Legacy

This study guide will help you analyze the short story “Legacy” by PR Woods, which has been used for a written exam in English A, HHX on the 9th of December, 2022. You can also find a summary of the text, as well as inspiration for interpreting it.

If you need help with Assignments 1-3 from the HHX A exam on the 9th of December 2022, you can find our guide here.

Presentation of the text

Title: “Legacy”
Author: Penny Woods
Genre: Short story

PR Woods is a British short story writer. She has published on platforms such as Delayed Gratification, Guardian, and Out of the Pen. Her short story “Legacy” was published on the eastoftheweb site.

Excerpt from the study guide:

In many ways, Jola seems extremely cold and calculating. She comes up with a plan for her to win the fundraising prize that involves her killing as many of her clients as possible. She also uses her own son to set her plan in motion, putting Rory at risk of either being discovered or accidentally swallowing the poison himself. She also does not seem to care who she kills. Although she initially targets Griliopoulos, she does not stop the woman who offers to lick the envelope for him, meaning that she is determined to get the money through whatever means necessary.

Jola’s plan also shows that she is very inventive. Since she is in charge of cheques that can only be cashed in if the client dies within ...