The ending of a short story should satisfy readers and make them feel that the effort of reading to the finish was worth it. Few writers deliver endings that are more satisfactory than O. Henry’s. If you read the earlier lessons on writing, you may recall that in Part 2 of “A Retrieved Reformation,” Jimmy fell in love with the banker’s daughter in Elmore, Arkansas. This love was so transformative for the protagonist that he became willing to go straight, even though going straight meant parting with his prized suitcase of safecracking tools. Before he could send the heavy suitcase to a former “colleague,” however, a five-year-old girl got locked inside Elmore Bank’s foolproof vault by accident.
Read this last section to find out how Jimmy deals with this crisis. Click the link to open an excerpt from “A Retrieved Reformation” by O. Henry. When you’re finished reading the document, return to this section.
William Sidney Porter took the pen name of O. Henry because he had a criminal record. What pseudonym would you take to conceal your identity? Hopefully the short story you have been working on will be good enough to submit under the name your parents gave you. Before you begin your final revision, answer these questions about “A Retrieved Reformation” to review the literary strategies discussed in this lesson. Click on the best answer for each question.
- Which sentence from this section of the story is NOT evidence that O. Henry uses third-person omniscient point of view?
a. To a woman nothing seems quite impossible to the powers of the man she worships.
Try again. The omniscient narrator probes Annabel’s mind to discover she thinks her beloved can do anything.
b. “Annabel,” he said, “give me that rose you are wearing, will you?”
Correct! The quotation marks indicate that this is dialogue. The narrator doesn’t have to be omniscient to hear dialogue.
c. The clerks were pleased to be greeted by the good-looking, agreeable young man who was going to marry Miss Annabel.
Try again. Here the omniscient narrator even shares the feelings of the minor characters in the story.
d. Annabel, whose heart was bubbling with happiness and lively youth, put on Jimmy’s hat, and picked up the suit-case.
Try again. Here the omniscient narrator reveals the joy of the engaged woman.
- Which line of dialogue indicates that the detective has decided not to bring Jimmy Valentine back to prison for reformation?
a. “Get away from the door, all of you,” he commanded, shortly.
Try again.
b. “Got around at last, have you? Well, let’s go. I don’t know that it makes much difference, now.”
Try again.
c. “Guess you’re mistaken, Mr. Spencer,” he said. “Don’t believe I recognize you. Your buggy’s waiting for you, ain’t it?”
Correct! This is the final twist of the story when Ben Price forfeits the right to take the safecracker to prison.
d. “There isn’t a man nearer than Little Rock who can open that door,” said Mr. Adams, in a shaky voice.
Try again.
- Suspense builds around choices characters make. Which choice provides the most suspense?
a. Will Annabel marry Ralph D. Spencer?
Try again.
b. Will Jimmy Valentine be able to open the Elmore Bank safe?
Try again.
c. Will the five-year-old Agatha be rescued?
Try again.
d. Will Ben Price apprehend the reformed criminal?
Correct! We don’t know whether Jimmy will go back to prison until the last line of dialogue.
- Which best captures the theme of “A Retrieved Reformation.”
a. Crime pays.
Try again.
b. Love is a powerful influence.
Correct! Jimmy Valentine was reformed by Annabel’s love.
c. Difficult circumstances can change people.
Try again.
d. A person’s character is shaped and fixed early on.
Try again.
