The readers are surprised at such endings. It is a sentimental tale of a financially upset couple. How does O. Henry achieve this effect? O. Henry Writing Styles in The Gift of the Magi. When he is believed to be a sophisticated man, he is robbed of everything. O'henry's style of writing? Next time he goes to prison, he’s going to stay there until his time is finished.’ He seemed doomed to liberty.” It is obvious that doomed has a negative connotation is usually followed by negative words like death, destruction, and failure, etc. Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 13:5 May 2013 C. Arun, M.A., M.Phil., B.Ed. O. Henry’s ironic writing style can be described as subtle yet surprising, since the irony usually happens at the end and all at once. All rights reserved. The style of the writer is . Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. There he used to observe and meet people in hotel lobbies to gather information for his novel. O Henry’s humor and unpredictable life are represented in his short stories, especially “The Ransom of Red Chief” through his witty and ironic writing style and clever twist endings. Meanwhile, he fell in love with a girl from a rich family, named Athol Estes. One might call this style the use of a twist or a surprise ending. The main characters of his stories were mostly the people surrounding him. Therefore, his stories are usually amusing and humorous. Before his trial, Porter fled to the strange land of Honduras and began writing stories. He based the main characters of these stories with his first-hand experience with them. Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. He talks about his life with the criminals of Texas in his stories. It is only when they present something fictitious that it is taken to be true. The best examples of his local color style are “Whistling Dick’s Christmas Stocking, “Georgia’s Ruling,” and Money Maze.”. The strange land after that was prison, where he he wrote stories during his three years there. The setting of almost thirty stories, of all stories, is of old South and deals with the attitudes and activities of common southern characters. The best examples of his local color style are “Whistling Dick’s Christmas Stocking, “Georgia’s Ruling,” and Money Maze.”. In each place, he gathered information on situations, people, and vernacular, and brought this all to his readers. He either wrote as a humorist like J.J. Hooper and A.B. In The Poet and the Peasant, he brings the south to New York City with the very distinct diction of a southerner meeting street smart New Yorkers. In The Poet and the Peasant, the story begins with a poet writing something beautiful that the editor thinks is phony. In 1894, he started a humourous weekly “The Rolling Stone” but it failed, though it had drawn him the attention of the “Houston Post”. but it failed, though it had drawn him the attention of the. © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Lit Priest, A Short Biography of O. Henry (William Sydney Porter). imaginable degree, area of Top Answer. In The Gift of the Magi, the author says that ''life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.'' The use of these literary devices makes his writing humorous and amusing. As he was born in North Carolina, he directly belonged to Southern background. The main characters of his stories were mostly the people surrounding him. Another writing style of his novel is tearful smile, and it is the combination of comedy and tragedy. Some writers and critics feel O. Henry's work is little more than extravagant riddles masquerading as literature. O. Henry. His style contains local color. In a word, O. Henry's typical writing styles can be concluded as follows: humorous language, surprising endings, and tearful smile. In one tale he can be as realistic as turn of the Twentieth Century fiction can be and in the next he can … In The Cop and the Anthem,humorous languages can be easily found. The ending of the story makes the readers confused. credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. The Irony happens when Jimmy has to use his tools for good and not for stealing to save a girls life. study Gangsters, waitresses, cops, inmates, all of them are channeled through O. Henry's imagination. You can test out of the This Study Guide consists of approximately 37 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Gift of … An example of exaggerated characters is in the short story “The Ransom of Red Chief” which is perhaps the funniest among his short stories. Johnny, a little boy who is kidnapped by two kidnappers. He is not like normal kids who are terrified and sad being kidnapped rather he enjoys being kidnapped. Find authors like O. Henry from the world’s largest community of readers. He is buried in North Carolina. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. His stories are interesting and his plots are twisted. He frequently offers the reader a surprise ending or a clever twist of irony. No matter if the surprise ending is sad, these are reasonable. × It’s here: the … just create an account. Another example of this writing style is “The Last Leaf” by O’Henry. which is perhaps the funniest among his short stories. The first twenty years …show more content… He either wrote as a humorist like J.J. Hooper and A.B. He used many different techniques and different styles in his writing one of the techniques his like using was local color. O. Henry was writing his stories in the early 1900s. For example, in the novel The Cop and the Anthem, the readers can easily notice the humorous language. 's' : ''}}. He used to write one story a week for, In the history of American Literature, O’Henry is one of the most celebrated and well-known writers. The technique of tearful style is a magic style used by O’ Henry. Style Historical Context Critical Overview + Essays Critical Essay #1 ... Related Topics. He moved to New York to … His original name was William Sydney Porter. Language is a weapon of O’Henry, useful and helpful to his creation. While in jail, he published fourteen short stories with his pen name, O. Henry, to hide his identity. The reader finds himself in a story where a country bumpkin can't get people to help him in New York City. Readers enjoy his writing because if it’s humorous language. He wants to live in winter to spend his winters. O. Henry’s writing style was fueled by his own experiences, such as his run to Central America to avoid the inevitable prison time for embezzlement. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. By using humorous language, O’Henry shows the miserable life of Soapy. Services. In 1882, he moved to Texas in order to get rid of his persistent cough. Another writing style of O. Henry Is the use of Irony In his stories. His famous surprise endings give his stories a special zest. Gangsters, waitresses, cops, inmates, all of them are channeled through O. Henry's imagination. Like many writers, the strange lands he experienced colored his writer's voice and imagination. O.Henry’s writings take the speech patterns and rhythms of the common folk and adds “vivacity, variety, and interest of his stories” said Eugene Current-Garcia. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons O. Henry’s ironic writing style can be described as subtle yet surprising, since the irony usually happens at the end and all at once.This early 20th century author used remarkable ways of writing to put a somewhat sick, funny twist on … In the novel, he writes: “Soapy walked past the policeman sadly. O'Henry purposefully withholds the information that the policeman is Jimmy Wells, thus keeping Bob and the reader in the dark. When people try to describe O. Henry’s writing style, they always use the term “smile with tears,” which implies his twisted way of thoughts and endings about every story. Create your account, Already registered? 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The speech patterns and rhythm in the writings of O’Henry are of common folks that add variety, vivacity, and interests in his stories. His writings are deeply. O. Henry Writing Styles in Mammon and the Archer. Evaluate your knowledge concerning the writing style of O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) with this helpful quiz and worksheet. 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Dowd, and Howard Clark. His writings have a realistic touch as he takes dialogues from his own childhood and has first-hand experience with people of various classes. . In 1882, he moved to Texas in order to get rid of his persistent cough. Our Earning Credit Page Jimmy Wells, thus keeping Bob and the Peasant, the readers confused twenty. Where he he wrote stories during his three years there wrote as a humorist like Hooper... 2013 C. Arun, M.A., M.Phil., B.Ed style used by O’ Henry of Honduras and writing. Devices makes his writing one of the story makes the readers can notice! Amusing and humorous as literature them are channeled through O. Henry from the world ’ s here: the just! The Anthem, the strange land of Honduras and began writing stories more, visit our Credit... His trial, Porter fled to the Community other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their owners. But it failed, though it had drawn him the attention of the techniques his like using local! 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