The Classics

“The Monkey’s Paw and The Raven”

Who Would Write These Things?

• Jacobs was born in Wapping, London; his father was a wharf manager at the South Devon wharf at Lower East Smithfield. He was educated at a private school in London and later at Birkbeck College (then called Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution, now part of the University of London). In 1879, Jacobs began work as a clerk in the civil service, in the Post Office Savings Bank, and by 1885 he had his first short story published. His road to success was relatively slow: Arnold Bennett writing in 1898 was astonished that Jacobs turned down the sum of £500 for six short stories. Jacobs was financially secure enough to be able to leave the Post Office in 1899. Jacobs is now remembered for his macabre tale "The Monkey's Paw" (published 1902 in the collection of short stories The Lady of the Barge) and several other ghost stories, including "The Toll House" (published 1909 in the collection of short stories Sailors' Knots) and "Jerry Bundler" (published 1901 in the collection Light Freights). However, the majority of his output was humorous in tone.

• Edgar Allan Poe is considered the “father” of detective fiction, mystery, and the unknown. Much of his work did not become famous until after he had passed away. He was one of the first American authors to try to make a living solely on writing, and that led to a difficult, and poor life. He had experience in the military, and was one who made several attempts at careers but never actually settled on any one particular job. There are all kinds of rumours surrounding Poe’s life such as his interactions with the after life, his interests in the paranormal, and his “mysterious” ways. The most popular theory, however, is that he was simply poor and may have suffered from substance abuse. Poe’s work lives on and on, and is the inspiration for many of the “thriller” genre writing today.

Dissecting The Classics1. Vocabulary: Because the English language is always evolving and

changing, or because words become less mainstream, it is not enough for us to ignore them because they could hold extremely important meaning when it comes to the story at hand. One strategy that works when reading the classics is putting the word in context (reading it in a whole sentence) and trying to decipher the meaning. The second best strategy would be to look it up.

2. We do not read the classics (at least I don’t, and I don’t expect you to) to memorize, regurgitate, or comprehend on a basic level. We read them to connect them to the present in terms of inspiration, longevity, and entertainment. They are classics for a reason!

3. We want to examine theme. What was it that the author was getting at in the story that can be related to today. For our purpose, we will identify theme and discuss that theme in a 2015 context. We identify theme by connecting various parts of the plot to one overarching idea – or theme.

The Monkey’s Paw• The question you've been waiting for all your life: If you were given three wishes,

what would you wish for? Remember, be smart about this and give it plenty of thought. You don't want to make the same mistakes the Whites do.

• Why doesn't anybody ever wish for unlimited wishes? Are there any ways that wish could backfire?

• Do you think Mr. White's second wish came true? We never see an undead version of Herbert in the story, we only hear someone knocking on the White's door. Can you think of any other explanation for the sound?

• If you were in Mr. and Mrs. White's position, would you wish for Herbert to come back to life? Why or why not?

• Is Morris an untrustworthy guy? Is he trying to make Mr. White want the cursed paw?• How does "The Monkey's Paw" compare to other stories about wishes that you've

read or watched? (Maybe Aladdin, the Greek myth of "Apollo and Daphne," 13 Going on 30, or Coraline, for example.)

• This story helped horror-master Stephen King develop some of the plot elements and major themes that would win him a worldwide audience. Does the story inspire you to write a story of your own? What would you change? In what time period would you set it? What might your main character wish for?

The Raven• Dissecting literature takes time, attention to detail, and “thinking out

loud”.• We want to be able to move past the surface meaning, on to more

complex, deep, and sophisticated understanding.• Understanding vocabulary is critical to understanding meaning. Use

your three strategies to help you.• Understanding symbolism is critical to understanding meaning.• Keep in the back of your mind the theme omens.

Follow Up To “The Raven”• You have to choose one of the following follow up activities for the

poem:• 1) Create a visual representation of the themes that exist in the

poem. You are not being assessed on your artistic ability here, you are being assessed on the thought that goes in to the piece and the depth at which you explore the themes that were present in the poem. There are lots of good examples on Google that can inspire you, but remember that this is a creation of your own.

• 2) Write a letter to the narrator of the poem. In your letter, you want to elaborate on his experiences and you can offer suggestions, ask questions, be empathetic, etc. Make sure you are considering the themes that were present in the poem, and that you are relating to them or reflecting on them throughout your letter.

• Everyone needs to think of one of their “ravens”. Describe the extent of “the raven”, and how it compares to the narrator in the poem.