Lesson Plan

Period 2
Teaching
Objectives

Objectives

Paws Off The Monkeys Paw

Date: October 6th, 2016
Time: 9:15-10:05
Duration: 50 minutes
By giving students more time to think and respond to discussion
questions, I hope to facilitate on task discussions, a deeper
understanding of the text, as well as encourage more students to
participate.
I hope to keep conversation running smoothly by giving
appropriate and effective feedback to students. Trying to avoid
general statements such as amazing and very very good.
To be aware of the time throughout and end class accordingly
with instructions for next class.
Students will be able to:

Define and understand codes and conventions of the genre of horror.

Identify literary elements that communicate horror.
Find concrete examples within a text to support ideas.

Materials

Professional
Competencies

Cross-Curricular
Adaptations

Text: The Monkeys Paw by W.W Jacobs (students will have

already read the text in an earlier class)
Activity Sheet

Competency 1. Uses language/talk to communicate and to learn.

Competency 2. Reads and listens to written, spoken and media texts.
Competency 3. Produces texts for personal and social purposes.

Art: Horror stories are situated around producing a sense of fear

in the reader. Have students create a work of art that
communicates a childhood/current fear.
Drama: Setting plays a large part in creating a horror story. Have
students re-create a theatrical version of the short story with
detailed set and stage directions.
History: Given the evidence of setting, clothing, and character
manner, have students situate the story in a time period. Students
will be asked to use evidence to support their findings.

Time

Lesson
Overview

Attendance
Recap of Synopsis. (5 min.)
Short Presentation on the codes and conventions of horror.
(20 min.)
Handout small group discussion questions. (5 min.)
Have students present their findings to the class. (15-20 min.)
Introduction of worksheet and short essay activity if time
permits.

Recap of Synopsis

5 minutes

Who are the main characters that the story revolves around?
What happens in the story?
How does it end?
Short Presentation on the codes and conventions of Horror
Short activity that asks students to identify codes and conventions
of horror evident in various movie trailers.
Brief discussion on whether or not The Monkeys Paw falls into
the category of horror. Reasons why and why not.

20 minutes

Handout small group discussion questions.

Activity:

5 minutes

Students will get into groups of 5-6. Each group will be given a question
to discuss for ten minutes. After time is up, each group will read out their
questions and then present their findings.
Activity sheet and assignment explanation (if time permits).

Remainder of class
(roughly 20 min.)

Students will complete an activity sheet that requires them to identify

literary elements and the ways in which they create suspense in the horror
story The Monkeys Paw. Once this is completed, students will be asked
to complete a short essay that asks students to prove the ways in which
literary elements communicate codes and conventions of horror in W.W
Jacobs The Monkeys Paw.

Wrap-Up
Next class will be dedicated to introducing/completing the work sheet
and completing a mind map for the upcoming short essay.
Small Group Discussion Questions

1. How does Jacobs set the mood and/or tone of the story? How
does he build suspense? Think about the way he uses silence
as a way to create a mood.
2. What evidence suggests that the monkeys paw is not a good
thing? What literary element is this?
3. Sergeant Major Morris describes the monkeys paw in this way:
It had a spell put on it by an old fakir, a very holy man. He
wanted to show that fate ruled peoples lives, and that those
who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. (Jacobs, p.2)
What does Morris statement mean when you first read it?
What does it mean after you have read the entire story? Is his
comment significant? If so, why?
4. The number three is prevalent throughout Jacobs short story.
Some examples include: 3 members of the white family, 3 men
can wish 3 wishes on the monkeys paw, Mr. White is the 3rd
owner of the paw, the story is split into 3 parts, Mrs. White
asks her husband to wish Herbert alive 3 times, the thing at
the end of the story knocks on the door three times. What do
you believe is the significance of the number 3 in the story?
Why do you think the author uses it so much?
5. What do you think happens at the end of the story? Why does
Mr. White beg his wife no to let it into the house. What is he
afraid of? Who or what is outside of the house?
6. What are 5 themes found in the story? Provide contextual
evidence.

The Monkeys Paw by W.W. Jacobs

Codes and Conventions of Horror in Literature
W.W Jacobs uses many different unsettling techniques in The Monkeys
Paw. Match the elements of the story with the literary elements used.
Unusual characters
Unusual Setting
Withholding information
Cliffhanger
Foreshadowing

Dilemma
Unusual Situation
Ironic Devises
Dramatic Actions

PART 1

1. The story begins with the line, Without, the night

was cold and wet.
2. Herbert says that he doesnt see the money and bets
he never will.
3. The Story does not show who is knocking at the door
nor does it give the reason for the father not wanting
his son to come back.
4. The son comes back from the dead.
5. The story deals with a monkeys paw that can be
used to make wishes.
6. The father is forced to decide between pleasing his
wife or sending his son back to his grave.
7. The wish comes true but in a very tragic way.
8. When the mother hears the knocking, she rushes to
the door. The father tries to find the paw, the mother

cant get the door open, the wish is made, and there
is silence.
9. The story ends with nothing at the door and an eerie
quietness all around.
Part 2: Write a short essay about the authors use of literary elements
and the ways in which they aid in creating a horror story. Keep in mind
conventions such as suspense and uneasiness and those discussed in
class. Be sure to create a thesis. Use direct quotations. (Minimum 500
words.)