“Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket”

1. “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” By Jack Finney

2. Setting • New York City • 11th story apartment on Lexington Ave • Autumn • 1950’s

3. Characters • Tom Benecke: • Tall, lean, dark hair, athletic • Hard-working, self-motivated, dedicated • Works in the marketing department for a wholesale grocery chain • Clare Benecke: • Slender, very pretty, light-brown hair • Very pleasant • Thinks her husband works too much

4. Protagonist & Antagonist • Tom Benecke is our main character and protagonist. He is working on a self-created assignment for work when his hand-written notes blow out the window onto the 11th story ledge. • The antagonist could be the conditions for which the story is set: the wind, the ledge, the yellow piece of paper itself that seems to elude Tom at every turn.

5. Conflict • Man vs. Self: • Tom has a constant internal struggle throughout the story. His work ethic is battling his desire to spend time with his wife. He ultimately decides life is too short and must be lived to the fullest • He also struggles internally about whether or not to go out on the ledge to retrieve the yellow sheet of paper. Is his hard work worth risking his life? • Man vs. Abstract Forces: • Tom must battle the elements when out on the ledge.

6. theme • Life is short; live it to the fullest • Tom decides at the end of the story that he is wasting his time being a work-a-holic. After having this awakening, he decides to go out to find his wife at the movie theater.

7. Plot • Exposition: • Tom Benecke decides to skip going to the movies with his wife in order to work on a self-created project that he is hoping will advance his career in marketing. • Tom opens the window for some fresh air when a yellow sheet of paper blows outside. This sheet happens to contain months of research and pain-staking work that cannot be duplicated.

8. Plot • Rising Action: • Tom decides the paper is too precious to lose and climbs out the window. • At first, he is confident, but slowly realizes he is in far over his head. • He cries for help with no response. He tries to break the window with no luck. He sets pieces of paper on fire to get someone’s attention without success. He drops coins from his pocket. No one looks up. He is in a state of sheer panic.

9. Plot • Climax: • In a state of hopelessness, Tom thinks of his wife. He thinks of all the days he’s spent working too hard and missing quality time with her. He decides his life is worth saving. He draws his fist backward and yells his wife’s name as he shatters the window.

10. Plot • Falling Action: • After climbing in the window, Tom wastes no time getting comfortable. He decides to take immediate action and go find his wife. • Resolution: • He grabs his coat and hat as he walks out the door. Just as he is closing the door to leave, he glimpses inside in time to see the yellow sheet of paper fly out the window once again.

11. Foreshadowing • Pg. 7, 3rd paragraph • “But as usual the window didn’t budge, and he had to lower his hands and then shoot them hard upward to jolt the window open a few inches. He dusted his hand, muttering.” • Pg. 8, 2nd paragraph • “Behind him he heard the slap of the window curtains against the wall and the sound of paper fluttering from his desk, and he had to push to close the door.”