# A Guess-Proof Mystery Story explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

The chapter presents a satirical take on the popular trend of guess-contest mystery stories, offering a synopsis that challenges readers to guess the ending for a cash prize, with the claim that it is easy to write an unguessable mystery.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Irony

The chapter mocks the literary trend of guess-contest mysteries, offering a prize for an unguessable story as a humorous critique.

## Key lines

> The most popular and recent advertising dodge in literature is the Grand Guess Contest Mystery Story.

The latest literary marketing gimmick is the big guess-the-mystery contest.

_Introduces the satirical premise of the chapter._

> It is the easiest thing in the world to write a story of mystery that will defy the most ingenious guessers in the country.

Writing a mystery that no one can solve is incredibly simple.

_Sets up the challenge and ironic tone._

> To prove it, here is one that we offer $10,000 to any man and $15,000 to any woman who guesses the mystery before the last chapter.

As proof, we offer a cash prize to anyone who can guess the ending before the final chapter.

_Highlights the exaggerated prize and gender-based difference as part of the satire._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-guess-proof-mystery-story
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters