Famous Short Stories
1 / 15How well do you know the world's most celebrated short stories and their authors?
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Who wrote 'The Gift of the Magi,' a classic tale about a couple's Christmas sacrifices?
About Famous Short Stories
How well do you know the world's most celebrated short stories and their authors? Famous Short Stories packs 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 7 medium, 4 easy, 4 hard questions into a relaxed session of roughly 7 minutes — no sign-up, no timer pressure. An explanation appears after every answer, and finishing once a day keeps your streak alive.
A few sample questions
1. Who wrote 'The Gift of the Magi,' a classic tale about a couple's Christmas sacrifices?
Answer: O. Henry
O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) published 'The Gift of the Magi' in 1905. The story of Jim and Della, who each sell their most prized possession to buy a gift for the other, is one of the most beloved Christmas stories.
2. Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart' features a narrator haunted by what sound?
Answer: A beating heart
In 'The Tell-Tale Heart' (1843), the guilt-ridden narrator believes he hears the heartbeat of the old man he has murdered beneath the floorboards. The story is a masterpiece of psychological horror.
3. Which author wrote 'The Lottery,' a shocking story about a small-town ritual?
Answer: Shirley Jackson
Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' (1948) appeared in The New Yorker and generated more mail than any story the magazine had ever published. Readers were outraged and fascinated by its disturbing twist ending.
4. In which Washington Irving story does a man fall asleep for 20 years?
Answer: Rip Van Winkle
'Rip Van Winkle' (1819) tells of a man who drinks with mysterious strangers in the Catskill Mountains and awakens to find that 20 years have passed and the American Revolution has occurred.
5. Who wrote 'The Metamorphosis,' about a man who wakes up transformed into a giant insect?
Answer: Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka published 'The Metamorphosis' ('Die Verwandlung') in 1915. Gregor Samsa's transformation into a monstrous insect is one of the most famous opening situations in all of literature.
Things you'll learn along the way
- Nikolai Gogol published 'The Overcoat' in 1842. The tragicomic story of Akaky Akakievich, whose new overcoat is stolen, is considered a foundation of Russian realism. Dostoevsky reportedly said, 'We all came out of Gogol's Overcoat.'
- 'A Clean, Well-Lighted Place' (1933) depicts two waiters discussing an old man who lingers in their café. The story exemplifies Hemingway's spare style and themes of loneliness and existential despair.
- Guy de Maupassant published 'The Necklace' ('La Parure') in 1884. Mathilde Loisel spends ten years paying for a replacement necklace, only to discover a devastating irony at the end.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print Famous Short Stories?
Yes — use the Print button at the top of the page for a clean question sheet, or "Print with Answers" to make an answer key. Printed sheets work well for group play at home, in a classroom, or at a senior center.
Will I lose my progress if I close the page?
Your overall progress — XP, streaks, and badges — is saved in your browser automatically. A quiz that's underway restarts if you leave mid-game, but at about 7 minutes, Famous Short Stories fits comfortably in one sitting.
How many questions are in Famous Short Stories?
Famous Short Stories has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
Is Famous Short Stories free to play?
Yes. The entire SeniorBrainGames catalog — including Famous Short Stories — is free, with no sign-up required, no time limits, and no ads on top of the game. It also works offline once the page has loaded once.
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