A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures, like five act structure.
Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
On a dark, cold night at the Laburnam Villa, the White family is awaiting a visitor. Mr. White and his son Herbert are playing chess while Mrs. White knits by the fire. Sergeant Major Morris arrives and regales the family with tales from his 21 years of traveling to vast and exotic places in his tenure as a soldier.
Mr. White reminds Morris of a story he was telling him recently regarding a strange monkey’s paw he acquired in India. It supposedly was bewitched by an old fakir to grant three separate men three wishes. Mr. White wants the paw, but Morris is reluctant, saying it causes trouble.
Morris throws the paw into the fire and Mr. White rescues it. Mr. White makes his first wish: he wishes for a sum of two hundred pounds (£200). Herbert makes a crashing sound on the piano and the paw moves. The next day, the Whites receive word that Herbert was caught in the machinery at work and killed. The company compensates the Whites with a check for £200.
The Whites are shaken by how their wish came true and filled with grief from losing their only son. Mrs. White persuades Mr. White to wish that Herbert was alive again. Mr. White finds the paw and makes the wish; all of a sudden, there is a quiet, persistent knocking at the door.
The knocking becomes louder. Mrs. White wants to run to the door, frantic to let Herbert in, but Mr. White holds her back because knows the wickedness of the paw and is afraid of what kind of “state” Herbert might be in. She breaks free and runs to the door, but she can’t reach the bolt. Mr. White searches hurriedly for the paw.
Just as his wife gets a chair, climbs up, and slides back the bolt, Mr. White finds the paw and makes his final wish. The knocking suddenly stops. Mrs. White opens the door, but there is no one outside.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of “The Monkey’s Paw”.
Encourage students to reimagine the story’s ending or invent new wishes for the paw. This activity boosts critical thinking and allows students to apply their understanding of plot while expressing creativity. Having students share and discuss their alternate endings can deepen comprehension and promote collaborative learning.
Ask students to list three new wishes the characters could make. Encourage them to consider how each wish might change the story’s outcome. This helps students analyze cause and effect in narrative structure.
Have students draft a brief outline for how the plot would change with their chosen wish. This activity supports sequencing skills and strengthens understanding of story structure.
Invite students to share their alternate endings with a partner or small group. Encourage them to give feedback on how the new wishes affect the story’s themes and message. This fosters collaborative learning and respectful communication.
Ask students to reflect in writing on how their changes impact the story’s mood or moral. This step deepens literary analysis and helps students connect creative choices to the author’s intent.
A plot diagram for 'The Monkey's Paw' visually maps out the story’s structure, including Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. This helps students understand key events and the narrative arc.
To teach 'The Monkey's Paw' plot with a storyboard, have students create six scenes showing each plot part: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution, with images and short descriptions for each.
The major events include the White family’s introduction, the arrival of Sergeant Major Morris, the wishes made on the monkey’s paw, Herbert’s death, the wish for his return, and the final resolution at the door.
Plot diagrams help students visually organize events, understand literary structure, and retain key details, making them an effective tool for K-12 literature comprehension and analysis.
The best way is to have students break down the story into its plot parts, create a storyboard or diagram, and write brief descriptions for each section. This reinforces comprehension and summarization skills.