Mystery Collection Discussion Questions

Select a story to view the corresponding discussion questions

A Jury of Her Peers

A Scandal in Bohemia

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The Adventure of the Three Students

The Body Snatcher

The Eagle's Claws

The Oblong Box

The Pet

The Safety Match

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A Jury of Her Peers

1. Do you think the women made the right choice, hiding the evidence?
2. Do you have any hobbies that calm you, like knitting?
3. The story describes a transformation in the attitudes of Martha Hale and Mrs. Peters. What was this transformation, and what caused it? Have you experienced something that caused a transformation in you?

A Scandal in Bohemia

1. Have you read any Sherlock Holmes before?
2. Which character was more appealing in this story, Holmes or Watson?
3. Do you think Holmes' arrogance in his abilities or assumptions about women allowed Irene to get the best of him?

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

1. Did you expect the twist at the end?
2. Were you interested in studying the Civil War?
3. A theme of this story is the fluid nature of time. Have you ever experienced time crawling by or quickly passing in the blink of an eye?

The Adventure of the Three Students

1. Did you figure out which student was guilty?
2. Have you ever cheated on something? Did you regret it afterward?
3. What did you think of Sherlock Holmes in this story?

The Body Snatcher

1. Have you read anything else by Robert Louis Stevenson, like Treasure Island or The Black Arrow? Do you prefer his adventure stories or his mysteries?
2. Do you think unscrupulous actions are sometimes justified to further humanity’s knowledge? Do the ends justify the means, or are unethical actions always bad, no matter the consequences?
3. Do you enjoy spooky movies or stories? If so, what is your favorite scary story or movie?

The Eagle's Claws

1. Do you like humorous stories?
2. Do you think Gubb's costumes are fun, or just another tool for his investigations? Do you enjoy dressing up in a costume?
3. Do you think Gubb is a good detective? Would you hire him?

The Oblong Box

1. How do you like this story compared to Poe's more famous work, like The Tell-Tale Heart or The Raven?
2. Were you surprised that the box held Wyatt's wife?
3. The narrator is a nosy, curious character, and these traits cause him to leap to errant conclusions. What is one of your less desirable character traits, and has it ever caused you to get in a sticky situation?

The Pet

1. Have you ever been smitten at first sight?
2. What do you think of Philo Gubb?
3. Is Philo Gubb more like Inspector Clouseau or Sherlock Holmes?

The Safety Match

1. Did you guess the culprit, or what really happened?
2. Have you read any other Russian authors?
3. Do you think Russian authors have a style all their own? Have you read any other Anton Chekhov stories?