How is Tension built up in “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Red Room”? The success of any short story depends upon the skill with which the plot moves. The writer does not have the time to develop ideas that he has in a novel but at the same time all those elements must be present. The unusual element in “The Monkey’s Paw” is how much the plot depends upon coincidence and irony. The successful use of these knits the story together and contributes to the tension. Examples of this are: - The coincidence of the Monkey’s Paw being in the possession of Morris.