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Questions and Answers
What literary movement is 'A Retrieved Reformation' an example of?
What literary movement is 'A Retrieved Reformation' an example of?
- Realism (correct)
- Surrealism
- Modernism
- Romanticism
Where was 'A Retrieved Reformation' first published in 1903?
Where was 'A Retrieved Reformation' first published in 1903?
- The Atlantic
- The New Yorker
- Harper's Magazine
- The Cosmopolitan (correct)
What is a characteristic of O.Henry's stories?
What is a characteristic of O.Henry's stories?
- Use of complex vocabulary
- Wit, realistic detail, and ironic plot twists (correct)
- Long, descriptive paragraphs
- Use of supernatural elements
What is the inspiration for the events in 'A Retrieved Reformation'?
What is the inspiration for the events in 'A Retrieved Reformation'?
How many stories did O.Henry write?
How many stories did O.Henry write?
What is a characteristic of the endings of O.Henry's stories, such as 'A Retrieved Reformation' and 'The Gift of the Magi'?
What is a characteristic of the endings of O.Henry's stories, such as 'A Retrieved Reformation' and 'The Gift of the Magi'?
What was the title of the 1910 Broadway play adaptation of 'A Retrieved Reformation'?
What was the title of the 1910 Broadway play adaptation of 'A Retrieved Reformation'?
What was Jimmy Valentine doing when he was first introduced in the story?
What was Jimmy Valentine doing when he was first introduced in the story?
How much of his sentence did Jimmy Valentine serve before being released?
How much of his sentence did Jimmy Valentine serve before being released?
What did Jimmy find in his room above Mike's café?
What did Jimmy find in his room above Mike's café?
What is the name of the PBS series that adapted 'A Retrieved Reformation' in 1985?
What is the name of the PBS series that adapted 'A Retrieved Reformation' in 1985?
What is the name of the award named after O.Henry?
What is the name of the award named after O.Henry?
What is the name of the character who helped secure Jimmy's pardon?
What is the name of the character who helped secure Jimmy's pardon?
What is the name of the town where the story takes place?
What is the name of the town where the story takes place?
What is the name of the radio series adaptation of 'A Retrieved Reformation'?
What is the name of the radio series adaptation of 'A Retrieved Reformation'?
How much money did Jimmy have when he was released from prison?
How much money did Jimmy have when he was released from prison?
What did Jimmy lose during the arrest struggle?
What did Jimmy lose during the arrest struggle?
What is the value of the suitcase full of burglar tools?
What is the value of the suitcase full of burglar tools?
What is the occupation that Jimmy pretends to have in Elmore?
What is the occupation that Jimmy pretends to have in Elmore?
Who is the young woman that Jimmy becomes interested in?
Who is the young woman that Jimmy becomes interested in?
What is the reason for Jimmy's transformation?
What is the reason for Jimmy's transformation?
What is the problem that arises in the bank?
What is the problem that arises in the bank?
What is the significance of the rose in Jimmy's pocket?
What is the significance of the rose in Jimmy's pocket?
Who is waiting for Jimmy at the door of the bank?
Who is waiting for Jimmy at the door of the bank?
What is Jimmy's response to being caught by Ben Price?
What is Jimmy's response to being caught by Ben Price?
What is the significance of Ben Price's remark at the end of the story?
What is the significance of Ben Price's remark at the end of the story?
Study Notes
O.Henry and "A Retrieved Reformation"
- "A Retrieved Reformation" was first published as "A Retrieved Reform" in The Cosmopolitan in 1903.
- The story is an example of Realism, a literary movement popular in the US and Europe between the end of the American Civil War and the early 20th century.
- Realism focuses on the everyday lives of ordinary people, using detailed descriptions and colloquial dialogue.
Author Background
- O.Henry, whose real name was William Sydney Porter, was a prolific American short story writer.
- Porter spent several years in prison for embezzlement, where he began writing as O.Henry.
- Events in "A Retrieved Reformation" were inspired by Porter's real-life experiences.
O.Henry's Writing Style
- O.Henry's stories are characterized by wit, realistic detail, and ironic plot twists.
- He wrote over 600 stories, including famous works like "The Gift of the Magi" (1905) and "The Ransom of Red Chief" (1907).
- Many of O.Henry's stories feature surprise endings, similar to "A Retrieved Reformation."
"A Retrieved Reformation" Adaptations
- The story has been adapted for stage and screen multiple times, including a Broadway play in 1910 and several film versions.
- A radio series called Alias Jimmy Valentine aired from 1938 to 1939.
- A 1985 PBS American Playhouse production, "Valentine's Revenge," included an additional segment depicting O.Henry's inspiration for the story.
O.Henry's Impact
- O.Henry had a significant impact on the literary world.
- The O.Henry Award is named after him and is awarded to short story authors.
- The PEN/O.Henry Prize Stories is an annual collection of the 20 best short stories published in American magazines.
Story Setting and Plot
- The story takes place in the early 1900s in Elmore, Arkansas.
- Jimmy Valentine is released from prison after serving 10 months of a 4-year sentence.
- He sets out to resume his criminal career, using his signature safe-cracking method.
- Ben Price, a detective, recognizes Jimmy's work and determines to arrest him again.
Jimmy's Transformation
- Jimmy meets Annabel Adams, the daughter of the local bank owner, and undergoes a deep transformation.
- He decides to start a new life in Elmore, opening a shoe store and becoming engaged to Annabel.
- Jimmy writes to his friend Billy, saying he's gone straight and planning to move West.
The Bank Vault Crisis
- Ben Price arrives in Elmore to arrest Jimmy, but a crisis unfolds when Annabel's sister accidentally locks her younger daughter in the bank's new burglar-proof vault.
- Jimmy uses his skills to open the vault and save the girl, revealing his true identity as Jimmy Valentine.
- Ben Price recognizes Jimmy but allows him to go free, enabling Jimmy to start a new life.
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Description
Study guide for 'A Retrieved Reformation', a short story by O. Henry, exploring themes of Realism and everyday life.
