,

we're feeling like our life if is pretty darn good as it is. Saving up for a car the old-fashioned

way sure seems a lot better than wishing on a cursed monkey's paw. But maybe that's just us.

• http://www.shmoop.com/monkeys-paw/summary.html

Plot Analysis• http://www.shmoop.com/monkeys-paw/plot-analysis.html

• Exposition: A happy family, an isolated cottage, and a

mysterious visitor...

– Conflict: To wish or not to wish?

• Rising Action: Now that the wish is made, will it come true?

• Climax: Herbert is in a fatal accident.

• Falling Action: Will Herbert come back to life? Is wishing for

that even a good idea?

– Mr. White uses his third and final wish.

• Resolution: Mr. and Mrs. White walk outside.

Connections to…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr2bKXBV67o&feature=related

Connection to…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO3n67BQvh0

Connection to…Apollo and Daphne, Greek mythology

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znHfWv6WpO0

In this myth, Daphne wishes she could be turned into a laurel tree to escape Apollo. She gets her wish for all of eternity.

In the end…

• “So this is it; this is what I wished for; just isn't

how I envisioned it...” ~Eminem, from

“Careful What You Wish For.”

• Theme (moral/lesson): Be careful what you

wish for.

– Describe how this theme works for all of these

stories. How are they alike? How are they

different?