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Elements of gothic literature
Elements of gothic literature
Writing a gothic story
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How does the author create fear and tension in the story?
. Brief summary of the plot (not more than one paragraph)
. Look at each part of the story explaining how tension and
fear is created. Think about language, climax/anticlimax,
gothic features, setting and use of sense.
. Conclude by giving your thoughts and feelings about the
story and how successful you think it was as a gothic tale.
The monkey’s paw is a gothic tale. The tale is about a family of three named the Whites. When the Whites are given a magical monkey’s paw by an old family friend – Sergeant Major Morris - they also inherit three wishes. Herbert, the descendant of the family takes the paw for granted and had no certainty in the paw. That day they make their first wish for two hundred pounds, nothing happens. That night, after the old couple had departed to bed, Herbert sees a simian-like face in the fire. The following day, Herbert, goes to Maw and Meggins, where he works. In the meantime a worker from the Maw and Meggins cotton mill comes to visit Herbert’s parents and delivers devastating news. He claims that Herbert had been crushed by machinery whilst working which led to his death, but they were entitled to compensation of two hundred pounds. The couple are absorbed by grief and after the funeral Mrs White suggests that they use the monkey’s paw to wish Herbert back to life. Mr White is very hesitant to do this, but after a lot of persuasion and fuss from his wife he agrees to the idea. After making the wish the couple retire to bed. When the candles burn out, and Mr White goes to retrieve more there are loud knocks at the door. Mrs White runs to the door, and after a few struggling minutes, manages to get the door open. A loud...
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...s an idea in your head that maybe someone will disown another in the tale.
Climax and anticlimax is something else the writer uses to create fear and suspense. The first anticlimax in the tale is when Herbert has just left for work and the post arrives. Mrs White rushes to the door “All of which did not prevent her from scurrying to the door at the postman’s knock.” This prepares you for a climax as the writer creates the idea that the money they wished for is going to be in the post, but you are disappointed, “When she found out that the post brought a tailors bill.” This is a good technique as the writer keeps you in suspense but then disappoints you.
During part three the writer uses descriptions of senses “Sounds of her sobs” and “Lay silently.” The use of the senses makes the story feel more alive as its describing the way you feel, see and hear things.
2. The author creates tone, which changes from peaceful and calm to horror. Words in the story like humorlessly and awkwardly help the reader feel the tension in the town. In the story, “She held her breath while her husband went forward” proved that the characters was dealing with ...
Another reason why The Monkey's Paw explains foreshadowing with suspense or tension because in the article the author writes again "A rat," said the old man, in shaking tones—"a rat. It passed me on the stairs."
The theme in both stories are the same it is be careful what you wish for. I know this because in the “Monkey's paw” even when the man says, “ I warn you of the consequences if you must wish, wish for something sensible” Mr.white still wishes for 200 pounds this was not a very sensible wish it was actually very selfish and childish. As a result That same day a man walked up to his door and says that Mr.white's son was caught in equipment and that, “they wish to present
One may stutter over the conception that a monkey’s paw holds the power to determine fate, rather than siding with freewill. In the short story, “The Monkey’s Paw,” an average family, located in the middle class discovers a monkey’s paw and are told that they had three wishes upon that magical, yet deceiving item. However, their decisions cost them several, unintended consequences, due to greed within the human mind. The author, W.W. Jacobs uses symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony to convey the peril of wish fulfillment and the dangers of interfering with fate.
White used on the monkey’s paw was to have 200 pounds (Jacobs 91). The previous examples prove how the theme of limiting luxury is illustrated differently in both stories by showing the wealth of each family. In “The Veldt,” the family is in a superior financial state where they have access to anything they want and where money is not an issue. However in “The Monkey’s Paw,” although it took place in 1902, the White’s first wish was for 200 pounds- 243 dollars and 83 cents- which is not an insanely large amount of money that would result in them being care-free for the rest of their lives. Overall, this proves the theme of the limiting luxury through showing the amount of means each family has and how their limit’s would be different from one another's as the two stories progress. Another instance of how the theme is portrayed differently in the short stories is how finances play a role in family life. For instance, in Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt,” the Hadley’s have access to such an extreme amount of money that it begins to affect how the parents and kids interact. This occurs when Peter threatens his father by saying, “I don’t think you’d better consider it any more, father” (Bradbury 7). On the contrary, the relationship between the members of the White family is much
“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”(McGill). The short story The Monkey’s Paw by William Wymark Jacobs has many instances of characters not giving their full attention when somebody was attempting to speak to them. When the sergeant came to the home of the White’s and showed them the monkey’s paw, the White’s did not listen to the sergeants warning of the monkey’s paw of it bringing great consequences whenever they made a wish. Mrs. White did not listen to Mr. White when he tried to explain why they should not wish for their son to be alive. Mrs. White rushed down the stairs ignoring Mr. White’s warnings of opening the door to let their son into the home. Listening more to people other than someone’s self is an ideal that has been lost in society.
Her bedroom was closed but with an “open window” (463), with a roomy armchair she sank into. As she is looking out the window she sees “the tops of trees,” “new spring life,” “breath of rain was in the air,” and she could hear a peddler below in the street, calling to customers, and “patches of blue sky showing” (463). The author depicts in the previous sentence that when she uses “breath of rain was in the air,” rain is more like a cleansing so she could be feeling a sign of relief but can’t recognize it. She sat with her head on the cushion “quite motionless,” except when a sob came in her throat and “shook her,” like a child “continuously sobbing” (463) in its dreams. The author uses imagery in the previous
The “Monkey’s Paw” reveals an intriguing story of destiny and death. The Theme challenges the classical ideas of destiny and fate.
Harding, James. "The Monkey's Paw: Overview." Reference Guide to Short Fiction. Ed. Noelle Watson. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994. Literature Resource Center. Web. 20 Apr. 2011.
The major speaks a magical talisman which would grant you three wishes. the good luck charm was a mummified monkeys paw, Mr.White is so intrigued by the paw that he begged the Major for it. the major told Mr. white all the great pain it has caused him and then Mr. Morris throws into the fire. Quickly Mr. White retrieves it from fire and believes the major was crazy for throwing it away like that. The major tell him he should have just left it where it was in the fire and he should have just let it burn. Major warns The family of the consequences of the paw then leaves. Ms . White says “How could two hundred pounds hurt you father.”The quote is ironic because later on in the story Herbert their son, dies and in compensation for his death they get the two hundred pounds they wished for and in the end Herbert was hurt. So Mr White wishes for two hundred pounds and nothing happens.The families goes off to bed in doubt of the paws powers. The family wakes up and the air feels calm and quiet, they send their son off to school then sit down and have breakfast together. A man knocks on there door bringing horrible news, Herbert was
Sergeant Major, the White family’s house guest, informed them that the fakir conjured a spell and put a curse on the monkey's paw. “He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow”(Jacobs 74- 76). Sergeant Major told the White’s that if they made a wish on the monkey’s paw it would interfere with their fate and something bad would come of it. This quote helped prove that the story was very frightening even though there were no monsters because it referred to fate ruining people’s lives. There was no blatant horror so the story was not physically scary but it was definitely internal horror since it was emotionally chilling. The quote depicted horror since the White’s continued to think about wishing on the monkey’s paw in spite of the consequences. In addition, after Sergeant Major gave him the monkey’s paw the old man made a wish for 200 pounds. After he made the wish the paw suddenly shifted in his hand and startled the old man. “A fine crash from the piano greeted the words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man. His wife and son ran toward him. It moved, he cried, with a glance of disgust at the object as it lay on the floor. As I wished it twisted in my hand like a snake”(Jacobs 155-160). The old man became extremely disturbed and fearful when the monkey’s paw moved in
The death of her son, Herbert White, from the events of the first wish, causes Mrs. White to desperately want him back. Thus, the monkey’s paw is used a second time, despite Mr. White’s reluctance to do so. On page 99, Mrs. White cries, “No, we’ll have one more. Go down and get it quickly, and wish our boy alive again.” This quote from the story shows Mrs. White’s desire to get her son back. It implies that she is so desperate to do this that she could care less about the risks involved with using the monkey’s paw. The idea of desire in the second wish helps lead to tragedy in the lives of the White
In the spine-chilling story of “The Monkey’s Paw,” by W.W. Jacobs, a man obtains a cursed monkey paw that can grant three separate men three wishes. Each wish made from the paw turns out bad and has a consequence, no matter how simple or how good you try to make the wish. This story has suspense all over, along with twists and overall a good plot that has a deep meaning to it. In this story, you really need to read it more than just once to understand everything you read in it. The author of this book uses different tools to keep you reading, make it entertaining, believable, and thrilling to read.
They heard her muffled cries.” Here, the author uses words like ‘stood,’ ‘tremble,’ ‘beating,’ ‘throwing’, and ‘muffled cries.’ Why, one asks? The effect of this craft move is to help readers create a clear mental picture of the aftermath of the student tidal wave. The students stand, tremble, beat, throw, and make muffled cries.
He warns Mr. White not to take the paw, as there will be severe consequences, and attempts to burn it. However, Mr. White ignores his precaution and takes the paw. He then makes a wish for two-hundred pounds. To his dismay, the wish comes true - with a catch. Mr. and Mrs. White’s son, Herbert, dies in machinery.