“God Sees the Truth But Waits” by Leo Tolstoy
1. Why is the story called “God Sees the Truth But Waits”?
2. What is the exposition of the story? Discuss the setting, characters, and basic situation of the story.
3. How are the events that ruin Ivan Aksyonof’s life foreshadowed early in the story? (p. 124)
4. Why would Ivan have no concerns about sharing an inn room with adjoining rooms with the other merchant?
5. After Ivan leaves the inn, how does his behavior reveal that he’s an honest man?
6. After Ivan leaves the inn, how does his behavior reveal that he’s a guilty man?
7. Once Ivan is imprisoned, “Enquiries as to his character were made in Vladimir” (126). Explain if the information
the authorities learned was helpful or hurtful to Ivan’s plight.
8. How important is it to have strong character?
9. Did Ivan’s wife respond appropriately? Defend your opinion with evidence.
10. “So you, too, suspect me! said Aksyonof, and hiding his face in his hands, he began to weep. Then a soldier
came to say that the wife and children must go away; and Aksyonof said good-bye to his family for the last time”
(127). Which would be more difficult to deal with: a literal death where a loved one dies suddenly or this type of
death where a loved one is sent away for life?
11. Even though the story doesn’t explain what happened, what do you think the wife would do if she learned that
her husband was innocent and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit?
12. “It seems that only God can know the truth, it is to Him alone we must appeal, and from Him alone expect
mercy” (127-128).” Can you explain how Ivan finds comfort in this?
13. “For twenty-six years Aksyonof lived as a convict in Siberia. His hair turned white as snow and his beard grew
long, thin, and gray. All his mirth went; he stooped; he walked slowly, spoke little, and never laughed, but he often
prayed” (128). Ivan’s life is completely different in Siberia, and all these things have happened to his body and
personality. What causes these changes?
14. If being falsely accused can destroy a person’s life, then what can a reader learn from this story?
15. When Makar Semyonitch arrives and eventually confesses to being the real killer, can you detect any sorrow or
guilt in his words or tone of voice? What evidence supports your view?
16. The story says that other prisoners told Makar about Ivan’s innocence. Why didn’t Ivan tell Makar himself?
17. What would most people do if they learned that the man who killed their friend and who tried to kill them was
in the same room?
18. Near the end of the story, Ivan “kept repeating prayers all night, but could get no peace” (131). What are
possible reasons he can’t find his peace?
19. “I have no wish to escape, and you have no need to kill me; you killed me long ago” (131). At what point in the
story did Ivan die in spirit?
20. What is the difference between grace and mercy, and which one does Ivan offer Makar in prison?
21. “And at these words his heart grew light, and the longing for home left him” (133). What causes Ivan to find his
joy again? What causes him to feel peace?
22. Aksyonof dies before he leaves the prison. How did God see the truth and wait?
23. If you were falsely accused and sent to prison, what attitude do you think you would have?
24. Why did Leo Tolstoy write this story? What’s the point?
25. What are three positive things a reader can learn from this story?
26. Which is the most powerful: hatred, revenge, guilt, mercy, love, forgiveness, hope, or joy? Defend your answer.
27. If you could tell Ivan anything, what advice would you offer him?
“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
1. What type of mood is established in the beginning of the story? What helps determine that sense of feeling?
2. What magical ability does the monkey’s paw have?
3. Why did the fakir place a spell on the paw?
4. Sergeant Major Morris’ face whitens when he reveals that he has had three wishes. What can you infer about the
paw?
5. What is probably upsetting the sergeant-major about the White family's lightheartedness toward the paw?
6. What was the first man’s third wish? How might this be an example of foreshadowing?
7. Why doesn't Mr. White know what to wish for? What is Mr. White’s first wish?
8. What does the paw immediately do after the first wish? What can you infer from this?
9. What does Mr. White see in the fire the night of his first wish? How is this an example of foreshadowing?
10. What are the family's feelings about the wish in the morning?
11. How do the Whites come to receive the $200?
12. Why does Mrs. White want the monkey's paw? What is the second wish?
13. What do you suppose was the final wish?
14. What do you think happened at the end of the story? What does he mean when Mr. White begs his wife not to
let "it" into the house? What is he afraid of? Who or what was outside of the house?
15. What could be a more creative title than “The Monkey’s Paw”? Write down a universal truth for this story.
“The Engineer’s Thumb” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
1. Paddington Station is a train station in London. Two men from Paddington appear Dr. Watson’s consulting
room, a guard and Mr. Victor Hatherley. What brings them there in?
2. Describe Colonel Stark, the man who comes to see Mr. Hatherley about the job.
3. What is the one condition of employment that Colonel Stark insists on over and over?
4. What is the job he offers Mr. Hatherley? At what time of the day will he perform this job?
5. According to Colonel Stark, what has he been doing with his hydraulic press, and why does he wish to keep his
actions a secret? Is there anything suspicious about his explanation?
6. Describe what happens when the woman comes to greet them as they enter the house.
7. Who is Mr. Ferguson?
8. Describe the house Mr. Hatherley sees as they walk to the press.
9. What is wrong with the machine?
10. Explain how Colonel Stark tries to kill the engineer. How does he escape?
11. Explain how he loses his thumb.
12. Explain what Holmes guesses about the fresh, glossy horse that helps him locate the house.
13. What was the real use of the machine?
14. What has happened to the house? How did it happen?
15. How did the unconscious engineer end up near the train station? What evidence tells
Holmes and Watson who helped him?
Questions for Further Discussion on “The Engineer’s Thumb”
1. What details make the mood of the story spooky? Find five details that contribute to the mood.
2. Do you think that the engineer in this story should have know something illegal was going on at Colonel Stark’s
home? What clues might have led him to this conclusion?
3. If he did suspect an illegal operation before he agreed to take the job, would that make the engineer at least partly
guilty of a crime himself for agreeing to repair the press?
4. If you had been the engineer at the beginning of the story, needing a job desperately
but offered such unusual conditions, what would you have done?
5. Watson begins the tale by noting that this is not a typical case, for it gives Holmes few opportunities to use his
deductive methods of reasoning. Does the story still meet the requirements of a good detective story? Why or why
not?
“In the Library” by W.W. Jacobs
1. Explain the disagreement between Burleigh and Fletcher and make note of the importance of money in their
disagreement.
2. What drives Burleigh to try to murder Fletcher? And with what instrument?
3. What is the first thing that startles Burleigh after he murders Fletcher?
4. How many hours does Burleigh have to flee the house before his housekeeper returns? And what options for
hiding or starting over does he contemplate?
5. What is the importance of the clock in the story? Note all the times it is referred to and why.
6. Who does Burleigh trap in the library and why?
7. How is suspense built up in the story? List all the examples.
8. Why do the sergeant and constable arrest for the attempted murder and why? How is this an example of
situational irony?
9. What is the last example of situational irony at the very end of the story? Explain.
a. What effect does this revelation have on the reader and on Burleigh?