Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Short Story and Monkeys Paw Theme

Good Essays
471 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Short Story and Monkeys Paw Theme
Final Draft Porschia Briggs These two similar short stories have an outrageous background. The first short story we read was called “The Monkeys Paw”, written by W.W. Jacobs. The second short story we read was called “The Leap”, written by Louise Erdich. In the Monkeys Paw, the White family deals with death and wishes granted by a devious magical spell. In the Leap, A family deals with death and a crazy, dangerous, more realistic situation. The two types of writing are Reflective essay and short story. As the readers enjoy these two amazing short stories, they will discover that anything is possible.
The mood for these two stories would have to be suspenseful. They share a common foreshadow also. “The Monkeys Paw”, Herbert’s death. (38) In “The Leap”, Anna’s ability to save herself during the storm (48, 49). The Monkeys Paw includes a verbal irony. “Well, I don’t see the money, said Herbert, and I never shall (36). The Leap includes a motif, which includes thunder, lighting, falling, and rolling of drums (48, 54).
Mr. White and Anna share a similar internal conflict, but have a different external conflict. In the Monkeys Paw, Mr. White chooses whether or not to make a wish (32). In the Leap, Anna needs to save Louise from the fire (52, 54). The external conflict for the Monkeys Paw would be the monkeys spell. This puts the White family through a rough time. The Leap external conflict would be Anna VS the storm (48, 50). These different conflicts are what make the story.
These two stories share common themes. The Monkeys Paw theme is “Fate ruled the people’s lives and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow” (34).
The Leap theme includes, appreciate your family and what they have done for you. The readers will discover some differences in these themes. The Monkeys Paw deals with wishes and spells. The Leap deals with struggles and appreciation from family and strangers. These two themes give you a better understanding of what the author is trying to express to readers.
Not only does these two great stories share a similar propose, however they also differ in many outrageous ways. These stories include how good things can turn into bad things, but just have faith and appreciate one another. Struggles are made, but happiness arrives. Techniques are discovered and literary elements are found.
The readers will discover that life is too short. It’s important to be happy with the life you have. No matter how good or bad the reader’s life is, it’s up to the reader to make something out of it. Stories may relate to readers or their situations that could really go on in the real life. Hopefully readers enjoy reading these short stories based on the similarity and differences.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Monkey’s Paw is a short story written by W. W. Jacobs, it has an element of suspense,…

    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    similar thematic elements that link them together. In the short stories found in “Tales of Conjure…

    • 1235 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Every writer creates a unique story that takes a life of its own, and teaches us a lesson. These stories can be similar with the same themes, plots, and other characteristics however overall they are unmistakably different. The similarities and differences of, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst is the quintessential example of this.…

    • 474 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs is a story of misfortune. The author uses foreshadowing in the story to build tension, and suspense to keep the reader entertained. W.W. Jacob does this by creating certain plot twists, and pacing the story rapidly but still having lots of detail. This book reminds me of being careful for what I wish for and lessons learned. The story begins with the main character, Mr. White, receiving a monkey's paw from a friend.…

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While both authors used symbolism to convey the message of their stories the themes of the stories could not have been more different.…

    • 1413 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The point of view in both stories affect the description of the same event by the use of light and dark imagery, the tone of the narrators, and the possible relationships that can be developed…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In both of the short story’s, the characters are influenced greatly by they environment they surround themselves with and the perception that they have of this environment influences…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In W.W Jacob’s short story “The Monkey’s Paw,” there are many instances of foreshadowing in order to keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats. In part one of “The Monkey’s Paw” the White family is introduced to the monkey’s paw by, family friend, Sergeant Major Morris. Major Morris explains the indelible outcome of using the paw. Mrs. White asks if anyone has used the paw before and Major Morris responds with “‘The first man used his wishes, yes,’”...”’I don't know what his first two wishes were, but the third was for death. That's how I got the paw.’” (Jacobs 34-35) This shows that if the family decides to use the paw, then then there may be dreadful consequences.…

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “The Monkey’s Paw,” the theme of despair is explored through the author’s characterization of Mr. and Mrs. White after Herbert’s death. "I'm sorry----" began the visitor. "Is he hurt?" demanded the mother. The visitor bowed in assent. "Badly hurt," he said quietly, "but he is not in any pain. "Oh, thank God!" said the old woman, clasping her hands. "Thank God for that! Thank----" She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the other's averted face. She caught her breath, and turning to her slower-witted husband, laid her…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Monkey Paw

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A suspenseful and horrific piece of literature, “The Monkey Paw” is written by W.W Jacobs. A quaint family of three receives an unusual monkey paw that is capable of making any three wishes come true. Despite the caveat of a curse attached to the paw, the family chooses to make a wish, evoking from the story a suspenseful attitude as the reader becomes wrapped up in finding out the Smiths’ fated ends. With the combination of W.W Jacobs’ settings, characters, and foreshadowing, the theme of the story, “that fate cannot be decided upon by man” is delivered pointedly and with style.…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    One way that they are alike is that it tells how they became enemies, for example the Rat pushes the Cat selfishly into the river, and in the story he eats the boat and Cat thinks that Rat was trying to kill him and he tries to kill Rat. Another way they are alike is in both the legend and the story they are crossing a river, and in the story the Rat eats the boat that they were crossing the river in and in the legend the Rat pushes Cat off of the Ox while crossing the river.Lastly in both Cat gets mad at Rat and tries to hurt him, like when the Cat and Rat cross the river and Rat eats the boat and Cat gets mad and tries to kill him or when they are crossing the river and the Rat pushes him off Ox’s back and Cat gets mad and tries to kill him. These reasons are why I think that the two stories about Cat and Rat are more…

    • 914 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the story, The Monkey’s Paw introduces a lot of foreshadowing in the beginning of the story and then comes out later on while the reader is reading the story. Foreshadowing creates suspense and tension to the story by letting the readers know what will happen to a character, or any events that will appear later on in the story. Readers then want to continue reading the story because they want to see what will happen next. The Monkey’s…

    • 220 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Another difference is one story has an onomoepea and the other one doesn’t. For example, in the story "from Boy's Life" it says "TICK . . . TICK . . . TICK." Which is an onomonopea because onomonopea is a sound and "TICK" is a sound. In the story “Emancipation: A life Fable” doesn’t have and sort of sound or dialogue.…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Monkey’s Paw, written by W.W. Jacobs, is a short story about the consequences of messing with fate. Mr. White is a simple man living with his wife, Mrs. White, and his grown son, Herbert. One evening Sergeant-Major Morris, a family friend back from India, visits them and shows them a monkey’s paw he had gotten there, saying that it will grant a man three wishes, but that it was made to prove that when you mess with fate, bad things happen. Even with the warning, Mr. White uses the monkey’s paw to grant his wishes, and soon pays the price. I think the theme of this story is basically, “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.”…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Monkey's Paw

    • 1980 Words
    • 8 Pages

    “The Monkey’s Paw” tells the story of a small but close family, the Whites who are visited by Sergeant-Major-Morris a friend of Mr Whites who brings with him the monkey’s paw. Sergeant-Major-Morris then tells how the owner of this magical monkeys paw is granted three wishes. Despite warning from Sergeant-Major-Morris, Mr White in greed wishes for two hundred pounds. We are then left wondering if Mr Whites wish will come true and before any money is found, Herbert White dies in a tragic machinery accident at work. Visited by a representative from the work the Whites receive two hundred pound in compensation, which we are then left to believe is the two hundred pound Mr White wished for and that the monkey’s paw is in fact magical. After Herbert is laid to rest his mother, Mrs White, in desperation demands Mr White use one of two remaining wishes to wish their son alive again. Despite protest Mr White wishes and later knocking begins at the door, which may be Herbert White. Mrs White escapes her husbands restrain and dashes to the door while Mr White searches rapidly to find the monkey’s paw in order to wish his son dead again to prevent his wife seeing her son’s tattered, torn body. In this extremely dramatic climax Mrs White finally gets the bolt off and ready to rip the door open just as Mr White finds the paw and uses his third and final wish. The street was deserted and Mrs White was left in devastation, Mr White in relief and we are left in a state of uncertainty, who was knocking on the door? What was Mr White’s final wish? And was all this the result of the monkey’s paw?…

    • 1980 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays