O. HenryO. Henry

Early LifeEarly Life

O. Henry was born William Sydney Porter, O. Henry was born William Sydney Porter, son of a doctor and an artistic mother, on son of a doctor and an artistic mother, on

September 11, 1862September 11, 1862 in North in North Carolina.Carolina.

According to O. Henry, “I did more reading According to O. Henry, “I did more reading between my thirteenth and my nineteenth between my thirteenth and my nineteenth years than I have done in all the years years than I have done in all the years since.” since.”

JobsJobs

At age fifteen O.Henry’s formal schooling At age fifteen O.Henry’s formal schooling ended, and he took an apprenticeship at ended, and he took an apprenticeship at his uncle’s pharmacy. his uncle’s pharmacy.

At age nineteen he became a licensed At age nineteen he became a licensed pharmacist. pharmacist.

This job choice was ironic since O.Henry This job choice was ironic since O.Henry began suffering from tuberculosis around began suffering from tuberculosis around that same time. that same time.

The Writing BeginsThe Writing Begins

Shortly after his marriage in Shortly after his marriage in 18871887, O. , O. Henry began perfecting his short stories Henry began perfecting his short stories which he previously had written simply to which he previously had written simply to entertain friends. entertain friends.

To pay the bills, he took on a job as a To pay the bills, he took on a job as a banker and worked as a reporter and banker and worked as a reporter and occasional cartoonist for a Houston occasional cartoonist for a Houston newspaper. newspaper.

Eventually, O. Henry wrote around 300 Eventually, O. Henry wrote around 300 short stories (sixty-five in 1904 alone!), short stories (sixty-five in 1904 alone!), during his 10 year literary career.during his 10 year literary career.

Nearly all stories included his signature Nearly all stories included his signature surprise ending, or “snapper” as he called surprise ending, or “snapper” as he called it. it.

““Snappers”Snappers” O. Henry’s own life was full of twists and turns, O. Henry’s own life was full of twists and turns,

making his interest in the surprise, twisty making his interest in the surprise, twisty endings understandable. endings understandable.

For instance, while serving time in prison O. For instance, while serving time in prison O. Henry- in the right place at the right time- saved Henry- in the right place at the right time- saved a warden who had overdosed on arsenic. As a a warden who had overdosed on arsenic. As a reward, O. Henry was allowed to roam freely reward, O. Henry was allowed to roam freely about the jail, telling stories, and gathering about the jail, telling stories, and gathering stories from fellow prisoners. stories from fellow prisoners.

Philosophy on WritingPhilosophy on Writing ““I’ll give you the whole secret of short-story I’ll give you the whole secret of short-story

writing…Rule 1: Write short stories that please writing…Rule 1: Write short stories that please yourself. There is no Rule 2.” – O. Henryyourself. There is no Rule 2.” – O. Henry

““You can’t write a story that’s got any life in it by You can’t write a story that’s got any life in it by sitting at a writing table and thinking. You’ve got sitting at a writing table and thinking. You’ve got to get out into the streets, into the crowds, talk to get out into the streets, into the crowds, talk with people, and feel the rush and throb of real with people, and feel the rush and throb of real life- that’s the stimulant for a story writer.” – O. life- that’s the stimulant for a story writer.” – O. Henry, 1902. Henry, 1902.

Philosophy on Writing cont.Philosophy on Writing cont.

O. Henry’s exemplified his philosophy in O. Henry’s exemplified his philosophy in his variety of life experiences and travels: his variety of life experiences and travels:

North CarolinaNorth CarolinaTexasTexasNew OrleansNew OrleansEscaped the police who tried to arrest him Escaped the police who tried to arrest him

on false charges of embezzling $1,000 on false charges of embezzling $1,000 from the bank where he workedfrom the bank where he worked

Fled to HondurasFled to HondurasWent to trial, was found guilty, and was Went to trial, was found guilty, and was

sentenced to five years in a federal sentenced to five years in a federal penitentiary in Columbus, Ohiopenitentiary in Columbus, Ohio

Upon release- after three years for good Upon release- after three years for good behavior- went to New York City where his behavior- went to New York City where his popularity as a writer soared. popularity as a writer soared.

Important Historical InfluencesImportant Historical InfluencesCivil War prior to O. Henry’s birthCivil War prior to O. Henry’s birthA year after O. Henry’s birth, Abraham A year after O. Henry’s birth, Abraham

Lincoln issues the Emancipation Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation (1863). Proclamation (1863).

Lincoln assassinated in 1865. Lincoln assassinated in 1865. Rise of small-press publishing around Rise of small-press publishing around

1904- making it possible for more people 1904- making it possible for more people to have access to a variety of literature- to have access to a variety of literature- coincided with O. Henry’s rise to fame.coincided with O. Henry’s rise to fame.

““Local Color” Local Color”

During the heydey of O. Henry’s writing During the heydey of O. Henry’s writing career (early 1900’s), a literary genre career (early 1900’s), a literary genre called “local color” sprang up to combat called “local color” sprang up to combat post-Civil War social separation. post-Civil War social separation.

Local color involved focusing on a specific Local color involved focusing on a specific regional culture as a source for strength- regional culture as a source for strength- finding common qualities between finding common qualities between different American regions. different American regions.

““Local Color” continuedLocal Color” continued

O. Henry’s region of choice was New O. Henry’s region of choice was New York, though he also wrote stories set in York, though he also wrote stories set in the West, the deep South, and New the West, the deep South, and New Orleans. Orleans.

He also convincingly wrote stories about a He also convincingly wrote stories about a variety of people: crooks, chiefs, variety of people: crooks, chiefs, policemen, cowboys, aristocrats, con-policemen, cowboys, aristocrats, con-men, poverty-stricken, and millionaires. men, poverty-stricken, and millionaires.

O. Henry’s Life and “Gift of the O. Henry’s Life and “Gift of the MagiMagi

““Gift of the Magi” showed O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi” showed O. Henry’s interest in “local color” by giving a glimpse interest in “local color” by giving a glimpse of a poverty-stricken couple in New York. of a poverty-stricken couple in New York.

This short story also exhibited O. Henry’s This short story also exhibited O. Henry’s knowledge of regional dialect in the knowledge of regional dialect in the characters’ dialogue. characters’ dialogue.

The ending is his traditional “snapper.” The ending is his traditional “snapper.”

The “local color” genre sought to draw society The “local color” genre sought to draw society together by finding common ground between together by finding common ground between different kinds of peopledifferent kinds of people

Unlikely characters- such as destitute Jim and Unlikely characters- such as destitute Jim and Della- take center stage and become the central Della- take center stage and become the central “spectacle.” “spectacle.”

In “Gift of the Magi” O. Henry shows all readers- In “Gift of the Magi” O. Henry shows all readers- rich or poor- a glimpse of how love, generosity, rich or poor- a glimpse of how love, generosity, and self-sacrifice can be exhibited even in the and self-sacrifice can be exhibited even in the most humble circumstances. most humble circumstances.