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The Monkey's Paw: W.W. Jacobs & the Power of Wishes

Explore the fascinating life of William Wymark Jacobs, the author of the iconic 1902 tale "The Monkey's Paw." Delve into the origins of this eerie story and its lasting impact on popular culture, from Stephen King's novels to Alfred Hitchcock's adaptations. Uncover the blend of horror and humor in Jacobs' works and the cautionary themes about the consequences of unchecked desires. Discover the folklore of Djinn and the different wishing customs around the world. Reflect on the big question theme of identity and humanity that lingers in this classic tale.

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The Monkey's Paw: W.W. Jacobs & the Power of Wishes

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  1. About the Author W.W. Jacobs

  2. Biographical Information: • Born September 8, 1863 in London, England • Full name: William WymarkJacobs • His father was a wharf manager • He was educated at a private school in London • He worked in a Post Office Savings Bank. His road to success was slow.

  3. In 1885 his first short story was published • He turned down 500 pounds for six short stories • However, by 1899, he was financially secure enough to leave the Post Office and marry the following year. • He died September 1, 1943. • London, very populated, was just a few years away from the start of World War 1 (1914).

  4. What was London like in 1902?

  5. W.W. Jacobs managed to make a good living writing novels and short stories, but he's most famous for this one, written in 1902 and first published in Harper's magazine: “Be careful what you wish for!”

  6. “The Monkey’s Paw” An adaptation of another story of three wishes gone wrong, from One Thousand and One Nights (a.k.a. Arabian Nights), a very famous collection of stories from the Middle East and South Asia. …most famous for the character of Aladdin, which you probably know from Disney

  7. It Directly Inspired… Stephen King's bestselling novel Pet Sematary, the nightmare-inducing story of a cemetery that has the power to bring animals (and maybe even people) back to life

  8. It was also adapted by another master of horror and suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, for an episode of “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.”

  9. The Simpsons episode "Monkey's Paw,” which is a retelling of this story Yes, we will be watching this!

  10. You might get the idea that Jacobs wrote mostly of horror, similar to the dark style of Edgar Allan Poe. Nope! Jacobs was known as a writer of comedies. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! This is why you might detect some humor running between the lines of this spooky tale. As with stories from Stephen King or any good horror writer, the infusion of a little humor makes the scary parts even scarier.

  11. Wishing… We are encouraged to dream big and wish for our hearts' desires. “When you wish upon a star makes no difference who you are/ anything your heart desires/ will come to you.” BUT in some cultures… There's a catch!

  12. Roots Djinn (singular form Djinni) “jinn” is a noun of the collective number in Arabic literally meaning "hidden from sight” “genie” in English: derived from Latin genius, meant a sort of guardian spirit thought to be assigned to each person at birth.

  13. Djinn - created from fire and can take on any form they choose-animal or human-and can be of any size • Most are hostile, some friendly. • Even friendly Djinn = unpredictable • Often Djinn take pleasure in punishing people for wronging them, even unintentionally.

  14. Wishing Customs Birthday cakes Wishing wall Wishing well Wishbone Eyelash Coins Stars Bridge Rainbow Dandelion

  15. BIG QUESTION THEME: In our quest to understand identity, what is this story’s message about humanity?

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