1. “A Retrieved Reformation”
O. Henry

2. O. Henry 1862 - 1910 real name was William Sydney Porter
born in North Carolina
at age 15 he left school and moved to
Texas

3. worked in Austin, TX bank
two years after leaving he was accused
of embezzling
panicked and ran off to Honduras
one year later he returned to his
dying wife and was caught
spent three years in prison

4. while in prison he took the pen name
O. Henry (some say from
a prison guard Orrin Henry)
1901 he was released and moved to NY
one of the country’s most popular
short story writers
stories have surprise endings

5. other works:
“Gift of the Magi”

6. Who deserves a second chance?
How do you decide when to give one?

7. Third-person omniscient point of view
Tells story using pronouns he, she, it and they
Aware of what ALL the characters are thinking and doing

8. Irony Verbal irony: say one thing and mean another
Situational irony: what is expected vs. what actually happens