Content of a Dead Man's Pocket |65 questions and answers

Why does Tom decide not to go to the movies with Clare? He has an important paper for work to do. What happens to the yellow sheet of paper? What does Tom plan to do about it? Why? The paper flies out the window and he plans on going out on the ledge and grabbing the paper because without it he will not get a raise. At what moment does Tom's adventure change from risky to terrifying? When he gets weak and it is hard to hold himself up. What is the revelation Tom has when looking into his living room? He wanted to roll on the carpet and be cheerful because he is safe inside the house with his yellow paper. What happens to the yellow sheet of paper at the end of the story? It flies out the window. What do you learn about Tom from his decision not to go with Clare? He is a workaholic and doesn't spend enough time with his wife. What does the yellow piece of paper represent to Tom? How might his feelings about the paper have influenced his decision to retrieve it? The yellow paper represents his job promotion and raise. Without the paper he won't get a raise and probably not a promotion either, so he is tempted into getting it. Before his revelation, Tom thinks, contents of the dead man's pocket, a wasted life. Why might he feel this way? Because he wasted his life being a workaholic and not leaving his life to the fullest and not spending time with the one that should mean the most to him, his wife. Why do you think Tom reacts as he does when he sees the yellow sheet of paper at the end of the story? Because he doesn't even care about the paper anymore. He just want's to be with his wife. Jack Finney Who is the author of this story? Tom Benecke: works in wholesale groceries, working on special project; wants to be #1, very ambitious (direct characterization), yellow sheet of paper with his scribbled notes What's the exposition? Clare, who goes out to the movies Who is Tom's wife? New York, Lexington Avenue, in an apartment; 11 stories up What is the setting? When the yellow piece of paper flies out of the window What's the narrative hook? Tom climbs on the ledge. While on the ledge, Tom: yells, "Help!", hits window with heel of hand, shoe, half dollar, burns envelopes, drops coins, shouts What's the rising action? Tom puts fist through window! What's the climax? It's the climax because he could've been successful or risky; he could've fallen back and died Why is when Tom puts his fist through the window the climax? He laughs Tom goes to meet his wife. The paper flies back out the window. What does Tom do? When Tom goes to meet his wife What's the falling action? When the paper flies back out of the window; signifies he doesn't care about the paper What's the denouement? He yells, "Clare!" - symbolic and realizes what's important in life; not the yellow paper, but spending time with his wife What does Tom yell when he finally gets back inside? What does this symbolize? dynamic character - character changes throughout story What kind of character is Tom? suspense What is the feeling of curiousity or uncertanity about the outcome of events in a literary work? symbol What is anything that stands for, or represents, something else? color of caution, because Tom needed a warning - Yellow = light, illuminating Tom's ideas, thoughts - Yellow paper = a symbol of Tom's meaningless old life What does the color 'yellow' represent? theme What is a central message or insight revealed through a literary work? Don't take people or the important things in life for granted - You don't know what you have until you have almost lost it What's are the themes from this story? conflict What is a struggle between opposing forces in a literay work? internal conflict A struggle within a character, such as when a character struggles with his own conscience Tom vs. his ambition - Tom vs. his fear What are examples of internal conflicts in this story? external conflict A struggle between a character and an outside force, such as another character or nature Tom vs. falling (gravity) - Tom vs. cold - Tom vs. window What are examples of external conflicts in this story? What does Tom's use of a typewriter suggests about the setting? 1950's What type of conflict is Tom facing? stay home and work- no movies paper is on the ledge What caused the sheet of paper to fly out the window? His wife leaving(door opening and closing) Why is tom upset about the loss of the paper? represents 2 months worth of work. What is Tom's internal conflict regarding the paper? angry,panic How high is the ledge? What element does the height of the ledge add to the story? 11 stories ----> 220 ft. suspense What does the apartment represent to Tom? What effect does the disappearance of the apartment have on Tom? safety. make him afraid, nervous something that juts out from a surface projection abandoning; getting rid of discarding proof confirmation something breathed out; breath exhalation in such a slight way as to be almost unnoticeable imperceptibly