The most likely reason the sergeant answers White quietly is because he views the paw as a serious thing and not a toy. His quiet demeanor indicates the weight and gravity of the subject, as the monkey's paw represents danger and the consequences of tampering with fate.
from "The Monkey's Paw"
"'It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,' said the sergeant-major, '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. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it.'
'Well, why don't you have three, sir?' said Herbert White cleverly.
'I have,' the sergeant said quietly, and his blotchy face whitened."
Why does the sergeant most likely answer White quietly?
Group of answer choices
because he does not want the White's son to hear what he is saying
because he is getting ready to whisper his three wishes
because he views the paw as a serious thing and not a toy
because he knows that the paw has the ability to hear
11 answers
Which detail below helps the reader infer that the Sergeant-Major had a negative experience with the monkey's paw?
"The soldier regarded him in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth. 'I have,' he said quietly, and his blotchy face whitened."
"'To look at,' said the sergeant-major, fumbling in his pocket, 'it's just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy.'"
"'I did have some idea of selling it, but I don't think I will.'"
". . .'Besides, people won’t buy. They think it’s a fairy tale, some of them, and those who do think anything of it want to try it first and pay me afterward.'"
"The soldier regarded him in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth. 'I have,' he said quietly, and his blotchy face whitened."
"'To look at,' said the sergeant-major, fumbling in his pocket, 'it's just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy.'"
"'I did have some idea of selling it, but I don't think I will.'"
". . .'Besides, people won’t buy. They think it’s a fairy tale, some of them, and those who do think anything of it want to try it first and pay me afterward.'"
The detail that helps the reader infer that the Sergeant-Major had a negative experience with the monkey's paw is:
"'I did have some idea of selling it, but I don't think I will.'"
This line suggests that he has had negative thoughts about the paw and its implications, leading him to reconsider selling it. His reluctance indicates that he associates the paw with unpleasant experiences, further implying the cautionary tale nature of the object.
from "The Monkey's Paw"
"As soon as the guest had left, Herbert said, 'Why, we're going to be rich, and famous, and happy. Wish to be an emperor, father, to begin with, then mama can’t tell you what to do!'
He darted round the table, pursued by a laughing Mrs. White armed with a candlestick."
Based on this excerpt, which best describes Herbert?
curious
untrusting
sarcastic
hopeful
"As soon as the guest had left, Herbert said, 'Why, we're going to be rich, and famous, and happy. Wish to be an emperor, father, to begin with, then mama can’t tell you what to do!'
He darted round the table, pursued by a laughing Mrs. White armed with a candlestick."
Based on this excerpt, which best describes Herbert?
curious
untrusting
sarcastic
hopeful
Based on the excerpt, the best description of Herbert is hopeful. His enthusiastic suggestion to wish for wealth, fame, and happiness, along with his playful demeanor, indicates that he is optimistic about the possibilities the monkey's paw could bring.
Which excerpt from the text has a dismal (depressing/gloomy) mood?
"The night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. Mr. White and his son Herbert were playing chess, waiting for their guest..."
"There was an air of wholesomeness about the room which it had lacked on the previous night, and the dirty, shrivelled little paw seemed a harmless trinket."
"Herbert sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it. The last face was so horrible and so monkey-like that he gazed at it in amazement."
"As soon as the guest had left, Herbert said, 'Why, we're going to be rich, and famous, and happy. Wish to be an emperor, father, to begin with, then mama can’t tell you what to do!'"
"The night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. Mr. White and his son Herbert were playing chess, waiting for their guest..."
"There was an air of wholesomeness about the room which it had lacked on the previous night, and the dirty, shrivelled little paw seemed a harmless trinket."
"Herbert sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it. The last face was so horrible and so monkey-like that he gazed at it in amazement."
"As soon as the guest had left, Herbert said, 'Why, we're going to be rich, and famous, and happy. Wish to be an emperor, father, to begin with, then mama can’t tell you what to do!'"
The excerpt that has a dismal (depressing/gloomy) mood is:
"Herbert sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it. The last face was so horrible and so monkey-like that he gazed at it in amazement."
This passage conveys a sense of bleakness and despair, with the imagery of darkness and a dying fire, as well as the unsettling vision of a horrifying face.
from “The Monkey’s Paw”
"The last face was so horrible and so monkey-like that he gazed at it in amazement. It got so vivid that, with an uneasy laugh, he threw a glass of water on the fire. With a little shiver he went up to bed.
"In the bright wintry sun the next morning as it streamed over the breakfast table, the three Whites laughed at their fears. There was an air of wholesomeness about the room …”
Based on the author's word choice, which best describes the change in mood that occurs during this excerpt?
The mood changes from light and promising to disturbing and worrisome.
The mood changes from sad and mournful to joyful and delightful.
The mood changes from secure and harmless to dangerous and deadly.
The mood changes from troubling and threatening to bright and relieved.
"The last face was so horrible and so monkey-like that he gazed at it in amazement. It got so vivid that, with an uneasy laugh, he threw a glass of water on the fire. With a little shiver he went up to bed.
"In the bright wintry sun the next morning as it streamed over the breakfast table, the three Whites laughed at their fears. There was an air of wholesomeness about the room …”
Based on the author's word choice, which best describes the change in mood that occurs during this excerpt?
The mood changes from light and promising to disturbing and worrisome.
The mood changes from sad and mournful to joyful and delightful.
The mood changes from secure and harmless to dangerous and deadly.
The mood changes from troubling and threatening to bright and relieved.
Based on the author's word choice, the best description of the change in mood that occurs during this excerpt is:
The mood changes from troubling and threatening to bright and relieved.
The first part highlights a disturbing and unsettling atmosphere as Herbert sees a horrifying face in the fire, while the second part reflects a more cheerful and wholesome mood as the family laughs away their fears in the morning sunlight.
The machinery at work was the direct cause of Herbert’s injuries. What does the story imply, though, is the “real” cause of Herbert’s accident?
Herbert and a laughing Mrs. White ran around the table.
Herbert saw the horrible monkey-like face in the fire.
The Sergeant Major tried to burn the monkey paw.
Mr. White interfered with fate by making a wish.
Herbert and a laughing Mrs. White ran around the table.
Herbert saw the horrible monkey-like face in the fire.
The Sergeant Major tried to burn the monkey paw.
Mr. White interfered with fate by making a wish.
The story implies that the "real" cause of Herbert's accident is Mr. White interfered with fate by making a wish. The monkey's paw serves as a symbol of how attempting to manipulate fate can lead to dire consequences, and Herbert's injuries are a result of the wishes made using the paw.