The story is about a former bank robber named Jimmy Valentine who is released from prison after serving his sentence. Upon his release, Jimmy has a sudden change of heart when he falls in love with a woman named Annabel and decides to settle down and live an honest life under the name Ralph Spencer. However, his old identity is discovered which threatens to ruin his new life and relationship unless he can prove that he has truly reformed.

1. A Retrieved
Reformation
O. Henry

2. Warm Up
 Can people change their
behavior so much that they
become like different people, or
are such changes never true
and lasting? Support your
opinion with reasons and
examples in at least 5
sentences.
 Do you think love can change a
person for the better? Explain.

3. Inferences
• Detectives use inferences to do their job. Think about a
famous detective (or imagine one, if you don’t know
any). Explain their methods. How do you think they solve
the crime?
•As we watch the clips, think about how Sherlock is able
to analyze a person by paying attention to the smallest
details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElH3aVXLZoo

4. Drastic Life Change
 Think of some
situations that would
make a person
drastically change
their life from bad to
good? (For example:
go from a life of
crime, to honest work)

5. Analysis
 Pg. 255: What is revealed about Jimmy Valentine through how he
reacts to his pardon, what he says to the warden, and how he
says it?
 Look at his behavior after he gets released (256) and make some
inferences about his character based on his actions.

6. Ben Price
 How does the detective know so
much about Jimmy?
 What does he think about Jimmy’s
work?
 What kind of a person do you think
Ben is?

7. Rebirth
 “Mr. Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy
Valentine’s ashes - ashes left by the flame of a sudden and
alternative attack of love - remained in Elmore and prospered”
(259).
 Why is Jimmy/Ralph compared to a phoenix?
 What initiates the change in Jimmy?
 Do you think he has changed forever? Explain.
 What do the people of Elmore think about Ralph? What does
this suggest about Jimmy/Ralph? What do we learn about his
character in Elmore?

8. Decisions…Decisions
 Should Jimmy
tell Annabel
about his
past? Give
reasons.

9. Evidence
 What evidence is there that Jimmy has truly
changed his life?
 What external conflict does Jimmy confront?
What internal conflict?
 Why do you think O. Henry chose a bank robber
to be the hero of his story?
 What do you think is the theme of this text?
Explain with some examples from the text. What
events help show the theme?

10. Conclusion
 Why does Jimmy ask
Annabel for the rose?
 Why does Jimmy begin to
walk away after his heroic
rescue of the girl?
 Why does Ben Price let him
go?
 Do you think Jimmy will go
back to his life of crime?
Why or why not?

11. Warm Up
 Would you make the right choice if you could
get punished for it? Explain in several sentences.
 Have you ever tried to do the right thing only to
get yourself in trouble. Describe the situation and
the consequences. Was it worth it?