10.4 The Monkey's Paw Character and Characterization

The

W.W. JACOBS

Monkey’s

Paw

Characterization

In storytelling, characters are central figures driving the narrative. They can be human, animals, or anthropomorphized objects, connecting the audience to the story. Characterization brings depth and personality to these characters. Direct characterization explicitly describes traits like appearance and background, while indirect characterization reveals personality through actions, dialogue, and interactions. Together, characters and characterization shape the story and engage the audience in the fictional world.

Definition A character is a person or entity in a story, while characterization is the process by which the author reveals the personality of that character. This can be done through their actions, dialogue, and appearance.

STEAL

The STEAL method analyzes characters through Speech, Thoughts, Effects on others, Actions, and Looks, using questions to explore their personality, behavior, and impact on the story, revealing deeper traits and motivations.

TASK

1. Go to the next slides to find a series of questions.
2. For each question, interact with Magic School's AI character simulator. Keep the window open.
3. Write a clear and specific prompt to get a correct answer from the AI.
4. Adjust your questions if needed to improve the responses.
5. Record the AI's answers in the space provided.

For this assignment, you will need to interact with Magic school and the text to discover the answer to these questions.

The Characters

Mr. White

Mrs. White

Herbert White

Sgt. Maj. Morris

The father of the family. He's initially skeptical of the paw's power but eventually makes a wish.

The mother of the family. She's consumed by grief after a tragedy and longs to bring her son back.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. White. A young man who unfortunately meets with misfortune.

A friend of the Whites who introduces them to the monkey's paw. He warns them of its dangers.

Characterization: Speech

Open the STEAL chart for every question.

Open the STEAL chart to access the questions.

Focus on the area shown on the card, like "Speech".

STEAL

To answer the question, pick a character from The Monkey’s Paw and focus on what they say in the story. For example, Mr. White speaks directly to others and reveals his wishes and fears. Ask Raina specific questions about this character and their speech.

Info

Question 1

The Story

Characterization: Thoughts

Use the copy of the story you opened on the previous slide.

To answer, choose a character and explain explore what they are thinking in this story. Follow the STEAL questions, but be creative

Info

Question 2

STEAL

Characterization: Effects on Others

Pick a character and explain how others react to them. Adjust the STEAL questions to get the information you want.

Info

STEAL

Question 3

Characterizations: Actions

Pick a character and ask Raina to explain and describe how they act. Then, explain if their actions match what they say or think. Ask if their behavior changes during the story and if they choose not to do something.

Info

Question 4

STEAL

Characterization: Looks

Choose a character and Ask Raina to describe their appearance using details from the story. Focus on different parts of the story to get varied answers.

Info

Question 5

STEAL

The End

Interacting With AI

When talking to AI, use simple words. Tell it what you want to know. Ask lots of questions. If you don't get what you want, try asking in a different way. Be curious and have fun!

Interacting with AI

When talking to AI, try asking your question. If the answer isn't quite right, ask it a little differently. Keep trying until you get the answer you like. It's like a fun game of questions!

AI Interaction

To effectively interact with AI, be clear, specific, and concise. Use simple language and provide relevant context. Ask direct, focused questions and be open to refining your queries based on the AI's responses. Offer feedback to guide the AI towards better results. Remember, the more precise your input, the more accurate and useful the output will be!

Interacting with AI

To get more detailed answers from AI, use lots of details and explain what you want to know. Ask open-ended questions that start with "how" or "why." If you don't understand, ask for more information. Keep the conversation going by asking follow-up questions!

Interacting with AI

To get detailed answers from AI, be specific and clear. Ask open-ended questions like "how" or "why." If the answer isn't enough, rephrase or add details. Specify if you want a long or short answer. Keep asking follow-up questions to learn more. This way, you can have a fun chat and discover interesting things!