Plot conflict and suspense overview What is Toms big idea what does he have written on his yellow sheet On the yellow sheet Tom has written an idea for a new grocerystore display method Why does Tom open the window a few inches ID: 141607
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Slide1
Contents of a Dead Man’s Pocket
Plot, conflict and suspense overviewSlide2
What is Tom’s big idea (what does he have written on his yellow sheet)?Slide3
On the yellow sheet, Tom has written an idea for a new grocery-store display method.Slide4
Why does Tom open the window a few inches?Slide5
Tom opens the window because it is hot in his apartment.Slide6
How does the paper fly out the window?Slide7
A current of warm air caused by air from the hall rushing through an open door pushes the paper against and out the window.Slide8
What is Tom’s reason for not going to the movies with his wife?Slide9
He says he has to work.Slide10
Why is the grocery store display idea so important to Tom?Slide11
Tom thinks the idea will earn him a promotion and raise.Slide12
Why does Tom decide to go out on the ledge?Slide13
He doesn’t want to lose the paper that has all his important ideas on it.Slide14
When Tom is out on the ledge, how does the author create suspense?Slide15
The author uses descriptive phrases and slow pacing, and shows us Tom’s thoughts to build suspense.Slide16
Name one conflict in this story.Slide17
Possible answers:
Tom vs. himself – whether to work or go to the movies
Tom vs. himself – enough courage to retrieve the paper
Tom vs. himself – more important to work or spend time with wife?Slide18
When Tom is on the ledge, why does he get scared?Slide19
He looks down onto traffic and realizes how high he is and how possible death is.Slide20
When Tom retrieves the piece of paper, where does he put it?Slide21
Tom puts the yellow piece of paper in his mouth after he retrieves it.Slide22
When Tom gets back to the window, why is it jammed shut?Slide23
In Tom’s panic to get back to the window sill, he accidentally knocked it shut.Slide24
How does Tom try to get inside the closed window?Slide25
He bangs a fist on it, throws a half dollar at it, hits it with his shoe, drops coins hoping to get people to notice him and lights paper on fire as a flare.Slide26
Why won’t Clare be able to help Tom when she gets home?Slide27
Clare is not strong enough to open the window by herself.Slide28
When Tom finally thinks about Clare, how much time has passed?Slide29
Eight minutes.Slide30
What will happen to Tom if he stays on the ledge for four hours and waits for Clare to get home?Slide31
Tom’s arms and legs will give out and he will fall to his death.Slide32
Where does the title of the story come from?Slide33
Tom realizes that if he falls to his death, no one will be able to identify him because the only thing he has in his pocket is his grocery idea. The contents of his pocket seemed important before, but are less so now.Slide34
What do the contents of Tom’s pockets symbolize?Slide35
The yellow paper symbolizes a wasted life. Tom spent more time worrying about his idea than spending time with his wife.Slide36
What is Tom and Clare’s relationship like?Slide37
Tom cares more about work than spending time with Clare. The relationship is a bit strained.Slide38
How does Tom feel when he realizes he might die?Slide39
Tom is regretful that he cared so much about work.Slide40
How does Tom get in the apartment? Why is that a risky thing to do?Slide41
Tom punches his way through. It is risky because if the glass didn’t break, the impact of the punch would have sent Tom backwards to his death.Slide42
What is the climax of the story?Slide43
The climax occurs when Tom punches his way through the window into the apartment.Slide44
What ultimately happens to the yellow piece of paper?Slide45
The paper flies back out the window as Tom leaves to meet his wife at the movies.Slide46
How is Tom’s conflict with himself resolved?Slide47
Tom no longer cares about the sheet of paper and thinks time with his wife is more important than his career.Slide48
Where does irony occur in this story?Slide49
Irony occurs because we expect that now that Tom is safe and has the paper back in the room, that the paper will stay in the room. But the opposite happens, and the paper flies out the window again.