In the following brief essay, Harkey explains some instances of foreshadowing in Jacobs's "The Monkey's Paw."

In the early lines of W. W. Jacobs' "The Monkey's Paw," an altogether chilling story, is embedded the germ of the entire story. Mr. White and his son Herbert were playing chess, the father,

(/) who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, (2) putting his king Into .. sharp and unnecessary perils... "Hark at the wind," said Mr. White, who, (5) having seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, (4) was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.

Contained in this passage are four elements that foreshadow the action of the story, although Jacobs is never heavy-handed in working out the tale as a projection of its opening paragraphs. The obvious parallel to the game of chess, is, of course, the game of life. While Mr. White's choosing a small...