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.

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

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.

Short StoriesShort StoriesEventually, 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 surprise ending, or ““snappersnapper”” as he called as he called it. it.

““SnappersSnappers””

O. HenryO. Henry’’s own life was full of twists and turns, 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

““II’’ll give you the whole secret of short-story 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.yourself. There is no Rule 2.”” – O. Henry – O. Henry

““You canYou can’’t write a story thatt write a story that’’s got any life in it by s got any life in it by sitting at a writing table and thinking. Yousitting at a writing table and thinking. You’’ve got 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- thatlife- that’’s the stimulant for a story writer.s the stimulant for a story writer.”” – O. – O. Henry, 1902. Henry, 1902.

Philosophy on Writing cont.Philosophy on Writing cont.

O. HenryO. Henry’’s exemplified his philosophy in 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.

Story IdeasStory Ideas

O. HenryO. Henry’’s region of choice was New 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-men, policemen, cowboys, aristocrats, con-men, poverty-stricken, and millionaires. poverty-stricken, and millionaires.

Important Historical InfluencesImportant Historical Influences

Civil War prior to O. HenryCivil War prior to O. Henry’’s births birthA year after O. HenryA year after O. Henry’’s birth, Abraham 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. Henrycoincided with O. Henry’’s rise to fame.s rise to fame.

O.Henry’s StyleO.Henry’s Style

Famous forFamous forSnapper or Twist endingsSnapper or Twist endings

Writing about ordinary peopleWriting about ordinary people

Making readers “root for the underdog”Making readers “root for the underdog”