Short Story Collection Discussion Questions

Select a story to view the corresponding discussion questions.

Beauty and the Beast

Confessions of a Humorist

Pigs Is Pigs

The Boarding House

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

The Copy-Cat

The Death of Balder

The Golden Key

The Pit and the Pendulum

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Beauty and the Beast

1. This story is considered a classic fairy tale. Name three or four elements of the story that make it a fairy tale.
2. What do you think of the sisters' punishment, being turned into statues, forced to witness their sister's happiness until they reckoned with their own faults? Do you agree that the two sisters were unlikely to ever own their faults?
3. Have you seen the Disney movie version of this story? If so, did you enjoy it?

Confessions of a Humorist

1. When the main character's livelihood depends on him being funny, what happens? What are the things you enjoy doing? Would you eventually lose that joy if you had to do them for as a job?
2. Irony occurs when a person says something or does something that departs from what they (or we) expect them to say or do. How does irony appear in this story?
3. How does O. Henry use figurative language in this story to create humor?

Pigs Is Pigs

1. Who do you think is to blame for the guinea pig debacle? Mike Flannery, for not knowing that guinea pigs are pets, or Mr. Morehouse for not paying the extra .10 cents? Or is something else to blame?
2. Have you ever had guinea pigs as a pet? What kinds of pets have you had?
3. How do you think this situation should have been solved?

The Boarding House

1. At the end of the story, Polly's mother calls for her to come down because Mr. Doran wanted to speak with her. What do you think he says to her?
2. What do you think of Polly's mother?
3. Do you think it's best for Mr. Doran to marry Polly, even though he isn't in love with her?

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

1. Why would Mark Twain choose a mining story as the setting for the tales of Jim Smiley?
2. What stereotypes about westerners are present in this story?
3. Have you ever known someone like Jim Smiley, who would bet on just about anything?

The Copy-Cat

1. When you were a child, were you ever involved in shenanigans like the children in the story? Did you ever sneak out at night or stay out past curfew?
2. Tell us about your best friend growing up. Did the two of you grow to imitate each other like Amelia imitates Lily?
3. Were your parents more like Amelia's mom or Lily's mom?

The Death of Balder

1. How familiar are you with Norse mythology?
2. How is this story a familiar good versus evil story?
3. Loke, or Loki, was known to be a shapeshifter. How does that quality appear in this story? If you could take on the shape of another thing, what would it be and why?

The Golden Key

1. Imagine you were Tangle. Is there a part of her journey that would make you too afraid to go on?
2. When Mossy meets the Old Man of the Sea, he gains the ability to walk and leave no footprints. What has happened to Mossy?
3. What might the story say about death and the afterlife?

The Pit and the Pendulum

1. What do the rats symbolize in the story? Is there any irony in the symbolism?
2. Discuss how Poe uses the senses in the story.
3. Discuss the idea of torture in the story. Is this more psychological or physical?