“The Monkey’s Paw,” written by W.W. Jacobs in 1902, is considered a classic work of short fiction. It’s a re-imagining of the “wish-gone-wrong” trope, and is particularly influenced by One Thousand and One Nights, a famous and influential collection of stories compiled over centuries by Middle Eastern authors and scholars. Since “The Monkey’s Paw” was first published, it has been re-published in numerous collections of short fiction, adapted for film and television, and frequently referenced as pop culture shorthand for “be careful what you wish for!”
Key Aspects of The Monkey’s Paw
Tone
The tone of the story is suspenseful, but also a bit tongue-in-cheek and humorous.
Setting
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