Name:
Date:
Hr:
A Retreived Reformation by O’Henry
For this story we will be using the GREEN Prentice Hall Literature Course Books. This story can be
found on page 266-276.
We will read the story in sections and answer the questions as we read.
Section 1 Before Reading (Books Should Be Closed)
● Complete the Pre- Reading Anticipation Guide questions & The Pre Reading Vocabulary
sheet.
Section 2 Reading Part One (read 267- 270- Stop at “One Afternoon…” 2nd to last paragraph)
● You should read Part One and then answer the questions. Make sure you answer the whole
question.
1. Page 267- Why is Jimmy Valentine in jail? How long has he been there?
2. Page 267- Why was Jimmy getting pardoned early at 10 months when he was supposed to
serve 12 years? Who pardoned him? Try to find the evidence in the text.
3. Pg 268- When Jimmy is released from jail what 4 things is he given to help him on his way to
reabilitation and good citizenship? Do you think these are going to help Jimmy? Why or Why
not?
4. Pg 269- Jimmy returns to his apartment and gets out his tools. What about Jimmy’s tools tells
us that he is a big time burglar and not a small time criminal? (Think about the time period-late
1800’s early 1900’s)
5. Page 269- Jimmy says “...they had cost him to have made at _______, a place where they make
such things for the profession.” Why do you think he won’t tell us the name of the place? What
does that say about Jimmy?
6. Pg 270- Detective Jim Price is investigating the recent robberies and while there is no hard
evidence he suspects Jimmy Valentine. Why does he think that Jimmy has committed these
crimes? (Are these compliments?)
Section 3 Reading Part Two (Bottom of 270- “One afternoon Jimmy Valentine…”)
● You should read Part Two and then answer the questions. Make sure you answer the whole
question.
7. Pg 270-Jimmy arrives in Elmore, Arkansas. He pumps into a young lady. Who is she and what
does she have to do with the Elmore Bank?
8. Pg 271- Who is Ralph D Spencer and why does he say he is in town?
9. Pg 272- The text says “Mr. Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine;s
ashes- ashes left by a sudden and alternative attack of love- remained in Elmore, and
prospered,” What does this mean?
10. Pg 272- Describe how life for Ralph is different than life for Jimmy. (Even though they are
the same person.)
11. Pg 272- What does Jimmy’s letter to Billy suggest about his future plans?
12. Pg 274-Before Ralph/Jimmy leaves on his trip, he has breakfast with Mr. Adams, Annabel
and the whole Adam’s family. Then they all head over to the bank. Explain why Mr. Adam’s had
his family go to the bank that morning. (What did Mr. Adam’s want to show off?)
13. Pg 274- Detective Ben has tracked Jimmy to Elmore and has arrived at the bank just as he
hears women scream. Why are the women screaming? What is the problem?
14. Pg 275- Annabel begs for someone to “do something” and Jimmy snaps into business mode.
But before he does he asks Annabel for the rose she os wearing. Why do you think he does this?
15. Pg 276- After breaking open the safe and saving Agatha, Jimmy puts on his coat and walks
out. He bumps into Detective Ben and says “Well,let’s go. I don’t know that it makes much
difference, now.” What does Jimmy mean? Why is he asking to go back to jail?
16. Pg 276- Ben does not arrest Jimmy. Why do you think that is?
Section 4- Post Reading:
● Big Ideas:
Question: Is Jimmy Valentine guilty of the crime of “cracking safes”?
Claim: Answer the question
in 1 complete sentence.
Evidence: Support your
answer with evidence from
the text.
Page
Number:
Tell which
page in th
book your
evidence can
be found.
Reasoning: Explain why your evidence
proves that Jimmy is guilty or innocent.
Making Text Connections: Try to make at least 2 Connections to The Text on the Post-Its . Use the
sentence starters to help you.
TEXT to ________________________Connectiuon TEXT to ___________________ Connection
STORY RATING:
I give this story _______ out of 5 STARS because ___________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Picture This: Choose one scene from the story and illustrate what you visualized while reading.
Write a quote from the text that is connected to your scene.
Quote:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________(Pg #________)
The reason this scene is important because _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Question: Is Jimmy Valentine a reformed man? Has he really changed?
Claim: Answer the question in 1
complete sentence.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence: Support your answer with at
least 2 pieces of evidence from the text
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page Number: Tell which page in th book
your evidence can be found.
Reasoning: Explain why your evidence
proves that Jimmy is guilty or
innocent.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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