“A Retrieved Reformation”

O. Henry

Virtuous (ADJ) Morally good; honorable. The virtuous gentleman held the door open for the boy.

Compulsory (ADJ) Forced; required.

It is compulsory to stop at a stop sign. If you disobey the sign and keep going you may get a ticket.

Rehabilitate (V) To restore to useful life, as through therapy and education. Someone may attend physical

therapy in order to rehabilitate an injured knee.

Balk (V) To refuse to move or act. The farmer’s

mule would often balk when it had to work.

Eminent (ADJ) Famous; well-respected. The students felt honored

to have an eminent guest like Barack Obama visit them in class.

Genially (ADV) In a pleasant, friendly manner.

He greeted the new student genially.

Retribution (N) Punishment for bad behavior.

The criminal was put in jail as retribution for his crime.

Elusive (ADJ) Tending to elude capture.

The kitten tried to remain elusive by disguising itself as a frog, but as you can see it wasn’t the best attempt.

Saunter (V) To stroll in a casual manner.

The Bieb can’t even saunter down the road without hearing the cries and screams of obsessed fans!

Unperceived (ADJ) Not seen or noticed.

The camouflaged soldier was unperceived by the enemy.

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is told.

First Person Point Of View

The narrator is a character in the story who can reveal only personal thoughts and feelingswhat he or she sees and What he or she is told by other characters. He can’t tell us thoughts of other

characters.

Third-Person ObjectiveThe narrator is an outsider who can report only what he or she sees and hears. This narrator can tell us what is happening, but he can’t tell us the thoughts of the characters.

Third-Person Limited

The narrator is an outsider who sees into the mind of one of the characters.

Omniscient

The narrator is an all-knowing outsider who can enter the minds of more than one of the characters.

Here's a handy key for you:

First person: ISecond person: YouThird Person: He, She, They

Conflict A struggle between opposing forces.

A Problem that must be overcome.

Internal Conflict The problem occurs inside of the character.

Ex: An important Choice.

External ConflictInvolves a character who struggles against a force outside of him or herself, such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another character.