| Author | Message | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 987 Registered: 10-2008 |
Lydia and her father receive a visitor one day, and are more than happy to take him in and talk for hours. Soon after, Lydia receives a letter from the man. The note is just as jovial and kind as he was, and only talks about the events of the visit, but she destroys it immediately. What did the letter say? | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 1318 Registered: 9-2009 |
Does she destroy it before reading it? After? To prevent someone else from reading it? Does the note specify that it is to be destroyed? Is it relevant how she destroys it? Does she destroy it out of anger? Or other negative emotions? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 989 Registered: 10-2008 |
Galfisk (Galfisk) Does she destroy it before reading it? After? This. To prevent someone else from reading it? Yes. Does the note specify that it is to be destroyed? No. Is it relevant how she destroys it? No. Does she destroy it out of anger? Or other negative emotions? No to rest. | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 1319 Registered: 9-2009 |
Did she want to prevent her father from reading it? Had the subject of the note been discussed in the prescence of the father? Romantic issues relevant? A secret? A surprise? Are they planning a surprise for the father? On his birthday? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 991 Registered: 10-2008 |
Galfisk (Galfisk) Did she want to prevent her father from reading it? Yes. Had the subject of the note been discussed in the presence of the father? No or irr. Romantic issues relevant? No. A secret? Yesish. A surprise? Are they planning a surprise for the father? On his birthday? No to rest. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 681 Registered: 6-2008 |
Does she not want the father to know that the man wrote a letter? that he was capable of sending a letter? to them? or is the content of the letter the important part? Is the language that the letter is written in relevant (aside from the fact that the father and daughter understand it)? handwriting relevant? | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 1164 Registered: 3-2006 |
During the visit, were the man and Lydia alone together for any length of time? did they say anything to each other that her father did not hear? did either of them do something that her father did not see? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 993 Registered: 10-2008 |
Biograd (Biograd) Does she not want the father to know that the man wrote a letter? Yope. that he was capable of sending a letter? to them? No. or is the content of the letter the important part? Yes. Is the language that the letter is written in relevant (aside from the fact that the father and daughter understand it)? No. handwriting relevant? No. Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack) During the visit, were the man and Lydia alone together for any length of time? did they say anything to each other that her father did not hear? did either of them do something that her father did not see? No to all, good q's. | ||
| Noobdogg (Noobdogg)
Moderator Username: Noobdogg Post Number: 267 Registered: 3-2009 |
Did the letter also mention observations that the man made during his visit? Something, perhaps, that the father hasn't noticed yet? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2514 Registered: 1-2007 |
Super puzzle statment Gourami really lateral... Anyway enough sucking up to the puzzle setter on to the questions. Is the language the letter's written relevant? Does the letter change Lydia's opinion of the man (can we call him Jim)? If so for the worse? Does Jim's letter give away some earlier lie he had told? some crime he had committed? Does the letter please Lydia in some way? Is it likely that Lydia will ever speak to Jim again after receiving the letter? write to him? Is it likely that Jim will visit again? Is Lydia's father (can we call him Bob) her biological father ? relevant? When Jim visited was he expected ? did Lydia and Bob know of Jim before that visit? Had they met before? Is where the letter was posted from relevant? Does Jim include his address at the top of the letter? Is it relevant what this address is? One wild thought.. Is Jim a Jehovah's Witness? i could think of loads more questions but i'll leave it at that. | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 998 Registered: 10-2008 |
Noobdogg (Noobdogg) Did the letter also mention observations that the man made during his visit? No. Something, perhaps, that the father hasn't noticed yet? Something like this is relevant... Peter365 (Peter365) Super puzzle statment Gourami really lateral... Anyway enough sucking up to the puzzle setter on to the questions. Haha, thank you. It's based on a short story, but it's obscure enough to not be recognized, I hope. Is the language the letter's written relevant? No, English. Does the letter change Lydia's opinion of the man (can we call him Jim)? Yes. If so for the worse? Probably not, but irr. Does Jim's letter give away some earlier lie he had told? Yes. some crime he had committed? Hm. I wouldn't consider it a crime, but a skilled lawyer could probably press charges. Does the letter please Lydia in some way? Not really. Is it likely that Lydia will ever speak to Jim again after receiving the letter? No. write to him? Possibly. Is it likely that Jim will visit again? No. Is Lydia's father (can we call him Bob) her biological father ? Yes. relevant? No. When Jim visited was he expected ? No. did Lydia and Bob know of Jim before that visit? Had they met before? Yes and yes, but there's a complexity here... Is where the letter was posted from relevant? No. Does Jim include his address at the top of the letter? Irr. Is it relevant what this address is? No. One wild thought.. Is Jim a Jehovah's Witness? No. i could think of loads more questions but I'll leave it at that. I think they've already gotten you somewhere! | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2517 Registered: 1-2007 |
Was Jim canvassing for support for something? Is he a politician? Is the letter expressing thanks for something? | ||
| Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo)
New member Username: Strongplacebo Post Number: 232 Registered: 10-2005 |
Does Lydia know the letter is from Jim? Does he sign it 'Jim'? Did the visit take place at Lydia and Bob's home? Was the letter sent to the same place? Lydia "receives" it but was it explicitly addressed to her? Did Jim know that she would not have wanted to receive such a letter? Or DID she want to receive it? Was she expecting it? Was it a signal of some kind? Is the secret one of Jim's? Lydia's? Both? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1000 Registered: 10-2008 |
Peter365 (Peter365) Was Jim canvassing for support for something? Is he a politician? No and no. Is the letter expressing thanks for something? In part, but that isn't the especially relevant part of the letter. Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo) Does Lydia know the letter is from Jim? Does he sign it 'Jim'? Strangely enough, DOYD of "Jim." Did the visit take place at Lydia and Bob's home? Yes. Was the letter sent to the same place? Yes. Lydia "receives" it but was it explicitly addressed to her? Yes. Did Jim know that she would not have wanted to receive such a letter? No. Or DID she want to receive it? She probably doesn't have strong feelings about it. Was she expecting it? No. Was it a signal of some kind? No. Is the secret one of Jim's? Yes, originally. Lydia's? Now it is. Both? | ||
| Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo)
New member Username: Jenburdoo Post Number: 2375 Registered: 5-2003 |
What's DOYD stand for again? Are location or time period relevant? Is a specific part of the letter relevant, like the signature, postmark or stamp? A particular technique, like handwriting? Does she receive a letter or postmark? Is Lydia motivated by positive emotions toward her father? Negative emotions toward Jim? Is Jim a scammer? | ||
| Noobdogg (Noobdogg)
Moderator Username: Noobdogg Post Number: 275 Registered: 3-2009 |
If Bob had read the letter, would he have felt sad? angry? shocked? about Lydia? about Jim? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1002 Registered: 10-2008 |
Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo) What's DOYD stand for again? Sorry, "depends on your definition." Are location or time period relevant? Not unless you want to get the whole backstory. You don't need it to solve. Is a specific part of the letter relevant, like the signature, postmark or stamp? A particular technique, like handwriting? No to all. Does she receive a letter or postmark? Irr. Is Lydia motivated by positive emotions toward her father? Yes, in part. Negative emotions toward Jim? No. Is Jim a scammer? Not in the traditional sense. Noobdogg (Noobdogg) If Bob had read the letter, would he have felt sad? Possibly. angry? Yes. shocked? Yes. about Lydia? No. about Jim? Yes. | ||
| Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo)
New member Username: Strongplacebo Post Number: 233 Registered: 10-2005 |
To turn around Jumpingjack's earlier questions: During the visit, were Jim and Bob alone together for any length of time? did they say anything to each other that Lydia did not hear? did either of them do something that Lydia did not see? Did anything else relevant happen during the visit, other than them all talking for a few hours? Is it relevant what they talked about? Was Jim pretending to be someone else during the visit? Or when writing the letter? Was he in disguise? Posing as a woman, even? Does Bob suffer from memory loss? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1004 Registered: 10-2008 |
Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo) To turn around Jumpingjack's earlier questions: During the visit, were Jim and Bob alone together for any length of time? No or irr. did they say anything to each other that Lydia did not hear? did either of them do something that Lydia did not see? No. Did anything else relevant happen during the visit, other than them all talking for a few hours? Yes. Is it relevant what they talked about? Although you don't need this info to solve, it may be helpful. Was Jim pretending to be someone else during the visit? Yes! Nice! Or when writing the letter? No! Was he in disguise? Yes. Posing as a woman, even? But no. Does Bob suffer from memory loss? No. | ||
| Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo)
New member Username: Strongplacebo Post Number: 234 Registered: 10-2005 |
So to clarify, Jim came to their home disguised as someone else, then wrote to Lydia and revealed he was actually Jim? She is not particularly bothered by this, but worried her father would be if he knew? Did Jim give himself away intentionally in the letter? Or is it something Lydia figures out? Did she know during the visit that he was not who he claimed to be? Is Jim a relative of theirs? Colleague of Bob/Lydia? Friend? If no, did he pretend to be any of the those things while there? Or was he posing as a stranger? A salesman? Tradesman? Cop? Had Jim/the person he was impersonating (can we call the fake persona 'Phil'?) been invited on this visit? Had they met Jim more than once before? As 'Phil'? Is Jim posing as a specific person he knows of, or is it just a disguise he's cooked up? Is Lydia an adult? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1006 Registered: 10-2008 |
Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo) So to clarify, Jim came to their home disguised as someone else, then wrote to Lydia and revealed he was actually Jim? Exactly. She is not particularly bothered by this, but worried her father would be if he knew? Yes. Did Jim give himself away intentionally in the letter? Yes. Or is it something Lydia figures out? No. Did she know during the visit that he was not who he claimed to be? No. Is Jim a relative of theirs? Colleague of Bob/Lydia? Friend? This is close enough. If no, did he pretend to be any of the those things while there? Yope. Or was he posing as a stranger? A salesman? Tradesman? Cop? No to rest. Had Jim/the person he was impersonating (can we call the fake persona 'Phil'?) been invited on this visit? No. Had they met Jim more than once before? Yes. As 'Phil'? No. Is Jim posing as a specific person he knows of, or is it just a disguise he's cooked up? Specific person. Is Lydia an adult? Yes. Thanks for the Jim/Phil distinction; I wasn't sure before which to answer questions about. | ||
| Noobdogg (Noobdogg)
Moderator Username: Noobdogg Post Number: 282 Registered: 3-2009 |
Is he posing as someone who is dead? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1615 Registered: 7-2009 |
Does Jim have a twin? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1008 Registered: 10-2008 |
Noobdogg (Noobdogg) Is he posing as someone who is dead? Irr: not as someone known to be dead. Noel (Noel) Does Jim have a twin? No. | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2520 Registered: 1-2007 |
Were Jim's actions at the original visit motivated by greed? general mischief? guilty conscience i.e. a desire to make amends for something? revenge? Desire/Lust? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1010 Registered: 10-2008 |
Peter365 (Peter365) Were Jim's actions at the original visit motivated by greed? general mischief? guilty conscience i.e. a desire to make amends for something? This may be part of it. revenge? Desire/Lust? No to rest. | ||
| Noobdogg (Noobdogg)
Moderator Username: Noobdogg Post Number: 296 Registered: 3-2009 |
So is Phil the persona of someone who is alive? Dead but everyone thinks is alive? Only Bob thinks is alive? Just to get things a little clear, let me sum up what we know so far. Jim visits Bob and Lydia as Phil. Something happens during his visit. Soon after he writes a letter to Lydia and signs off as Jim. If Bob were to read this letter, he would realize that Jim was an impostor, which would disturb him in some way. Lydia destroys the letter to prevent Bob from realizing this truth. Is there something other than the impersonation that would disturb Bob? Just the implications of the truth or some other fact? So we are now to figure out Jim's motives in impersonating Phil, correct? And why Lydia is protecting this persona? I'm going to revisit one of the earlier questions: did Lydia and Bob know of Jim before that visit? Had they met before? and so: did Lydia and Bob know of the real Phil before that visit? Had they met before? did Lydia and Bob know of Phil (when Jim is posing as him) before that visit? Had they met before? Is there even a real Phil, or is it simply a made-up identity? Sorry if this is all haphazard :-D | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1012 Registered: 10-2008 |
Noobdogg (Noobdogg) So is Phil the persona of someone who is alive? Probably. Dead but everyone thinks is alive? This could be the case too, doesn't really matter. Only Bob thinks is alive? No. Just to get things a little clear, let me sum up what we know so far. Jim visits Bob and Lydia as Phil. Something happens during his visit. Soon after he writes a letter to Lydia and signs off as Jim. If Bob were to read this letter, he would realize that Jim Or Phil, more accurately. was an impostor, which would disturb him in some way. Lydia destroys the letter to prevent Bob from realizing this truth. Is there something other than the impersonation that would disturb Bob? Yes. Just the implications of the truth or some other fact? I suppose it's the implications. So we are now to figure out Jim's motives in impersonating Phil, correct? And why Lydia is protecting this persona? Exactly. I'm going to revisit one of the earlier questions: did Lydia and Bob know of Jim before that visit? Yes. Had they met before? Yes. and so: did Lydia and Bob know of the real Phil before that visit? Yes. Had they met before? Yes. did Lydia and Bob know of Phil (when Jim is posing as him) before that visit? No. Had they met before? No. Is there even a real Phil, or is it simply a made-up identity? Real. Sorry if this is all haphazard :-D Nah, good questions. I'll be out of town for about a week; I should be back to the forum on Sunday. | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2521 Registered: 1-2007 |
Any relevant physical disabilities? Did any money change hands during the vist? | ||
| Noobdogg (Noobdogg)
Moderator Username: Noobdogg Post Number: 305 Registered: 3-2009 |
Does Bob hate Jim? Does Lydia? | ||
| Alhucema (Alhucema)
New member Username: Alhucema Post Number: 1804 Registered: 11-2008 |
Are Jim and Phil identical twins? | ||
| Fatboy_chubz (Fatboy_chubz)
New member Username: Fatboy_chubz Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2010 |
Is Bob still married to Lydia's mom? If relevant does Lydia's mom know Phil and/or Jim? Is Phil's occupation relevant? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1015 Registered: 10-2008 |
Peter365 (Peter365) Any relevant physical disabilities? No. Did any money change hands during the visit? Yes! Noobdogg (Noobdogg) Does Bob hate Jim? Yes! Does Lydia? No, irr. Alhucema (Alhucema) Are Jim and Phil identical twins? No. Fatboy_chubz (Fatboy_chubz) Welcome to the forum! Is Bob still married to Lydia's mom? Irr. If relevant does Lydia's mom know Phil and/or Jim? Is Phil's occupation relevant? No. | ||
| Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo)
New member Username: Strongplacebo Post Number: 235 Registered: 10-2005 |
Was the money handed over by: Bob? Lydia? Jim-as-Phil? Was it handed to: Bob? Lydia? Jim-as-Phil? Was the money a loan? Repayment of a loan? A bribe? Compensation? A lost bet? A gift? A thank-you? A charitable donation? Payment for a service? For an item? A share of something they were buying together? Was it handed over on the understanding that it would be spent on something specific? Do we need to determine the amount? Is real Jim more a friend of Bob's than Lydia's? Is this why she is not too bothered, but knows Bob would be? | ||
| Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo)
New member Username: Strongplacebo Post Number: 236 Registered: 10-2005 |
Sorry, that last paragraph should read "real Phil". Oops. | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1018 Registered: 10-2008 |
Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo) Was the money handed over by: Bob? Lydia? Jim-as-Phil? This. Was it handed to: Bob? This. Lydia? Jim-as-Phil? Was the money a loan? Repayment of a loan? Thisish. A bribe? Compensation? A lost bet? A gift? And thisish. A thank-you? A charitable donation? Payment for a service? For an item? A share of something they were buying together? Was it handed over on the understanding that it would be spent on something specific? Possibly. Do we need to determine the amount? No. Is real Phil more a friend of Bob's than Lydia's? Irr. Is this why she is not too bothered, but knows Bob would be? No. | ||
| Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo)
New member Username: Strongplacebo Post Number: 237 Registered: 10-2005 |
Does Jim think that Bob will not accept the money if he knows who he is? Or is it simply that Bob would not want to see him? Is there history of money issues between Bob and Jim? Is this the source of why Bob hates Jim? Is the money the repayment of a prior loan from Bob to Jim, now disguised as a gift from Phil to Bob? Do they discuss Jim at all during the visit? Does Lydia benefit from the deception in any way? Does she also hate Jim? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1020 Registered: 10-2008 |
Strongplacebo (Strongplacebo) Does Jim think that Bob will not accept the money if he knows who he is? Yes. Or is it simply that Bob would not want to see him? This too. Is there history of money issues between Bob and Jim? Yesish. Is this the source of why Bob hates Jim? Not fully, but you don't have to work out the source of the hatred. Is the money the repayment of a prior loan from Bob to Jim, now disguised as a gift from Phil to Bob? No, but revisit this q. Do they discuss Jim at all during the visit? No. Does Lydia benefit from the deception in any way? Yes. Does she also hate Jim? No, irr. | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 1436 Registered: 9-2009 |
Is the money given to benefit Lydia? Is the money camouflaged as a repayment? When it actually is a gift? Did the real Phil owe Bob money? did Jim? Does Jim-as-Phil claim to be acting on behalf of the real Jim? Did Bob owe money? Does Jim want to help Bob? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1023 Registered: 10-2008 |
Galfisk (Galfisk) Is the money given to benefit Lydia? Partly. Is the money camouflaged as a repayment? Yes. When it actually is a gift? Yes! Did the real Phil owe Bob money? Yesish. did Jim? No. Does Jim-as-Phil claim to be acting on behalf of the real Jim? No. Did Bob owe money? Yes. Does Jim want to help Bob? Yes! I think you can put it all together now... | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 1486 Registered: 9-2009 |
Bob is in money trouble, which makes life difficult for him and his daughter Lydia. Jim, a former friend of Bob and Lydia would like to help them out. However there is bad blood between Bob and him, and he knows Bob would never accept such help. Still wanting to help the family out, he gets an idea. Phil owes Bob money, and if he visits the two disguised as Phil wanting to return his loan, he will be welcomed. Said and done. He then sends a note to inform Lydia of what he did, she is thankful but knows that her father never would forgive it, and destroys the note. Is that about right? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1032 Registered: 10-2008 |
***************SPOILER See Galfisk's post above; couldn't have said it better. To add some unnecessary detail, this is an O'Henry short story. Jim was a border in the house of Bob, an old-fashioned southern gentleman with excess pride and nostalgia. Jim, an actor, uses Bob's larger-than-life personality as the model for a character--Bob sees the show and is furious. Jim knows Bob and Lydia are short on cash and offers part of the box office as an apology, but Bob refuses and kicks him out. Jim still wants to give them the money. Remembering Bob's stories about the bad old South and using his considerable acting talent, he disguises himself as a beloved former slave of the family who still owed them money. Bob takes the money gratefully and invites him in to reminisce. Jim later sends Lydia a note explaining his deception, which she destroys for fear that her father would give the money back! |
