THE GIFT OF THE MAGI, BY O. HENRY
1) Comment on the meaning of the following sentence in the fifth paragraph of the story: “She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard.”
2) What subtle clues are in the story that point towards the sort of person Jim actually is?
THE RULES: Click on the link for one or more of the stories. Read the story. Post a comment about the story, using the questions provided as a guideline. Respond to other comments about the story. Enjoy yourself.
Comments are moderated, so there might be a short delay before they appear. Please keep the language clean and the comments friendly.
DON'T BE SHY ABOUT LEAVING COMMENTS ON THE STORIES!!!!!! THE MORE COMMENTS--THE MORE FUN IT IS FOR EVERYONE!!!
Comments are moderated, so there might be a short delay before they appear. Please keep the language clean and the comments friendly.
DON'T BE SHY ABOUT LEAVING COMMENTS ON THE STORIES!!!!!! THE MORE COMMENTS--THE MORE FUN IT IS FOR EVERYONE!!!

Thursday, December 15, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
The Lady and the Tiger, by Frank Stockton
The Lady and the Tiger, by Frank Stockton
1) The story itself provides the question: Which came out of the door? The lady or the tiger?
1) The story itself provides the question: Which came out of the door? The lady or the tiger?
Thursday, November 3, 2011
"The Battle for Teeka," by Edgar Rice Burroughs
"The Battle for Teeka" from The Jungle Tales of Tarzan, by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
1) Burroughs created a fictional species of apes to raise Tarzan. Did he create a believable species? Does their use of a spoken language add or detract from the story's versimilitide?
1) Burroughs created a fictional species of apes to raise Tarzan. Did he create a believable species? Does their use of a spoken language add or detract from the story's versimilitide?
Friday, October 14, 2011
Superiority, by Arthur C Clarke
Superiority, by Arthur C. Clarke.
If you build more advanced weaponry, you can't help buy win a war. Right?
1) "Superiority" is a fairly straightforward war story leading up to a punch line at the end. Aside from being science fiction, would you classify it as an adventure story or a comedy?
If you build more advanced weaponry, you can't help buy win a war. Right?
1) "Superiority" is a fairly straightforward war story leading up to a punch line at the end. Aside from being science fiction, would you classify it as an adventure story or a comedy?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
COUNTRY OF THE BLIND
The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells
Here's Wells' creepy story about a society in which every one is blind and a sighted man is considered insane.
1) How would YOU explain the concept of sight to the inhabitants of the blind society?
2) Wells wrote this as an allegory for how closed societies can become xenophobic and close-minded. Did he succeed in making these points?
Here's Wells' creepy story about a society in which every one is blind and a sighted man is considered insane.
1) How would YOU explain the concept of sight to the inhabitants of the blind society?
2) Wells wrote this as an allegory for how closed societies can become xenophobic and close-minded. Did he succeed in making these points?
Monday, September 26, 2011
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist, by Arthur Conan Doyle.
1) Does Ben Carruthers redeem himself at the end, or does he belong in the slammer for at least ten years? We have Watson's opinion, but do you agree?
1) Does Ben Carruthers redeem himself at the end, or does he belong in the slammer for at least ten years? We have Watson's opinion, but do you agree?
Monday, August 29, 2011
Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg
The world's most competent butler once again helps out the world's most hapless boss.
Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg, by P.G. Wodehouse
Questions:
1) Did Jeeves have the whole plan in mind in advance, or do you think he improvised when the original plan apparently fell apart?
Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg, by P.G. Wodehouse
Questions:
1) Did Jeeves have the whole plan in mind in advance, or do you think he improvised when the original plan apparently fell apart?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
ALIBI IKE
A very, very funny tale about a baseball player who couldn't help but make excuses--even when he didn't have to.
ALIBI IKE, by Ring Lardner
1)Is Ike solely to blame for his romantic woes, or do the narrator and Carey bear some responsibility?
2) Do you think Ike can give his girl a happy home? Or will his need to make excuses and depart from the truth going to be a problem?
ALIBI IKE, by Ring Lardner
1)Is Ike solely to blame for his romantic woes, or do the narrator and Carey bear some responsibility?
2) Do you think Ike can give his girl a happy home? Or will his need to make excuses and depart from the truth going to be a problem?
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
It's time for another Sherlock Holmes story, because--well--he's SHERLOCK HOLMES!
The Adventure of the Speckled Band, by Arthur Conan Doyle
1) Would you categorize this story as a straight mystery, or as a horror/suspense tale? Or a combination of the two genres?
The Adventure of the Speckled Band, by Arthur Conan Doyle
1) Would you categorize this story as a straight mystery, or as a horror/suspense tale? Or a combination of the two genres?
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Tell-Tale Heart
The Tell-Tale Heart, by Edgar Allen Poe.
1) It has been suggested by some critics that the narrator could actually be a woman. If this is the case, how does that change your perception of this story?
1) It has been suggested by some critics that the narrator could actually be a woman. If this is the case, how does that change your perception of this story?
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The Man of No Account
THE MAN OF NO ACCOUNT, by Bret Harte
A brief character study by Western writer Bret Harte.
1) Is David Fagg a "man of no account?" Or does he have qualities the narrator does not recognize?
A brief character study by Western writer Bret Harte.
1) Is David Fagg a "man of no account?" Or does he have qualities the narrator does not recognize?
Monday, June 20, 2011
THE QUEEN OF SPADES
The Queen of Spades, by Alexander Pushkin
1) Was Hermann telling the truth when he claimed his gun wasn't loaded, or was he just trying to excuse himself?
2) Does the story have a supernatural aspect to it, or was Hermann just going nuts and hearing voices?
1) Was Hermann telling the truth when he claimed his gun wasn't loaded, or was he just trying to excuse himself?
2) Does the story have a supernatural aspect to it, or was Hermann just going nuts and hearing voices?
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, by Mark Twain
1) Is Simon Wheeler a reliable narrator, or do you think he exaggerates for the sake of telling a good story?
2) Does Wheeler's picturesque speaking style help bring the story to life?
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Rube
The Rube, by Zane Grey
1) Does Grey's play-by-play account of a baseball game generate excitement and suspense?
2) Does Grey's depiction of the lives of minor-league baseball players from a century ago make their lives sound appealing? Is it a job you would enjoy having if you had the requisite talent?
1) Does Grey's play-by-play account of a baseball game generate excitement and suspense?
2) Does Grey's depiction of the lives of minor-league baseball players from a century ago make their lives sound appealing? Is it a job you would enjoy having if you had the requisite talent?
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse
Jack Punpkinhead and the Sawhorse, by L. Frank Baum
1)Even granting that the squirrels were pretty mean about not sharing their nuts with the hungry kids, shouldn't there have been some effort to pay them back afterwards? The nuts were theirs, after all.
1)Even granting that the squirrels were pretty mean about not sharing their nuts with the hungry kids, shouldn't there have been some effort to pay them back afterwards? The nuts were theirs, after all.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
RIKI TIKI TAVI
Riki Tiki Tavi, by Rudyard Kipling
1. Do you feel any sympathy for Nag or Nageena at all? It can be argued that--from their point-of-view--they were trying to make a safe home for their many children. Does Kipling giving them evil personalities make them effective villains?
2. Does Kipling achieve a "Suspension of Disbelief?" Do you accept the story as "real" even though the animals can think and communicate with one another?
1. Do you feel any sympathy for Nag or Nageena at all? It can be argued that--from their point-of-view--they were trying to make a safe home for their many children. Does Kipling giving them evil personalities make them effective villains?
2. Does Kipling achieve a "Suspension of Disbelief?" Do you accept the story as "real" even though the animals can think and communicate with one another?
Monday, May 2, 2011
Allamagoosa, by Eric Frank Russell
ALLAMAGOOSA, by Eric Frank Russell
A very funny science fiction tale first published in 1955.
1) Would you rate Captain McNaught as a good commanding officer or a bad one?
2) Does the story seem "realistic" in terms of how military bureaucracy works in real life?
A very funny science fiction tale first published in 1955.
1) Would you rate Captain McNaught as a good commanding officer or a bad one?
2) Does the story seem "realistic" in terms of how military bureaucracy works in real life?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton, by Arthur Conan Doyle
Another tale of the Great Detective. It contains Dr. Watson's Crowning Moment of Awesome.
1) Is Holmes justified in breaking the law--either in his decision to commit burglary or his decision in keeping quiet about what he saw in Milverton's home?
2) There's another moral point the story passes over rather glibly: What do you think of Holmes' decision to woo a woman while in disguise, then just disappear from her life after getting engaged?
Another tale of the Great Detective. It contains Dr. Watson's Crowning Moment of Awesome.
1) Is Holmes justified in breaking the law--either in his decision to commit burglary or his decision in keeping quiet about what he saw in Milverton's home?
2) There's another moral point the story passes over rather glibly: What do you think of Holmes' decision to woo a woman while in disguise, then just disappear from her life after getting engaged?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Shadow of the Vulture
Shadow of the Vulture, by Robert E Howard
This is a novella, so it's a little longer than some of our other offerings.
1) Do you think Gottfried and Sonya remain together as partners after the siege of Vienna ends? If so, will they be "Brothers in arms" or something more?
2) Can any male read this story and NOT fall in love with Red Sonya? How cool is she?
This is a novella, so it's a little longer than some of our other offerings.
1) Do you think Gottfried and Sonya remain together as partners after the siege of Vienna ends? If so, will they be "Brothers in arms" or something more?
2) Can any male read this story and NOT fall in love with Red Sonya? How cool is she?
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Cask of Amontillado
The Cask of Amontillado, by Edgar Allen Poe
1) We are never told what Fortunato did or said to offend the narrator. Do you believe Fortunato really did insult him or was it largely in the narrator's imagination?
2) Is it possible, based on the last few sentences, that the narrator didn't intend to kill Fortunato, but only scare him? That he walled up Fortunato only after the man had died of fright?
1) We are never told what Fortunato did or said to offend the narrator. Do you believe Fortunato really did insult him or was it largely in the narrator's imagination?
2) Is it possible, based on the last few sentences, that the narrator didn't intend to kill Fortunato, but only scare him? That he walled up Fortunato only after the man had died of fright?
The Most Dangerous Game
The Most Dangerous Game, by Richard Connell
1) Is General Zaroff a believable villain? Do you accept his motivation for doing what he does as reasonable within the context of his incredible pride and lack of humanity?
2) Do you regret not getting to "see" the final battle between Rainsford and Zaroff--or is the way its set up a much more effective finale?
1) Is General Zaroff a believable villain? Do you accept his motivation for doing what he does as reasonable within the context of his incredible pride and lack of humanity?
2) Do you regret not getting to "see" the final battle between Rainsford and Zaroff--or is the way its set up a much more effective finale?
The Ransom of Red Chief
The Ransom of Red Chief, by O Henry
1) Whom do you consider the protagonist(s) of this story: Sam & Bill or the boy? Whom do you root for?
2) Do you think Sam and Bill are capable of having a successful career as criminals?
1) Whom do you consider the protagonist(s) of this story: Sam & Bill or the boy? Whom do you root for?
2) Do you think Sam and Bill are capable of having a successful career as criminals?
Pickman's Model
Pickman's Model, by H.P. Lovecraft
1) Does the story build suspense effectively? Does the "telling a story to a friend" structure help or hinder this?
2) Is the ending an effective twist or is it too predictable?
1) Does the story build suspense effectively? Does the "telling a story to a friend" structure help or hinder this?
2) Is the ending an effective twist or is it too predictable?
The Red-Headed League
The Red-Headed League, by Arthur Conan Doyle
1) Are Holmes' deductions as sound as Watson says, or is it possible to punch holes in the plot?
2) A TV adaptation of this story added Professor Moriarty to the plot, revealing that the villains here were a part of his organization. Does this idea add to the enjoyment of the story, or is it an unnecessary addition?
1) Are Holmes' deductions as sound as Watson says, or is it possible to punch holes in the plot?
2) A TV adaptation of this story added Professor Moriarty to the plot, revealing that the villains here were a part of his organization. Does this idea add to the enjoyment of the story, or is it an unnecessary addition?
Worms of the Earth
Worms of the Earth, by Robert E Howard.
Question 1: Would you define Bran Mak Morn's quest as being motivated by vengeance or by justice?
Question 2: Was Bran justified in seeking aid from a Chaotic Evil magical source, regardless of his end intentions?
Question 1: Would you define Bran Mak Morn's quest as being motivated by vengeance or by justice?
Question 2: Was Bran justified in seeking aid from a Chaotic Evil magical source, regardless of his end intentions?
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