Puzzled by Carolyn Wells (1920)
The narrative revolves around a protagonist who is struggling to find meaning and purpose in their life. They are disillusioned with societal expectations and feel disconnected from others. As they navigate their relationships, career, and personal growth, they begin to question the nature of reality and their place within it. Through a series of introspective moments and encounters with others, the protagonist grapples with existential crises and philosophical conundrums. They seek answers in various forms of art, spirituality, and intellectual pursuits, but find themselves increasingly uncertain about the truth. The story is a poignant exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, morality, and the search for authenticity in a seemingly meaningless world.
By Carolyn Wells · First published 1920 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime · 183 words
First lines
There lived in ancient Scribbletown a wise old writer-man, Whose name was Homer Cicero Demosthenes McCann. He'd written treatises and themes till, "For a change," he said, "I think I'll write a children's book before I go to bed."
He pulled down all his musty tomes in Latin and in Greek; Consulted cyclopaedias and manuscripts antique, Essays in Anthropology, studies in counterpoise -- "For these," he said, "are useful lore for little girls and boys."
What this Textopian page supports
Puzzled is listed on Textopian as a short story by Carolyn Wells, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Carolyn Wells
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Detective Story, Adventure Fiction
- Length: 183 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Puzzled by Carolyn Wells
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Puzzled?
- How does this short story by Carolyn Wells fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Mystery — The book revolves around the concept of solving puzzling situations and mysteries, consistent with the mystery genre.
- Thriller — The plot of the book often involves suspenseful and intense situations characteristic of thrillers.
- Crime — The narrative often deals with investigations into crimes, making it relevant to the crime genre.
- Detective Story — The protagonists often take on the role of detective to unravel the puzzles presented, thus aligning with the genre of detective stories.
Tags
mystery · detective · crime · suspense · thriller · puzzle · investigation · clue · whodunit · fiction · literature · plot twist