Whatwould
What you do
would you do with
withthree
threewishes?
wishes?
The Monkeys Paw W.W. Jacobss Classic Horror Story
Adapted for Scope Magazine by Mack Lewis
Cast:
WW Jacobs--the author of The Monkeys Paw
Narrators 1, 2, 3, and 4
Mr. & Mrs. White
Herbert--their 18 year old son
Sergeant-Major Morris
Messengers 1 & 2
Prologue:
W.W. Jacobs: Some disregard the tale you are
about to hear. They call it a silly ghost story
mere entertainment. But I warn you: Do not so
lightly dismiss this tale. Rather, heed its
warning! Fate rules us all. Meddle with fate and
you will suffer the consequences. The tale
takes place in a small English village, in the year
1900. And like all good horror stories, it begins
on a dark and stormy night...
Scene One:
N1: Its a nightmarish evening in the English
countryside, with howling winds and biting cold.
N2: Inside by the fire, Mr. and Mrs. White and
their son Herbert are entertaining a guest.
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N3: A burly man with a ruddy face, Sergeant-
Major Morris has just returned from twenty
years exploring the country of India. He is a
longtime friend of the White family.
Morris: By the looks of things, youve done
well for yourself, Mr. White. A good family, a
nice home
Mrs. White: Nearly
What lines in Scene
One set the tone for
the play, showing you
paid for, too! We owe
this is supposed to be
but 200 pounds on a ghost story? (1)
this house.
Morris: And Herbert, what a strapping boy!
Mrs. White: Our Herbert! He has a good job
too. He works at Maw & Meggens.
Herbert: Its tedious working the machinery,
but my school term begins soon enough.
Mrs. White: Yes, Herbert will be headed off to
college. Oh, I shudder to think what itll be like
when hes gone! One less mouth to feed, I
suppose.
Herbert: One less mouth to criticize her
cooking!
The Monkeys Paw-- Page 2 of 9
N4: Mrs. White playfully swats at him. their own sorrow. He put a spell on it so that
three men could each have three wishes from it.
Herbert: Id like to visit India myself someday.
N4: The Whites Compare Morris
Morris: No, youre better off where you are. laugh jarringly. attitude with those of the
Theres nothing but war and plagues there. Whites. What has the
author done to show you
Herbert: What, theyre different?(3)
Herbert: Just imagine, all those beautiful old like a rabbits
temples and fakirs. foot?

Mr. White: Thats right! What was it you started Mrs. White: What silliness!
telling me the other day, Morris? Something
about a monkeys paw? Herbert: Three wishes? Well, if thats true, why
don't you have
Mrs. White: three, sir?
Monkeys paw?
Do tell! N1: Morriss tone
is very grave.
N1: Morris
stares into the Morris: I have.
fire,
momentarily Mr. White: You
lost in thought. actually had three
wishes granted?
Morris: No... No, its best we leave that alone.
Morris: I did.
Mrs. White: Come now. What harm can it do?
Mrs. White: And has anybody else wished?
Morris: Very well. It's just a bit of magic,
perhaps. Morris: The first man had his three wishes. I
don't know what the first two were, but the third
Herbert: Magic? This does sound like fun! was for death. That's how I got the paw.

N2: Morris fumbles in his pocket. N2: The room falls silent as the Whites consider
Morriss eerie words.
Morris: To look at it, its just an ordinary little
mummified paw. Mrs. White (whispering): How awfulto wish
for death.
Mr. White: Whats so Whats a fakir?
special about it? Can you figure it Mr. White: If you've already had your three,
out based on the Morris, why do you keep the monkeys paw?
Morris: An old fakir sentence at left?(2)
put a spell on it. Morris: I had some idea of selling it, but I don't
think I will. Its caused enough mischief already.
N3: Morris leans forward as if to confess a
secret. N3: Morris stares at the paw, thinking.
Morris: He wanted to show that fate rules our
Morris: Better to let it burn, I think.
lives, that those who interfere with it do so to

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 What would you do with three wishes? The Monkeys Paw was originally
published in the April 23, 2012 issue of Scholastics Scope magazine. Its a
developmentally-appropriate adaption of W.W. Jacobs Gothic
masterpiece about fate. Fitting the three wishes theme, it centers around
an enchanted monkeys paw brought to England from India by Sergeant-
Major Morris. Is the paw really magic? Or is it all just a bit of superstition?
Readers learn that those who meddle with fate do so at their own peril. Its
a great play to inspire discussion about contentment, superstition, and
responsibility.
The play includes parts for nine cast membersfour of them narrators.
Depending on the extent of the performance, some narration can be
replaced with physical action.

Tech Note: Having trouble printing? Pictures not showing up? Try opening your PDF viewer (such as
Adobe) before opening the file containing this play. If this fails to fix the problem, visit the FAQ page
on TeachersPayTeachers.com. Also, to maintain photo quality, when possible print directly from an
open PDF (as opposed to printing one and photocopying it)
Reproduction Rights: Although the original short story is in the public domain, this play adaption is
subject to copyright. The original purchaser is licensed to reproduce one class set per year for use with
his or her own class. Please visit ReadAloudPlays.com for more information about copyright and
performance rights. Thank you!
Bubble Test Activity (CCSs RL items 1, 2, 3, 4, 10): These questions are designed to invoke
discussion. Have students cite evidence from the text when completing and reviewing. Key: 1. b; 2. c
3. d; 4. c (the Whites havent yet asked to see it, so it cant be d); 5. d; 6. a; 7. d; 8. b; 9. answers will
vary. (The short essay questions can also be used as discussion prompts.)
Embedded Prompts Answer Key (CCSs RL items 1, 2, 3, 4, 10): See key attached; answers will vary.
Vocabulary: The following words are highlighted in the text and should be introduced prior to
reading: mere, meddle, ruddy tedious, plagues, mummified, melodramatic, mantel, jarringly,
aghast, coincidence, disfigured, liability, meekly, wail. The words fakir (mystic) and talisman
(charm) are the subject of questions in the discussion prompt and bubble quiz.
Extension Activities:
Pair with informational texts or do research about the British occupation of India, or British Raj,
around the turn of the 20th-Century, when this story was originally written (1902).
Read the original text by W.W. Jacobs. Many people use our classic short story plays as both an
introduction and an extension of the original story.
Assign essays based on the embedded discussion prompts. Distribute the promptsone per
studentand have the students craft short essays in response; share aloud and compare responses.
Enact alongside other plays. Consider pairing this with other Gothic tales such as The Birthmark
and The Tell-Tale Heart. Have your class enact all three as part of a Gothic Showcase or for
Halloween. These titles are available via ReadAloudPlays.com.

2012 Mack LewisAll Rights Reserved ReadAloudPlays.com The Monkeys Paw-- Page 7 of 9
 The Monkeys Paw Bubble Quiz
Name: _________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
Select the best answer for each question. Be prepared to defend your answers by locating evidence in
the play. (CCSs RL items 1, 2, 3, 4, 10)

1. How did Sergeant-Major Morris get the
monkeys paw?
a. He bought it in a junk store in India.
b. He took it from a man who had died.
c. He killed a monkey.
d. He got it from a fakir.
2. Sometimes you can figure out the meaning
of a word by how its used in the sentence.
With that in mind, what word or phrase
would best replace talisman in Scene 2.
a. magician
b. fakir
c. charm
d. rabbits foot
3. What are we meant to infer about the mess-
engers words, at least hes not in any pain.
a. Herbert has been given medication to stop
the pain of his injuries.
b. Herbert is in a coma.
c. Herbert was injured but it wasnt serious.
d. Herbert is dead.
4. In Scene 1, Morris stares into the fire. What
is the best explanation for what hes thinking
about.
a. That hes hungry and anxious for dinner to
be served.
b. That he regrets having visited the Whites.
c. How the monkeys paw has caused him so
much grief.
d. Whether or not he should show the Whites
the paw.
5. The story ends rather abruptly. Why is it
significant to conclude with an empty street?
a. It shows Mr. White successfully got his
third wish.
b. It shows Mrs. Whites disappointment.
c. It leaves the reader wondering if Herbert
had ever been there at all.
d. It shows all of the above.
6. What are pounds?
a. An English form of money.
b. An Indian form of money.
c. A way of measuring mass.
d. A cake people eat for dessert.
7. What detail is least important when
summarizing the play?
a. Mrs. White wished her boy alive again.
b. The previous owner of the paw had wished
for death.
c. Herbert is caught in the machines at work
and dies.
d. Mr. White grabbed the paw out of the fire.
8. What line from the play best identifies a
theme for this story?
a. An old fakir put a spell on it.
b. Meddle with fate and you will suffer the
consequences.
c. If you must wish, wish for something
sensible.
d. Even if it really was magic, I dont know
what Id wish for.

9. Respond in detail to one of the following questions, using evidence from the play whenever possible.
A. Are the Whites really victims of fate? How responsible are they for their suffering?
B. Having read the play, if you came into possession of the paw, what would you wish for?
C. What do you think becomes of the Whites after the events conclude?
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