Transcript Contents of the Dead Man`s Pocket - Olsen

Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
by Jack Finney
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Focus: Time and
Sequence
Reading Skills: Understanding
Cause and Effect
Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
by Jack Finney
Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
Introducing the Story
. . . he stood on the ledge outside in the slight,
chill breeze, eleven stories above the street,
staring into his own lighted apartment, odd and
different-seeming now . . . .
Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
Introducing the Story
What kind of person would risk his life to advance
his career? Tom Benecke is an ambitious young
man who does just that.
• Tom puts his life on the line to retrieve an
important paper that has blown out the window
of his high-rise apartment. Will he make it back
inside alive?
Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
Literary Focus: Time and Sequence
In “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket,” slows the
action down so you can feel the seconds
• It takes the same time to read the
story as the action in the story
happens.
• As each event is described in detail,
the reader’s tension increases. You
feel as though you are experiencing
everything at the same speed as Tom
• This type of pacing creates lots
of suspense and drama.
[End of Section]
Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
Reading Skills: Understanding Cause and Effect
Often the plot of a short story involves a
series of causes and effects.
• Cause—the reason something happens
• Effect—the result of some event or action
Many suspense-filled stories use edge-of-yourseat causes and effects to keep readers guessing.
Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
Reading Skills: Understanding Cause and Effect
In a cause and effect chain, one cause
leads to an effect, which causes another effect,
and so on.
Cause
Tony breaks his
leg playing
basketball.
Effect
He cannot ask
Tasha to the
school dance.
Cause
He cannot ask
Tasha to the
school dance
Effect
Tasha goes to
the dance with
Ernesto.
Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
Reading Skills: Understanding Cause and Effect
As you read this story, notice how each
chain of causes and effects grips your attention
and builds suspense.
Cause
Door is closed
while window
is open.
Effect
Draft is
created.
Cause
Draft is
created.
Effect
Draft blows
paper out the
window.
[End of Section]