Author W. W. Jacobs makes use of characterization, setting, foreshadowing, mood, and imagery to create tension and suspense in "The Monkey's Paw."
Initially, the weather is foreboding as Mr. White calls attention to the wind of a storm outside. He does so in his effort to distract his son Herbert from the "fatal mistake" he has made in their chess game. Mr. White's impetuous move of his chess piece, which he realizes too late will allow Herbert to "check" his king, foreshadows his first and second wishes on the monkey's paw, which he also does not take the time to think through. The fact that caution is not a quality of Mr. White's is also suggested when he retrieves the monkey's paw from the fireplace after his friend Sergeant Major Morris relates the sinister history of the paw and tosses it onto the fire. Later, when Mr. White talks with his wife and she asks him if he gave their guest anything for the paw, there is more foreshadowing. "'A trifle,' said he [Mr. White], coloring slightly....
