Contents of the Dead Man`s Pocket - Olsen

Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket by Jack Finney

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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]