“A Retrieved

Reformation”

O. Henry

O. Henry1862 - 1910

real name was William Sydney Porter

at age 15 he left school and moved to

Texas

born in North Carolina

worked in Austin, TX bank

spent three years in prison

one year later he returned to his dying wife and was caught

panicked and ran off to Honduras

two years after leaving he was accused of embezzling

while in prison he took the pen name O. Henry (some say from

a prison guard Orrin Henry)

stories have surprise endings

one of the country’s most popular short story writers

1901 he was released and moved to NY

• other works:

“Gift of the Magi”

Who deserves

a second chance?

How do you decide when to give one?

Third-person omniscientpoint of view

• Tells story using pronouns he, she, it and they

• Aware of what ALL the characters are thinking and doing

Irony

• Verbal irony: say one thing and mean another

• Situational irony: what is expected vs. what actually happens