A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry Study Guide
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Questions and Answers

What literary movement is 'A Retrieved Reformation' an example of?

  • Realism (correct)
  • Surrealism
  • Modernism
  • Romanticism

    • 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?

  • 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'?

    <p>The real-life experiences of William Sydney Porter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many stories did O.Henry write?

    <p>More than 600</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of the endings of O.Henry's stories, such as 'A Retrieved Reformation' and 'The Gift of the Magi'?

    <p>Surprise endings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the title of the 1910 Broadway play adaptation of 'A Retrieved Reformation'?

    <p>Alias Jimmy Valentine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Jimmy Valentine doing when he was first introduced in the story?

    <p>Working in the prison shoe-shop</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much of his sentence did Jimmy Valentine serve before being released?

    <p>10 months of a 4-year sentence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Jimmy find in his room above Mike's café?

    <p>A button from the shirt of Ben Price</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the PBS series that adapted 'A Retrieved Reformation' in 1985?

    <p>American Playhouse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the award named after O.Henry?

    <p>The O.Henry Award</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the character who helped secure Jimmy's pardon?

    <p>Mike Dolan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the town where the story takes place?

    <p>Elmore, Arkansas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the radio series adaptation of 'A Retrieved Reformation'?

    <p>Alias Jimmy Valentine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much money did Jimmy have when he was released from prison?

    <p>Five dollars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Jimmy lose during the arrest struggle?

    <p>His collar button</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the value of the suitcase full of burglar tools?

    <p>Nearly a thousand dollars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the occupation that Jimmy pretends to have in Elmore?

    <p>Shoe store owner</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the young woman that Jimmy becomes interested in?

    <p>Annabel Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the reason for Jimmy's transformation?

    <p>Meeting Annabel Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the problem that arises in the bank?

    <p>The vault is locked with a little girl inside</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the rose in Jimmy's pocket?

    <p>It is a symbol of Jimmy's love for Annabel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is waiting for Jimmy at the door of the bank?

    <p>Ben Price</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Jimmy's response to being caught by Ben Price?

    <p>He accepts his fate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of Ben Price's remark at the end of the story?

    <p>It indicates his confusion about Jimmy's identity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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.

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