What is your response to the story "The Monkey's Paw"?

Since a reader's response is a personal reaction to a literary text, this is in contrast to other theories that focus on the author, his style, or content of the work. For a genuine reader's response, the student should really answer this question as it is meant to be the emotional and intellectual reactions by the individual reader. 

According to Lois Tyson of Carleton College, theorists of reader-response share two beliefs:

1) that the role...

Since a reader's response is a personal reaction to a literary text, this is in contrast to other theories that focus on the author, his style, or content of the work. For a genuine reader's response, the student should really answer this question as it is meant to be the emotional and intellectual reactions by the individual reader. 

According to Lois Tyson of Carleton College, theorists of reader-response share two beliefs:

1) that the role of the reader cannot be omitted from our understanding of literature and
2) that readers do not passively consume the meaning presented to them by an objective literary text; rather they actively make the meaning they find in literature.

Certainly, readers' responses are formulated from their personal experiences that they bring to the work of literature. Therefore, each respond will react individually. However, since there may be some experiences that readers share, responses will demonstrate some comparative qualities.

Here, then, are two examples of responses from which the reader may draw his/her own responses:

• One reader response that may be shared by others involves the act of questioning why the Whites would even want the monkey's paw when they are told by the sergeant major of the tragedies of others and warned, "Better let it burn" in the fire into which he has tossed it. For, he is a man respected by Mr. White, that the paw has brought nothing but misfortune to people. (And, yet, one wonders why he even brought the paw to the Whites' home.)


• Another response that may well be shared by readers is why the Whites were not more careful and specific about their second wish when the first impetuous one has wrought such tragedy. For, while it is understandable that the "presumptuous youth" of Herbert prevents his caution, Mr. and Mrs. White are older and more experienced. If they have embraced the concept of magic and fortune, then within this context, they certainly should have carefully pondered all the variables that could occur with their second wish and been much more specific.