"The Monkey's Paw"      by W.W. Jacobs
"Be careful what you wish for..."      Predestination vs. Free Will
Vocabulary. credulous, amiable, visage, talisman, prosaic, avaricious, fusillade, fakir, presumptuous

1. Amy was a very ______ person, well liked by everyone.
2. His __________ was dark and lined from years of working in the sun.
3. Tom Sawyer fired a _________ of dirt clods at Sid.
4. The Indian _________ lived on little more than crusts of bread and some water.
5. The _________ kid from the country was an easy target for the savvy con-man from New York.
6. A rabbit's foot can be a sort of a __________.
7. King Midas (with the golden touch) was the classic example of an ____________ king.
8. It was rather _________ of her to invite herself to the party.
9. His explanation for being late was pretty _________ for him. He usually comes up with something more exciting.

More Vocabulary Practice.

1. (2) He was such a smooth talker, and was so _________ and polite, I __________(ly) fell for his scam.
2. The man at the door was "beady of eye and rubicund of ____________."
3. The monkey's paw supposedly had a spell put on it by an old __________ who claimed to have magic powers.
4. Apaches often wore a __________ made from part of a former enemy to give strength and protection in battle.
5. The soldier ducked as the _________ of gunfire erupted over his head.
6. For many people math is a very _________ subject; for others it is very interesting.
7. I don't want to be __________, but may I have the last cookie?
8. The lawyer was being __________ when he took the bet; the banker was being capricious.
9. avaricious : benevolent :: savvy : ___________

Quiz.

1. How many wishes is the paw good for?
2. Why did the fakir put the spell on the paw?  a) He wanted to give people what they wanted.  b) He wanted to show how greedy people can be.  c) He wanted to show people that they shouldn't mess with fate. d) All of the above.  e) None of the above.
3. Hark (p682) means...
4. How did the sergeant-major get the paw?
5. What is Mrs. White's first suggestion for what to wish?
6. What is the first wish they actually make?
7. The point in the story when the sergeant-major says "I have," when Herbert asks him if he had three wishes is the beginning of the... a) exposition.  b) rising action.  c) conflict.  d) climax.  e) resolution.
8. The White's desire and struggle to undo the action of their first wish is called the...a) exposition.  b) rising action.  c) conflict.  d) climax.  e) foreshadowing.
9. The point in the story where Mr. White and his son are playing chess and the sergeant-major shows up is called the... a) exposition.  b) rising action.  c) conflict.  d) climax.  e) resolution.
10. When Mr. White stares into the fire and sees a simian face, that would be an example of...a) exposition.  b) rising action.  c) conflict.  d) climax.  e) foreshadowing.
11. The point in the story when we learn how the first wish comes out is part of the... a) exposition.  b) rising action.  c) conflict.  d) climax.  e) foreshadowing.
12. Why does it take so long for the Whites to realize their second wish had come true?
13. The point in the story when Mr. White makes his last wish is called the... a) exposition.  b) rising action.  c) conflict.  d) climax.  e) resolution.
14. What is Mr. White's third wish?
15. The point in the story when Mrs. White opens the door and wails (p690) is called the... a) exposition.  b) rising action.  c) conflict.  d) climax.  e) resolution.