Cornell Woolrich’s “It's Had to Be Murder”

1.) As explained on our D2L, while this piece may be labeled as “Rear Window” in our textbook, it was originally released as “It Had to Be Murder.” (Alfred Hitchcock adapted this short story into a film entitled Rear Window). Consider the impact that titles have on readers. With this in mind, which of these titles is more appropriate for this short-story? Why? Be as specific as possible.
2.) Consider the role of Sam. Is the narrator’s treatment of him ethically/morally sound? Why or why not? Use as many details as possible to support your answer.
3.) Think about the final words of this short story. In the last breath of this work, the reader realizes that the narrator has been confined to a wheelchair (for the duration of the piece). What affect does this “twist” have on the reader? Why was this important bit of information reserved until the end?

4.) If you have viewed Hitchcock’s Rear Window or Caruso’s Disturbia, pinpoint one key difference between the text and either film. Tell your reader what impact this alteration has. Be as specific as possible.

Paper style: MLA style. Therefore, remember to:
-add a proper header
-deliver a strong, eye-catching title
-use one-inch margins
-use 0.5 inch indents
-use 12-point Times New Roman font

-use a Works Cited page for all outside material (outside material is not required and will not necessarily result in a better grade).

Length: A minimum two full pages. No maximum.

Date due: Friday July 12th by 11:59PM. Upload one copy to the class Turnitin box. Late papers will not be accepted and will be graded at a zero.

Sample Solution