Question

Plotline: List the events in the plot of “The Monkey’s Paw” in the order that they happened. Just highlight the essential points. Don’t include every small detail.
Exposition: the beginning of the plot where characters and setting are introduced.


Rising Action: the part of the plot where conflicts or problems begin to affect the characters.


Climax: the turning point or moment of greatest tension in the plot.


Falling Action: events that occur after and as a result of the climax; tensions begin to decrease and the story moves toward its resolution.


Resolution: the end of the plot where the story elements are tied up and conflicts are resolved.


Where in the story did you see an example of foreshadowing?

Answer 1

Exposition
- The White family (Mr. and Mrs. White and their grown son Herbert) at home; Sergeant‑Major Morris, a friend who has been in India, visits and introduces the monkey’s paw — an object said to grant three wishes but cursed.

Rising action
- Morris warns them to get rid of the paw, throws it into the fire, but Mr. White retrieves it.
- The family talks about the paw and its previous owner; as a joke/impulse Mr. White wishes for 200 pounds.
- Herbert soon dies in a factory accident; the family receives exactly 200 pounds in compensation.
- Grief‑stricken, Mrs. White insists Mr. White use the paw to wish Herbert back to life.

Climax
- Late at night, after Mr. White makes the wish to bring Herbert back, there is frantic knocking at the front door — the moment of highest tension as something (presumably Herbert) tries to get in.

Falling action
- Mrs. White struggles to open the door; Mr. White scrambles to find the paw to make the third wish and stop whatever is outside.

Resolution
- Mr. White uses the final wish; when Mrs. White opens the door there is nobody there — the returned horror (or Herbert) is gone and the dreadful consequences are ended (implied the son has been sent back to death).

Example of foreshadowing
- Sergeant‑Major Morris’s repeated warnings and his story about the previous owner (who got his wish but paid a terrible price — and whose family received compensation) foreshadow Herbert’s death and the twisted way the paw grants wishes.
- Also the paw’s eerie movement and Morris throwing it into the fire but the Whites rescuing it hint that the object’s power will have real, harmful effects later.