Exploring "The Monkey's Paw"

Introduction

Have you ever wondered where the superstition of the monkey paw became?

It is said that if you are given a monkey paw, you are allowed to make wishes on them, but the wishes might not come true in the way that you wish it.

If you were given the chance to make a wish on a monkey paw, what would it be and why?

Task

In this task, you are being asked to analyze the motives behind the White family's wishes in "The Monkey's Paw."

After reading "The Monkey's Paw" and discussing the motives, and consequences, behind the wishes of the White family the students will be asked to write their own short story about what they would do if they came face to face with the monkey's paw.

Process

Author background information:

-W.W. Jacobs:

    -Born Sep 08, 1863 in Wapping, London, England

     -Wrote more humor stories than horror stories

     -Did not go to college for writing, did not plan a career in writing

Activity:

Before you read:

-What do you think the short story is about?

-What role do you believe the Monkey Paw will have, just based off of the title?

  • Watch the following video:
  • [video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp0c56d7tSE]
  • Read "The Monkey's Paw", while reading make a list of the words that you do not understand. After reading, grab a dictionary and look up the words, writing down the definitions. This will help you to better understand the story.
  • You will write a short story about what would happen to you if you were given the monkey paw.
  • For this story, I want you to use two of the words that you did not know in the story in your story.

 

Evaluation

Conclusion

After completing this WebQuest you will have a better understanding of the short story, "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. 

Credits

Teacher Page

Introduction:

"The Monkey's Paw" will help students to learn about short stories and the elements in the short story.

This is intended for English 10 students.

Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.