The Monkey’s Paw CommonLit Answers Key 2023 [FREE ACCESS]

In this session, we will be bringing you the updated answers for CommonLit The Monkey’s Paw topic.

The Monkey’s Paw CommonLit Answer Key

Let us first read The Monkey’s Paw passage and will answer at the end.

 

The Monkey’s Paw
By W, W. Jacobs (1863-1943). He was an English writer of novels and short stories, most famous for his horror story,
“The Monkey’s Paw.” In this text, Jacobs tells the story of an older couple, their adult son, and a visitor who
brings them fantastic stories and a mysterious souvenir from his travels in India.

 

Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlor of Laburnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.

“Hark at the wind,” said Mr. White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.

“I’m listening,” said the latter, grimly surveying the board as he stretched out his hand. “Check.”

“l should hardly think that he’d come tonight,” said his father, with his hand poised over the board.

“Mate, replied the son.

“That’s the worst of living so far out,” bawled Mr. White, with sudden and unlooked-for violence; “of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Pathways a bog, and the road’s a torrent. I don’t know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses on the road are let, they think it doesn’t matter.”

“Never mind, dear,” said his wife soothingly; “perhaps you’ll win the next one.”

Mr. White looked up sharply, just in time to intercept a knowing glance between mother and son. The words died away on his lips, and he hid a guilty grin in his thin grey beard.

‘There he is,” said Herbert White, as the gate banged to loudly and heavy footsteps came toward the door.

The old man rose with hospitable haste, and opening the door, was heard condoling with the new arrival.

The new arrival also condoled with himself, so that Mrs. White said, ‘ffut, tut!” and coughed gently as her husband entered the room, followed by a tall burly man, beady of eye and rubicund of visage.

“Sergeant-Major Morris,” he said, introducing him.

The sergeant-major shook hands, and taking the proffered seat by the fire, watched contentedly while his host got out whisky and tumblers and stood a small copper kettle on the fire.

At the third glass, his eyes got brighter, and he began to talk, the little family circle regarding with eager interest this visitor from distant parts, as he squared his broad shoulders in the chair and spoke of strange scenes and doughty deeds; of wars and plagues and strange peoples.

Twenty-one years of it,” said Mr. White, nodding at his wife and son. “When he went away he was a slip of a youth in the warehouse. Now look at him.”

“He doesn’t look to have taken much harm,” said Mrs. White, politely.

“I’d like to go to India myself,” said the old man, “just to look round a bit, you know.”

“Better where you are,” said the sergeant-major, shaking his head. He put down the empty glass, and sighing softly, shook it again.

“l should like to see those old temples and fakirs and jugglers,” said the old man. “What was that you started telling me the other day about a monkey’s paw or something, Morris?’

“Nothing,” said the soldier hastily. “Leastways, nothing worth hearing.”

“Monkeys paw?’ said Mrs. White curiously.

‘Well, it’s just a bit of what you might call magic, perhaps,” said the sergeant-major off-handedly.

His three listeners leaned forward eagerly. The visitor absentmindedly put his empty glass to his lips and then set it down again. His host filled it for him.

‘To look at,” said the sergeant-major, fumbling in his pocket, “its just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy.’

He took something out of his pocket and proffered it. Mrs. White drew back with a grimace, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously.

“And what is there special about it?’ inquired Mr. White, as he took it from his son and, having examined it, placed it upon the table.

“It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,” said the sergeant-major, “a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it.”

His manner was so impressive that his hearers were conscious that their light laughter jarred somewhat.

‘Well, why don’t you have three, sir?’ said Herbert White cleverly.

The soldier regarded him in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth. “l have,” he said quietly, and his blotchy face whitened.

“And did you really have the three wishes granted?’ asked Mrs. White.

“l did,” said the sergeant-major, and his glass tapped against his strong teeth.

“And has anybody else wished?’ inquired the old lady.

‘The first man had his three wishes, yes,” was the reply. “l don’t know what the first two were, but the third was for death. That’s how I got the paw.”

His tones were so grave that a hush fell upon the group.

“If you’ve had your three wishes, it’s no good to you now, then, Morris,” said the old man at last. ‘What do you keep it for?’

The soldier shook his head. “Fancy, I suppose,” he said slowly.

“If you could have another three wishes,” said the old man, eyeing him keenly, “would you have them?’

“l don’t know,” said the other. “l don’t know.”

He took the paw, and dangling it between his front finger and thumb, suddenly threw it upon the fire. White, with a slight cry, stooped down and snatched it off.

“Better let it burn,” said the soldier solemnly.

“If you don’t want it, Morris,” said the old man, “give it to me.”

“l won’t,” said his friend doggedly. “l threw it on the fire. If you keep it, don’t blame me for what happens. Pitch it on the fire again, like a sensible man.”

The other shook his head and examined his new possession closely. “How do you do it?’ he inquired.

“Hold it up in your right hand and wish aloud,” said the sergeant-major, “but I warn you of the consequences.”

“Sounds like the Arabian Nights, said Mrs. White, as she rose and began to set the supper. “Don’t you think you might wish for four pairs of hands for me?’

Her husband drew the talisman from his pocket and then all three burst into laughter as the sergeant-major, with a look of alarm on his face, caught him by the arm.

“If you must wish,” he said gruffly, “wish for something sensible.”

Mr. White dropped it back into his pocket, and placing chairs, motioned his friend to the table. In the business of supper, the talisman was partly forgotten, and afterward, the three sat listening in an enthralled fashion to a second installment of the soldier’s adventures in India.

“If the tale about the monkey paw is not more truthful than those he has been telling us,” said Herbert, as the door closed behind their guest, just in time for him to catch the last train, “we shan’t make much out of it.”

“Did you give him anything for it, father?” inquired Mrs. White, regarding her husband closely.

“A trifle, said he, coloring slightly. “He didn’t want it, but I made him take it. And he pressed me again to throw it away.”

“Likely,” said Herbert, with pretended horror. ‘Why, we’re going to be rich, and famous, and happy. Wish to be an emperor, father, to begin with; then you can’t be henpecked.”

He darted around the table, pursued by the maligned Mrs. White armed with an antimacassar.

Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. ‘l don’t know what to wish for, and that a fact,” he said slowly. “It seems to me I’ve got all I want.”

…[CONTINUE READING FROM MAIN SITE ITSELF]

Let us now discuss CommonLit The Monkey’s Paw answers key to the questions asked:

 

Q1. PART A: Which statement best expresses the theme of the story?

Ans: Ignoring the wisdom and experience of others can lead to terrible consequences.

 

Q2. PART B: Which TWO quotes from the story best support the answer to Part A?

Ans:
-> “‘I won’t,’ said his friend doggedly. ‘I threw it on the fire. If you keep it, don’t blame me for what happens. Pitch it on the fire again, like a sensible man.'” ( Paragraph 42)
-> Mr. White dropped his wife’s hand, and rising to his feet, gazed with a look of horror at his visitor. His dry lips shaped the words, ‘How much?’ /Two hundred pounds was the answer. (paragraphs 93-94)

 

Q3. PART A: How do paragraphs 63-72 contribute to an understanding of the mood at this point in the story?

Ans: They create a suspenseful mood with details about the old man’s nightmares and Mrs. White’s concern.

 

Q4. PART B: Which TWO details best support the answer to Part A?

Ans:
-> “The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement. It got so vivid that, with a little uneasy laugh, he felt on the table for a glass containing a little water to throw over it.”
-> as [sunlight] streamed over the breakfast table Herbert laughed at his fears.

 

Q5. How does the dialogue in paragraphs 78-94 develop the plot of the story?

Ans: It reveals that Mr. White’s wish has been granted but not in the way they expected.

 

Q6. PART A: What impact do Mr. and Mrs. White’s differing points of view in paragraphs 109-125 and paragraphs 133-139 have on Part III?

Ans: Their different points of view about the sergeant-major emphasize the idea that visitors are threatening, which is an important theme in the story.

 

Q7. PART B: Which TWO excerpts from the story best support the answer to Part A?

Ans:
-> “‘Get it,’ she panted; ‘get it quickly, and wish — Oh, my boy, my boy!’ / Her husband struck a match and lit the candle. ‘Get back to bed,’ he said unsteadily. ‘You don’t know what you are saying.'” ( Paragraphs 113-114)
-> “But her husband was on his hands and knees groping wildly on the floor in search of the paw. If he could only find it before the thing outside got in.

 

Q8. How does the author use foreshadowing to contribute to the story’s overall meaning?

Ans: Mr. and Mrs. White and their son, Herbert, ignore the warnings about the danger of the supernatural. This foreshadowing helps develop the theme.

 

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