The document discusses the life and writing of American short story writer O. Henry, born William Sydney Porter in 1862. O. Henry is renowned for his ironic narratives, clever characters, and surprise endings, with notable works like 'The Last Leaf' and 'Hearts and Hands'. His writing style incorporates humor and literary devices like irony and imagery, highlighting themes of kindness and the contrast between appearance and reality.

1. Short Fiction Assignment
 Murk Razzaque

2. Discuss O’ Henry as Short story
writer.
William Sydney Porter aka O’ Henry, the
author decided to use a pen name for his
writing while he was in prison and
afterwards. He was an American. He was
born in 1862 in North Carolina. O’ Henry
was his stage name. His short stories are
known for wit, irony, clever characters,
wordplay and clever twist endings. He
wrote nearly 600 stories about life in
America. He is famous for his ironic short
stories. His famous short stories are “The
last leaf”, “Hearts and Hands”.
Writing style of O’ Henry: O’ Henry’s
typical writing style is humorous,
surprise ending and tearful smile.
O’ Henry’s ironic writing style can be
described as subtle yet surprising,

3. since irony usually happens at the end
and all at once. He is the master of
surprise endings. O’ Henry’s ironic
writing style is very much inspired by
his own life.
Text Analysis:
The “Heart” part of the title is dedicated
to Marshal. The “Hand” part is about
Mr. Easton. Hearts and hands is a story
about Kindness. O’ Henry is known for
writing about good people, irony and
symbolism, the story (hearts and
hands) has all three. In “hearts and
hands” Miss Fairchild is a high-class
lady who meets an old friend, who is in
handcuffs. Miss Fairchild easily believes
that her old friend, Mr. Easton is the
marshal when the man he’s handcuffed
to claims himself to be the prisoner. As

4. her friend (mr. easton) was dressed
nicely compared to the real marshal it
was easy for Miss Fairchild to believe
that Mr. Easton was the real marshal.
But in actual the real marshal does this
to spare Mr. Easton embarrassment.
Marshal is a kind man.
The literary Devices O’ Henry used;
Irony: Irony means that we as readers
know something that one of the
character in the story doesn’t know.
Verbal Irony: This is where a character
says one thing but means something
else. In these lines we see Verbal Irony:
“He’s taking me to Leavenworth prison.
It’s seven years for counterfeiting.”

5. Irony is a useful literary device for
Henry because it allows him to highlight
the story’s theme of the difference
between appearance and reality.
Imagery: The author vividly describes
the setting and the characters using this
element.
“Among the new comers were two
young men, one of handsome presence
with a bold, frank countenance and
manner, the other a ruffled, glum-faced
person, heavily built and roughly
dressed. The two were handcuffed
together.”
Explain with Referenceto Context.

6. 1. “The girl’s eyes, fascinated, went
back, widening a little, to rest upon
the glittering handcuffs. “Don’t you
worry about them, miss, “said the
other man. “All marshals handcuff
themselves to their prisoners to keep
them from getting away. Mr. Easton
knows his business.”
Reference: These lines are taken from
the short story “Hearts and Hands”.
Henry was an American short story
writer. His stories are famous for their
surprise endings. One of his famous
short story is “the last leaf”.
Explanation: In these lines we see
Marshal saving Mr. Easton from an
embarrassment, by convincing Miss
Fairchild that Mr. Easton is the marshal
and he is the prisoner. Because he was a

7. kind man, he was feeling sympathetic
for Mr. Easton as he was going to jail
for a long period of time and didn’t want
Miss Fairchild to know the actual truth
to save Mr. Easton from the
embarrassment.
2.“Money isn’t everything. But people
always misunderstand things and
remain stupid-“
Reference: These lines are taken from
the short story “Hearts and Hands”.
Henry was an American short story
writer. His stories are famous for their
surprise endings.
Context: These lines were said by the
character of Miss Fairchild as she was

8. talking to Mr. Easton in a sweet tone,
and assuming that people in the west
were poor.
Explanation: In these lines Miss
Fairchild shows her interest in Mr.
Easton and moving to the West as Mr.
Easton. As he made her believe that he
is a marshal indeed. But as Miss
Fairchild says these lines she becomes
bit judgmental by making an assumption
that the people in the west are poor and
uneducated. She clearly thinks little of
people in the West.
 Murk Razzaque
 Short Fiction