If you answer any five of the following questions in a thoughtful way, you may earn 20 extra points toward your test score on the last four stories. A thoughtful response will be at least three sentences.
Form: Please begin your responses in this way: Joan S. comments: (first name and initial of last name) Answer in complete sentences using standard English. Please number each response.
1. Consider the two short stories, "Lady or the Tiger?" and "Tell-Tale Heart." What insights do the authors suggest about the criminal justice system?
2. In the "Tell-Tale Heart," the narrator believes he is sane. What do you consider to be sane? When does a person become criminally insane?
3. In the "Lady or the Tiger?" the princess has a decision to make. Which rules stronger: jealousy or love? Support your response with examples from the story and/or from real life observations.
4. "The Third Wish" and "The Monkey's Paw" explore the wishes of people. What do the wishes of the characters suggest about human character? If you had been one of the characters, would you have reacted in the same or a different way?
5. In "The Monkey's Paw," the Whites are warned about the paw. Why did they not heed the warning?
6. Recall the third wish in "The Monkey's Paw." Was there another wish Mr. White could have made? What might it have been?
7. In "The Third Wish," Mr. Peters does not use his third wish. Why?
8. What are the conflicts in each of the short stories? What similarities and differences do these conflicts have?
9. Of all the characters in the short stories, which one are you most like? Give at least three ways you are like that character.
10. Give each of the short stories a new title.
