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O. Henry Trivia Quiz

A tribute to one of America's best loved short story writers.

A multiple-choice quiz by astorian. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
astorian

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
151,276

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
487

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was O. Henry's real name? Hint

William Sydney Porter

J. Frank Dobie

John Henry Faulk

John Kelso

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Question 2 of 10

2. O. Henry founded an unsuccessful humor magazine called "Rolling Stone," and was sentenced to prison for embezzlement, while living in which state capital? Hint

Atlanta, Georgia

Austin, Texas

Albany, New York

Richmond, Virginia

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the following characteristics defines most of O. Henry's short stories? Hint

ironic "twist" endings

clever puns and wordplay

dark, gloomy portraits of urban life

supernatural plots

4. What is the name of the tramp who comes to New York City's Union Square each November, to be treated to a big Thanksgiving dinner by a generous philanthropist, in "Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen"? Hint

Locomotive Joe

Stuffy Pete

Fatso Fogerty

Nick the Nomad

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In O. Henry's Christmas story, "The Gift of the Magi," what must the young bride sell in order to buy her husband a watch fob as a Christmas present? Hint

her soul

her mother's necklace

her hair

her prize-winning cat

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In the short story "After Twenty Years," what happens when Silky Bob returns to his old neighborhood in New York to see his former best friend, Jimmy Wells? Hint

Bob gets arrested

Bob realizes Jimmy was just an imaginary friend

Jimmy kills Bob

Jimmy has completely forgotten Bob

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Yes or No: Is the story "Memoirs of a Yellow Dog" written from the point of view of an actual canine?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. O. Henry lampooned Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes by creating a detective with what ridiculous name? Hint

Hemlock Groanes

Sheetrock Homes

Shamrock Jolnes

Sheerluck Gnomes

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following heroes was originally created by O. Henry? Hint

The Lone Ranger

The Cisco Kid

Zorro

Hopalong Cassidy

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. In "The Ransom of Red Chief," what eventually becomes of the kidnapped child? Hint

He likes the kidnappers, and chooses to stay with them

The kidnappers pay his family to take him back.

He tricks his kidnappers, and makes a daring escape

He steals the ransom money, and heads out West

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was O. Henry's real name?

Answer: William Sydney Porter

William Sydney Porter was born in 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina, but moved to Texas at the age of 20.

2. O. Henry founded an unsuccessful humor magazine called "Rolling Stone," and was sentenced to prison for embezzlement, while living in which state capital?

Answer: Austin, Texas

Despite his crimes, O. Henry remained popular in Austin, where there are two junior high schools named after him.

3. Which of the following characteristics defines most of O. Henry's short stories?

Answer: ironic "twist" endings

There's almost always a twist in an O. Henry story. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's tragic, sometimes it's bittersweet, but there's almost always a twist ending you don't see coming.

Answer: Stuffy Pete

As it turns out, the penniless Stuffy Pete ends up in the hospital due to overeating, while his supposedly wealthy benefactor ends up in the same hospital, on the verge of starvation.

5. In O. Henry's Christmas story, "The Gift of the Magi," what must the young bride sell in order to buy her husband a watch fob as a Christmas present?

Answer: her hair

She learns that her husband had already sold his watch to buy combs for the long, flowing tresses she's cut off!

6. In the short story "After Twenty Years," what happens when Silky Bob returns to his old neighborhood in New York to see his former best friend, Jimmy Wells?

Answer: Bob gets arrested

In the twenty years since they last saw each other, Silky Bob has become a famous criminal, while Jimmy Wells has become a policeman.

7. Yes or No: Is the story "Memoirs of a Yellow Dog" written from the point of view of an actual canine?

Answer: Yes

The narrator is a pet dog in an apartment in New York City.

8. O. Henry lampooned Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes by creating a detective with what ridiculous name?

Answer: Shamrock Jolnes

Shamrock Jolnes makes a host of ridiculous deductions based on superficial observations- but somehow, they always seem to be correct.

9. Which of the following heroes was originally created by O. Henry?

Answer: The Cisco Kid

The Cisco Kid rode a horse named Diablo, while his dopey partner Pancho rode a nag named Loco.

10. In "The Ransom of Red Chief," what eventually becomes of the kidnapped child?

Answer: The kidnappers pay his family to take him back.

"Red Chief" is such an obnoxious brat, the kidnappers gladly pay his family to take him off their hands.

Source: Author astorian

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor MotherGoose before going online.
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