LESSON 1
• Read The Monkey’s Paw – chapter 1
• Homework due today: Introduction to
Gothic worksheet.
• Read through the marking of your
response to The Tell Tale Heart and add
your own comments.
Learning Objective
To start reading The Monkey’s Paw and identify
techniques used by Jacobs to create mood and
atmosphere.
What is the
link between
these items?
diskuss with a partner… 5
minutes!
What is your
good luck
charm?
The Monkey’s Paw was first published in 1902. Let’s prepare to
read it…
Use a dictionary to define the following terms taken from the story:
• Avaricious
• Fatal
• Fate
• Fakir
• Frivolous
• Magic
• Perils
• Sinister
WITHOUT, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlor of Laburnam
Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burnt brightly. Father and son were
at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical
changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even
provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the
fire.
“Hark at the wind,” said Mr White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it
was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.
“I’m listening,” said the latter, grimly surveying the board as he stretched out
his hand. “Check.”
“I should hardly think that he’d come to-night,” said his father, with his hand
poised over the board.
“Mate,” replied the son.
“That’s the worst of living so far out,” bawled Mr White, with sudden and
unlooked-for violence; “of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to
live, this is the worst. Pathway’s a bog, and the road’s a torrent. I don’t
know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses
on the road are let, they think it doesn’t matter.”
1. Underline or highlight the description of setting in the first part
of The Monkey’s Paw.
WITHOUT, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlor of Laburnam
Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burnt brightly. Father and son were
at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical
changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even
provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the
fire.
“Hark at the wind,” said Mr White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it
was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.
“I’m listening,” said the latter, grimly surveying the board as he stretched out
his hand. “Check.”
“I should hardly think that he’d come to-night,” said his father, with his hand
poised over the board.
“Mate,” replied the son.
“That’s the worst of living so far out,” bawled Mr White, with sudden and
unlooked-for violence; “of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to
live, this is the worst. Pathway’s a bog, and the road’s a torrent. I don’t
know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses
on the road are let, they think it doesn’t matter.”
1. Underline or highlight the description of setting in the first part
of The Monkey’s Paw.
How does Jacobs set
the mood and/or tone
of the story in the
beginning of The
Monkey’s Paw?
Success Express
 Use evidence from the story to support your ideas.
 diskuss the writer’s choice of language and techniques and
how this contributes to the overall meaning and effect.
 Include appropriate terminology in your explanations.
“Simba, let me tell you something that my father told me. Look at
the stars, the great kings of the past look down on us from those
stars… So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings
will always be there to guide you and so will I.”
Write your
understanding of
what foreshadowing is
on the whiteboard…
Foreshadowing
A warning or indication of a future event.
What examples of
foreshadowing can
you find in chapter
one of The Monkey’s
Paw?
CHALLENGE
Why do writer’s
use
foreshadowing?
Consider the
foreshadowing identified
in chapter one of The
Monkey’s Paw…
Predict what you think
will happen in this story.
LESSON 2
• Read The Monkey’s Paw chapter 2
Book Checklist…
 You need the following stickers:
• Target
• Marking policy
• Word wall
 Update your word wall with correct
spellings
Learning Objective
To continue reading The Monkey’s Paw and
investigate how Jacobs develops the characters.
supernatural
diskuss the following points with a partner.
Prepare to feedback in 5 minutes.
What does this term mean to you?
Can you think of any examples of the
supernatural?
Use your ideas and class feedback to create a
definition for the term, ‘supernatural’…
Why is the monkey’s paw supernatural in the story?
Re-read the description of the paw in chapter 1 and consider
what qualities the paw possesses and why.
Note your findings in a mind-map.
What techniques are used by
Jacobs to show that the
soldier does not want to
diskuss the paw?
“Nothing,” said the
soldier, hastily.
“Leastways,
nothing worth
hearing.”
Consider…
 Sentence lengths
 Content: what is being said
 How it is being said – what description does
Jacobs use?
Challenge
What impression does the soldier’s description
give to the reader? Think about the techniques
used by Jacob and what mood/atmosphere
they create.
Note any significant actions of the characters on your
chart. What conclusions can we draw from each
character from analyzing their actions?
As I say each character’s name, use one
word to summarize that character…
Mrs. White skeptical
Character
Mr. White
Action
Conclusion
Suddenly yells about the foul
weather and the road they
live on.
Frustrated that he has not
won chess and getting rid of
his emotions.
Appears to skeptical about
the paw but the first wish is
still on her mind.
Excited by the idea of magic
but does not really believe it
exists.
Mr. White
Mrs. White
Mrs. White
Herbert White
Major Morris
Major Morris
Is hesitant to diskuss the
paw.
Character
Mr. White
Action
Conclusion
Suddenly yells about the foul
weather and the road they
live on.
Frustrated that he has not
won chess and getting rid of
his emotions.
Mr. White
Mrs. White
Mrs. White
Herbert White
Major Morris
Major Morris
Is hesitant to diskuss the
paw.
LESSON 3
• Read The Monkey’s Paw chapter 3
Learning Objective
To finish reading The Monkey’s Paw and
summarize the short story.
Direct Speech
“I only just thought of it,” she said.
Copy this sentence into your book twice, each time
adding a descriptive detail.
1. Change the verb so we know how it is said.
2. Add an adverb which describes how the
sentence is spoken.
Even his wife’s face seemed changed as he entered
the room. It was white and expectant, and to his
fears seemed to have an unnatural look upon it. He
was afraid of her.
“Wish!” she cried, in a strong voice.
“It is foolish and wicked,” he faltered.
“Wish!” repeated his wife.
Whose side are
you on?
1. How does Jacobs use speech to create a
mood?
What do you think
of the ending of
the tale?
diskuss the ending with a
partner…
 your opinion of the ending
 if the ending suits the story
 do you think the ending
conforms to Gothic
conventions?
Create a six-box storyboard to summarize the story of
The Monkey’s Paw.
 All six boxes must feature a Gothic element.
 For each picture, choose evidence (a quote) to
explain what is happening.
15
minutes
Six word story
summarize The
Monkey’s Paw in exactly
six words.
Homework
Due Thursday 18th June
Write a short story (200 words) using
ONLY 5 of the conventions listed
(worksheet).
Complete the task in
your homework book.
LESSON 4
• Creative writing – write an alternative ending to
The Monkey’s Paw
Odd One Out
Clue: think about the nature of the ‘villain’ in
each film…
Alternative Ending
Create a new ending to The Monkey’s Paw. It must be
no longer than 2 pages long.
Start your ending with the following lines:
“You’re afraid of your own son,” she cried, struggling. “Let me
go. I’m coming, Herbert; I’m coming.”
There was another knock, and another.
Consider speech and atmosphere…
Can you use the same techniques used by Jacobs to
improve your ending?
Success Express
 Controlled use of a variety of sentence lengths, used
to achieve purpose and add to the overall effect.
 Imaginative and distinctive voice established and
sustained throughout.
 Ambitious vocabulary, imaginatively chosen to
match the purpose and audience.
 Correct spelling, punctuation and grammar used
throughout.
Level 6
Level 7
 Used a variety of sentence
lengths to achieve purpose
and contribute to overall
effect.
 A variety of sentence
lengths used across the
text to achieve purpose and
overall effect.
 Convincing voice used
throughout.
 Imaginative and distinctive
voice used throughout.
 Vocabulary chosen is
generally appropriate to
purpose and audience.
 Ambitious vocabulary
consistently used to suit
the purpose and audience.
 Generally correct spelling
throughout, occasional
errors.
 Correct spelling
throughout.
Peer Assessment
• Glue the levels and criteria into your
partner’s work.
• Underline or highlight what your partner
has achieved.
• Use this as a guide for completing the peer
assessment sticker.
Homework Reminder
Due Thursday 18th June
Write a short story (200 words) using
ONLY 5 of the conventions listed
(worksheet).
Complete the task in
your homework book.
Level 6
Level 7
 Used a variety of sentence
lengths to achieve purpose
and contribute to overall
effect.
 A variety of sentence
lengths used across the
text to achieve purpose and
overall effect.
 Convincing voice used
throughout.
 Imaginative and distinctive
voice used throughout.
 Vocabulary chosen is
generally appropriate to
purpose and audience.
 Ambitious vocabulary
consistently used to suit
the purpose and audience.
 Generally correct spelling
throughout, occasional
errors.
 Correct spelling
throughout.
Level 6
Level 7
 Used a variety of sentence
lengths to achieve purpose
and contribute to overall
effect.
 A variety of sentence
lengths used across the
text to achieve purpose and
overall effect.
 Convincing voice used
throughout.
 Imaginative and distinctive
voice used throughout.
 Vocabulary chosen is
generally appropriate to
purpose and audience.
 Ambitious vocabulary
consistently used to suit
the purpose and audience.
 Generally correct spelling
throughout, occasional
errors.
 Correct spelling
throughout.
Homework – due in Thursday 18th June
• Write a short (200 word) story using
ONLY 5 of the following conventions.
Setting
Character
Sub - genre
Plot extras
Graveyard
Vampire
Romance
A candle
Castle
Monster
Horror
An abandoned car
Old House
Mad Man
Supernatural
Set in the past
Moors/fields
Villain vs Hero
Mystery
A broken doll
Street in mist and
darkness
Distressed heroine
Thriller
Bloodied knife
Homework – due in Thursday 18th June
• Write a short (200 word) story using
ONLY 5 of the following conventions.
Setting
Character
Sub - genre
Plot extras
Graveyard
Vampire
Romance
A candle
Castle
Monster
Horror
An abandoned car
Old House
Mad Man
Supernatural
Set in the past
Moors/fields
Villain vs Hero
Mystery
A broken doll
Street in mist and
darkness
Distressed heroine
Thriller
Bloodied knife