Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket

Why does Tom risk his life to retrieve the sheet of yellow paper? What does it represent to him? How does it symbolize his values and the life he is living?

Clare is an important character in the story, even though she appears only briefly at the beginning. Describe how her character is woven into the story as it develops. What purpose does her character serve?

The story has two settings: Tom and Clare’s apartment and the ledge outside. What is your emotional response to each setting? How does the author’s use of atmosphere characterize each setting? How do these atmospheres affect your reading of the story?

How does fear affect Tom physically and mentally? Describe a time when you had to prevent fear from overwhelming you. How did you control it?

How does the author create suspense in the story? What are some suspenseful moments that made you wonder if Tom was going to die?

At the story’s beginning, Tom has a difficult time opening the apartment’s window. At first, he can open it only a few inches; to open it all the way, he has to push really hard. How do these details foreshadow later events in the story?

In what ways is the story’s conclusion ironic? How does this irony serve or support the story’s central themes? Is the ironic conclusion effective? Why or why not?

What does the author achieve by employing the omniscient point of view? What would be lost if the story were written from any other point of view?