Lesson Fourteen
After Twenty Years
O. Henry
Teaching Procedures
Introduction to the background knowledge
The structure of the text
Detailed discussion of the text
Conclusion of the text
Assignment
About the author
O. Henry (1862—1910) was the pen name of
William Sydney Porter, an American short
story writer. His short, simple stories are noted
for their careful plotting, ironic coincidences,
and surprise endings.
O. Henry was born William Sydney Porter in
Greensboro, North Carolina. He went to Texas
in 1882 and worked at various jobs—as teller
in an Austin bank (1891—1894) and as a
newspaperman for the Houston Post.
About the author
In 1898 an unexplained shortage in the Austin
bank was charged to him. Although many people
believed him innocent, he fled to the Honduras but
returned to be with his wife, who was fatally ill.
He eventually served three years in prison, where
he first started writing short stories.
Upon his release he settled in New York.
Although his stories have been criticized as
shallow and contrived, O. Henry did catch the
color and movement of the city and evidenced a
genuine sympathy for ordinary people.
About the author
His approximately 300 stories are collected
in Cabbages and Kings (1904), The Four
Million (1906), The Voice of the City
(1908), Options (1909), and others.
About The Text
Plot of the story
Bob and Jim had obviously been close
friends twenty years ago when they were
young. Before their separation, they made
an appointment to meet again at exactly the
same place and the same hour twenty years
later.
About The Text
Setting of the story
On a business avenue of New York:
The same hour: ten o’clock at night
 The same place: ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant
20 years ago—in the doorway of a hardware
store now

About The Text
Drama of the story
When they met again twenty years later, they
should find themselves on opposite sides of the
law—one was the man wanted by the police
and the other turned out to be the police officer
instructed to watch out for the runaway
criminal. But no matter how much Jim had
cherished their friendship, he would not let a
personal relationship stand in the way of
discharging his duty.
About The Text
Theme of the story
Loyalty to friend VS. devotion to duty
About The Text
Protagonists of the story
Bob
smart
restless
ambitious
ready to try in every
way to reach his goal
He had made his
fortune, though.
He had many fights.
He had broken the law.
Jimmy
average height
a bit slow
strongly built
not so adventurous
honest, truthful,
responsible and devoted
He was obviously a good
police officer.
Structure of the text
Part 1 (paras. 1—17) about:

The policeman (Jimmy) met with Bob and had
a conversation.
Part 2 (paras.18—33) about:

Bob was arrested by a plain clothes man
without his awareness until he found that the
policeman was his expected friend Jimmy.
Detailed Discussion of the Text
The impressiveness was… not for show, for
spectators were few. (para. 1)
This policeman was impressive in a natural
way. He was not trying to look important,
because it didn‘t make sense—there were few
people in the street to see him.
 This description shows that Jim has become an
excellent police officer.

Detailed Discussion of the Text
Trying doors as he went… a guardian of the
peace. (para. 2)
This sentence showed Jim’s strong sense of
responsibility.
 His clever swinging of the club showed his
confidence and competence as a cop. His air of
superiority showed his pride and sense of
dignity as a law-enforcing officer.

Detailed Discussion of the Text
In the doorway of a darkened hardware
store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar
in his mouth. (para. 3)

It had to be a darkened store and Bob’s cigar
had to be unlighted, otherwise Jim would see
that it was the man wanted by the police in
Chicago.
Detailed Discussion of the Text
The light showed a pale, square-jawed
face… oddly set. (para. 6)
The match light showed a face which must have
fitted the description of the wanted man.
 the diamond placed in a strange or unusual way
showing the owner’s lack of taste

Detailed Discussion of the Text
Haven’t you heard from your friend since
you left? (para. 8)
General questions in the negative are often
used to show surprise or doubt.
 More examples: Mary’s back. Didn't you
know? Are you not coming? It is really a
wonderful game.

Detailed Discussion of the Text
A man gets stuck in New York. It takes the
West to make a man really keen. (para. 13)

A man is unable to go very far or to be very
successful in New York. He can’t escape the
boring life. He has to go to the West to become
an eager and exciting person.
Detailed Discussion of the Text
“Bless my heart!” exclaimed the new
arrival, … (para. 22)
(= bless my soul) used to express surprise This
expression is rather old-fashioned.
 Here it refers to the man who has newly
arrived.

Detailed Discussion of the Text
Chicago… wants to have a chat with you.
(para. 31)
Here refers to Chicago police.
 Chicago police is trying to track you down,
arrest you and take you to court.

Detailed Discussion of the Text
Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around
and got a plain clothes man to do the job. (para.
33)


Somehow I couldn't arrest you myself, so I…
Jim had mixed feelings. He knew what his duty was.
But the memories of their friendship, the expressions of
Bob’s undying respect and admiration for him and the
fact that Bob had come all the way from thousand miles
away just to keep the appointment made 20 years ago
must have deeply touched him.
Conclusion of the text
O. Henry is known for the surprise endings
of his stories. This one is no exception. The
story begins with a policeman on the beat.
But we do not know it is Jim until the very
end of the story. When the second
policeman introduced himself as Jim we are
also taken in.