In this lesson, you'll begin reading "The Monkey's Paw" by
W. W. Jacobs. Many readers have enjoyed this cautionary tale
of a man who receives a monkey's paw that grants him three
wishes. Jacobs creates moments of tension and suspense in
the story by carefully ordering a series of events that build
upon one another to keep readers on the edge of their
seats.
The story begins with this epigraph:
"Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it."
Answer these questions in your Notebook tool (G):
What might be the meaning of this sentence?
Why might the author have placed it at the
beginning of the story?
