Author's Craft Elements: The Monkeys Paw By W. Jacobs

Kenneth Jackson

Mrs. Potter

ENG 2 CP/ 3rd

2/17/23

Author’s Craft Elements

“The Monkeys Paw” is a very intriguing and fascinating story. The story, “The Monkeys Paw”, made by W. W. Jacobs, is a story about a magical monkey’s paw that grants someone 3 wishes. It fulfills people's wishes, but not in the form in which they anticipate it will. This along with other things make this story successful. The authors craft elements work together to make an effective story by using images, important details, and change or surprise. They are essential since the overall quality of the story is enhanced by their presence. First, images are important because they place a picture in the reader’s head by using a description from the story to help the reader understand. An

An example of surprise is when the family found out that Herbert died. The passage states, “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” (20). This is effective because it brings the reader an unexpected surprise to keep them interested in the story. Another example of surprise is when Mr. White wished for his son to die. The story states, “and at the same moment he found the monkey’s paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish. The knocking ceased suddenly” (25). This is effective because it infers to the reader that the man wished for his son to die which is something that the reader would not expect. One more surprise is when the sergeant-major said that the first man wished for death. The story says, “I don’t know what the first two were, but the third was for death” (15). This is effective and surprising because people would not think that a person would ask for death as their last