In O Henry's Christmas story, he uses vivid descriptions to bring the Christmas atmosphere to life. The settings, like the shabby apartments where the characters live, contrast with the grandeur often associated with Christmas. This contrast helps to emphasize the characters' internal struggles and their pure love. His stories also tend to have a moral undertone, teaching readers about the importance of love over material possessions during Christmas and in general life.
O Henry's Christmas short stories are known for their surprise endings. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the couple sacrifices their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other, only to find out that the gifts are now seemingly useless but in fact show their deep love. His stories often capture the essence of the Christmas spirit, which is about giving, love, and self - sacrifice. They also depict the lives of ordinary people during the Christmas season, with their joys, sorrows, and hopes.
In 'Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking', the setting plays an important role. The description of the place gives a sense of the time and the social environment. O. Henry uses the setting to contrast Dick's rather carefree existence with the more traditional and settled lives of the other characters. The plot, centered around Dick's Christmas experiences, is full of little surprises and heartwarming moments that are typical of O. Henry's writing style.
One of O. Henry's short stories might use the peach as a symbol. It could represent something pure or desirable in the context of the story. For example, it might be a symbol of a character's longing for a better life or a lost love.
In 'A Service of Love', O. Henry shows the selfless love between the two main characters. The story tells of a couple who are both very talented in art. They sacrifice their own dreams for the sake of the other's success, thinking that they are hiding their sacrifice. But in the end, they find out that they both made the same sacrifice. This shows that true love is about giving and self - sacrifice, and it also reflects the idea that love can make people do things that they might not otherwise do.
In 'The Last Leaf', O. Henry uses his characteristic surprise ending. The character of Behrman is quite interesting. He seems like a failure in life as an artist, but in the end, he creates his most remarkable 'work' - the fake leaf that saves Johnsy. This story also reflects on the importance of hope. Johnsy has given up hope until she sees the last leaf still 'hanging' there. It's a simple story but with deep - seated emotions and messages.
In 'After 20 Years', O. Henry tells a story full of twists. The main characters, two friends, make an appointment to meet after 20 years. One has become a policeman while the other is a criminal on the run. It shows the contrast between loyalty and the path of life. The policeman has to do his duty when he realizes his friend's true identity.
O Henry's short stories are known for their surprise endings. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the young couple sacrifices their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other, only to find out that the gifts they got for each other are now useless in a practical sense but are full of love. This shows his unique way of creating plot twists that engage the readers and make them think about the nature of love, sacrifice, and human relationships.
In 'The Gift of the Magi', the main characters are Jim and Della. They are a young married couple living in poverty.
Well, 'After Twenty Years' is a classic O Henry story. The story begins with a man waiting for his old friend as promised twenty years ago. As the story unfolds, we see the details of the street and the anticipation of the meeting. But then, when the friend finally arrives, there are hints that something is amiss. Eventually, we find out that one friend has turned to a life of crime while the other has become a law - enforcer. This not only shows the power of time but also the different choices people make in life. It also reflects O Henry's typical style of having an unexpected ending that makes the whole story memorable.
In 'After Twenty Years', O. Henry shows his mastery of the short story form. The story is about two friends who made an appointment to meet after twenty years. One has become a police officer, and the other has turned to a life of crime. It's a story full of irony. The setting of the story at night on a street corner adds to the mood of mystery and anticipation.