A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry Feature Menu Introducing the Story Literary Skills Focus: Biographical Criticism TechFocus Reading Skills Focus: Drawing Conclusions Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer

A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry Everyone makes mistakes. When is it a good idea to give someone a second chance?

A Retrieved Reformation Introducing the Story Click on the title to start the video.

A Retrieved Reformation Introducing the Story Jimmy Valentine had served ten months in jail for breaking into bank safes. On his release, Jimmy receives advice from the warden: “Brace up, and make a man of yourself. You’re not a bad fellow at heart . . . live straight.” Will Jimmy take the warden’s advice? Or will he return to his old safecracking ways? [End of Section]

A Retrieved Reformation Literary Skills Focus: Biographical Criticism A biographical approach to literary criticism examines a text to see if the writer’s life and experiences are reflected in it.

A Retrieved Reformation Literary Skills Focus: Biographical Criticism Connections O. Henry’s story should raise your curiosity about the connections to his life. O. Henry spent some time in prison. The story is about a man released from prison.

A Retrieved Reformation Literary Skills Focus: Biographical Criticism Connections As you read this story, ask yourself: What other connections are there between the story and O. Henry’s life? How does the story reveal O. Henry’s feelings about prison and about what happens to a man in prison? What other attitudes does the author reveal in this story? [End of Section]

A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry TechFocus As you read, imagine what it might be like to conduct a video interview with someone like Jimmy Valentine. What would you want to know about how his mind works? [End of Section]

A Retrieved Reformation Reading Skills Focus: Drawing Conclusions When you do biographical criticism, you compare a literary text with information about the author’s heritage traditions attitudes beliefs

A Retrieved Reformation Reading Skills Focus: Drawing Conclusions To follow a biographical approach, you consider all the evidence draw conclusions, or make final judgments, about the relationship between the author’s life and the text

A Retrieved Reformation Reading Skills Focus: Drawing Conclusions Into Action: In a chart like the one below, record details from the text and the writer’s biography. Then, draw conclusions about how they relate. Details in Text Details in Biography My Conclusions [End of Section]

A Retrieved Reformation Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer Find It in Your Reading O. Henry is known for writing endings with interesting, unexpected twists. As you read, record what you expect to happen in the story based on the way it begins. Then, record what actually happens. Explain whether you are surprised by the ending. [End of Section]

Vocabulary

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary rehabilitate v.: restore to good standing. clemency n.: mercy. elusive adj.: hard to catch. anguish n.: emotional pain.

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary Rehabilitate can mean “restore to good standing.” Often, we use rehabilitate to describe actions to restore someone’s physical health. Mrs. Jennings needed help after breaking her hip. Nurses helped rehabilitate her by teaching her to use a walker.

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary In this selection, rehabilitate refers to a criminal’s efforts to restore his good standing in the community. A criminal like Jimmy Valentine might rehabilitate himself by committing crimes staying home taking classes

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary In this selection, rehabilitate refers to a criminal’s efforts to restore his good standing in the community. A criminal like Jimmy Valentine might rehabilitate himself by committing crimes staying home taking classes What are other ways to rehabilitate criminals?

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary People may receive clemency, or mercy, after they have behaved badly. Which student looks like she could use some clemency?

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary People may receive clemency, or mercy, after they have behaved badly. Which student looks like she could use some clemency?

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary This judge is most likely to offer clemency to a prisoner who a. admits to a crime b. tries to escape c. expresses regret

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary This judge is most likely to offer clemency to a prisoner who a. admits to a crime b. tries to escape c. expresses regret When is a teacher most likely to grant clemency to a student who has misbehaved?

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary Something that is elusive is hard to catch. Which of these natural objects is elusive?

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary Something that is elusive is hard to catch. Which of these natural objects is elusive?

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary It was wise for the secret agent to remain elusive because ___________________.

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary It was wise for the secret agent to remain elusive because she did not want to reveal her identity. Name some elusive animals.

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary Nancy bravely rode the Ferris wheel with her friend, although her fear of heights caused her anguish.

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary Which four words could be antonyms, or opposites, of anguish? joy distress pain glee happiness delight torment

A Retrieved Reformation Vocabulary Which four words could be antonyms, or opposites, of anguish? joy distress pain glee happiness delight torment What unfortunate incidents might cause a person anguish? [End of Section]

The End

QuickWrite

A Retrieved Reformation QuickWrite Think of a situation in which a person might be given a second chance. What might the person learn from that experience? [End of Section]

Meet the Writer

A Retrieved Reformation Meet the Writer O. Henry (the pen name of William Sydney Porter) began his career as a short-story writer while he was in prison. He had been sentenced to serve three years after being accused of stealing money from a Texas bank. He told fellow inmates, “I will forget that I ever breathed behind these walls.” More About the Writer [End of Section]

Build Background

A Retrieved Reformation Build Background O. Henry based the character of Jimmy Valentine—the criminal with a heart—on a safecracker he met in prison. (A safecracker is someone who can open safes, such as those in bank vaults.) The story was later made into a Broadway play called Alias Jimmy Valentine. [End of Section]

Preview the Selection

A Retrieved Reformation Preview the Selection Jimmy Valentine is a career criminal and an expert safecracker. As the story opens, Valentine is about to be released from prison. Ben Price is the detective who is soon hot on Valentine’s trail. [End of Section]