A Likely Story: "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs

The tone surrounding the perils seems playful, because the example sentence is about a game between a father and son. But chess is often used as a metaphor for life. Thus, the scene is also a foreshadowing of unhappy events. In both chess and life, the father takes unnecessary risks that put him in conflict with a larger force (game strategies or fate--both of which predetermine movement). And in both cases, he loses.

The adjective also means "bringing death." This is suggested as a foreshadowing, but in the example sentence, the fatal mistake leads to the capture of the king. Another pun is suggested by the theme of the story and the spelling of the word: "fatal" also means "controlled or decreed by fate; predetermined."

In the example sentence, the verb is used in exaggeration to create a humorous moment (that foreshadows and contrasts with a later scene). What the two men are condoling with each other about is the cold and wet weather that the new arrival had to travel through. They condole so much that the lady of the house disapproves with a "Tut, tut!" and a gentle cough.

As an adjective, the word also means "causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm." As a noun, the word refers to "a place for the burial of a corpse." All three meanings are suggested by the monkey's paw, but the chosen definition is the best fit for the example sentence because the serious tones of the soldier's voice affect the happy mood of the gathering.

The definition makes a talisman sound like a helpful thing, but the Greek roots of the word hint that this magic comes with a price: "telesma" means "religious rite, payment."

Although the words "maligned" and "armed" sound harmful, the example sentence describes a playful scene between mother and son. The son had just insulted the mother, so she chases him around the table with a piece of cloth. This characterization of their relationship serves to deepen the grief and desperation of the mother later on.

Compare with the previous word and example sentence. The adjectives "dubious" and "credulous" can be antonyms. Mr. White should've kept his dubious manner and original outlook on his life ("It seems to me I've got all I want"). Instead, he shamefully gives in to a credulous desire to make a wish magically come true.

The word can function as both an adjective and a noun. The title of the story could be "The Simian's Paw" and the description here can be rewritten as "the last face was so horrible and so monkey-like..." But these changes would not fit the intended tones and rhythms, since "monkey" sounds cute, while the sibilant sound of "simian" is sinister.

The "prosaic wholesomeness" (dull or ordinary quality of being good, healthy and moral) of the room betokens the nature of the family's life before they came into possession of the monkey's paw. In contrast, the monkey's paw is "dirty, shrivelled" which betokens its unwholesome nature. Although the monkey's paw is temporarily cast aside, its position on a piece of dining room furniture (instead of in the fire) betokens how it would ruin the Whites.

Apathy is "an absence of emotion or enthusiasm" and is often associated with younger people who don't care to explore the world around them. Resignation (as used here and not in its more common meaning of giving up an office, claim, or possession) is often associated with older people because it comes from seeing too much of the world's woes and realizing that the only way out is death.

As the definition shows, the word can connect to death (it can also be a synonym for "exhale" which connects to breathing). Here, the expiration of the candle can represent the end of the hope that the monkey's paw can bring the son back. It could also foreshadow a person's death. In this case, it could've been the death of the mother at the hands of her resurrected son. But the father prevents that with his final wish (so indirectly and directly, he is responsible for his son expiring twice).

Here, the fusillade is not literally rapid gunfire, but the use of the word suggests the dangerous nature of the one doing the knocking. It also connects to the soldier, who had been in wars, experienced the harmful effects of the monkey's paw, and warned the father against using it.