Question

Think about the events that have occurred in Part of "The Monkey's Paw." Select one event that creates tension in

the story. Write a few sentences that describe how that specific event creates tension.

Answer 1

Tension is built in the event when the Sergeant-Major reveals the paw and tells the Whites that it had a spell put on it by an old fakir. He explains that the paw gives the owner three wishes, and the family begins to press him about the wishes he and the previous owners may have made. The Sergeant-Major's actions and words indicate that nothing good has come from the wishes, but the family still seems eager to know more and have the paw for themselves, despite the warnings. Tension is created because the reader would expect good to come from wishes, creating interest in the paw.

Explanation: PLATO

Answer 2

One event that causes tension is when the sergeant-major says, "I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death."

This statement causes tension because the audience does not know why this man wished for death. Since the reader does not know what the first 2 wishes were, it makes the reader wonder what could be so bad that the man wanted to die. It creates tension because now the reader is worried about what other people might wish for. Additionally, the reader is concerned about how these wishes might affect the people at dinner. If one man could ruin his life with just 2 wishes, it is possible for the new characters to do the same.

This uncertainty and fear are what create the majority of the tension.