In reading both "Luck" by Mark Twain and The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs, you begin to realize there are some similarities and differences, yet both of these stories revolve around luck.
             The similarities in these two short stories are their chances in luck and their outcome. They had what you would call, weird luck, and with their luck came a weird consequence or outcome. In the beginning of The Monkey's Paw, we learn about Sergeant Morris. He spoke of strange scenes and doughty deeds; of war and plaques and strange people. After awhile, Sergeant Morris shows the Whites a monkey's paw. The significance to this paw was that a very holy man, who put a spell on it, owned it. The spell was that three separate men could have three wishes from it. However, what the Whites didn't know was with every wish, there is a downfall. " I wish for two hundred pounds," said the old man distinctly. (Jacobs, 4) Nothing happens, but then suddenly; "...but in consideration of your son's services hey wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation."[Said the stranger.] ... "How much?" [Asked Mrs. White.] ... "Two hundred pounds," was the answer. (Jacobs, 4) The downfall being that with a wish came a life-changing consequence. In "Luck," with sheer luck, Scoresby was able to end a battle between the Russians and the English. "And what was Scoresby's blunder that time? Merely the mistaking his right hand for his left that was all... But the name he won that day as a marvelous military genius filled the world with his glory, and that glory will never fade while history books last." (Twain, 4) The downfall being that even with the glory, some people believe it to be dumb. "I say it again, as I said at the banquet, Scoresby's an absolute fool."
             The differences in both these stories are the way they obtained their luck. In Luck...