Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket Questions

Before You Read “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket,” think about the following
questions:
1. What are your priorities in life?
2. How well do you divide your attention among your priorities?
3. When have you regretted neglecting your priorities?
It is often easy to take for granted what we value most in our lives. Other things
can consume our attention, making it difficult to maintain our priorities.
Literary Focus
Time and Sequence
The series of related events that we expect to find in a story is called the plot.
The events in the plot are usually presented in chronological order, beginning
with the first event and proceeding in a normal time sequence.

Event 1 Event 2 Event 3 The End
Some writers present the sequence of events in a way that manipulates our sense of time.
‣ They might speed up the action or slow it down in order to affect our feelings in a
certain way.
‣ The speed at which the events seem to take place in a story is referred to as pacing.
In “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket,” the writer uses pacing to create an interesting effect.
‣ He slows down the action so you can almost feel the seconds ticking away.
‣ As each event is described in agonizing detail, the reader’s tension increases.
‣ This type of pacing creates a high level of suspense and drama.
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‐your‐seat causes and effects to keep readers guessing.
In a cause and effect chain, one cause leads to an effect, which causes another effect, and so on.
Cause
Effect
Tony breaks his leg He cannot ask Tasha to the school dance.
playing basketball Cause Effect
He cannot ask sha to the school dance T. goes to the dance with Ernesto
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
Vocabulary
Effect: Draft is created
Cause: Draft is created Effect: Draft blows paper
out the window

1. Projection – something that juts out from a surface
2. Discarding – abandoning; getting rid of
3. Confirmation – proof
4. Exhalation – something breathed out; breath
5. Imperceptibly – in such a slight way as to be almost unnoticeable
6. Rebounded – bounced back
7. Interminable – endless
8. Irrelevantly‐ in a way not relating to the point or situation
9. Incomprehensible – not understandable
10. Unimpeded – not blocked; unobstructed
Quickwrite
In the story you’re about to read, the main character finds himself in a hair‐raising situation.
Think of a time when you or someone you know felt almost paralyzed by fear. Where were you
or the other person, and what happened? On this paper, jot down some details about the
tense situation.
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