Answers to Inquiries by O. Henry
The story revolves around a young man who seeks revenge against his former employer for firing him. He devises a plan to steal from the man and frame an innocent person for the crime. However, the plan backfires when the innocent person is actually caught by the authorities. The young man's attempt at revenge ultimately leads to his own downfall.
By O. Henry · First published 1916 · Genre: Humor, Short Story, Satire · 117 words
First lines
Dear Editor: I want to ask a question in arithmetic. I am a school boy and am anxious to know the solution. If my pa, who keeps a grocery on Milam Street, sells four cans of tomatoes for twenty-five cents, and twenty-two pounds of sugar, and one can of extra evaporated apples and three cans of superior California plums, for only --
There! There! little boy; that will do. Tell your pa to come around and see the advertising manager, who is quite an arithmetician, and will doubtless work the sum for you at the usual rates.
What this Textopian page supports
Answers to Inquiries is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Short Story, Satire, Epistolary, Slice of Life
- Length: 117 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Answers to Inquiries by O. Henry
- 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 Answers to Inquiries?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Proof Of The Pudding by O. Henry
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Genres
- Humor — The work employs wit and playful language to engage the reader, characteristic of humorous writing.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and focused, typical of the short story format.
- Satire — It critiques societal norms and behaviors through a humorous lens.
- Epistolary — The format consists of letters, which is a defining feature of epistolary works.
Tags
Short Stories · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Realism · Irony · Twist Ending · Plot Twist · Moral Lesson · Character Study · Dialogue-Driven