O. Henry's Family
Who raised O. Henry (then William Sydney Porter) from the age of three after his mother passed away?
BONUS: What was his MOTHER's name?
His Aunt Lina and grandmother.
BONUS: Mary Jane Virginia Swaim
O. Henry was indicted (and eventually convicted) on what charges?
Embezzlement of bank funds
What is O. Henry's REAL name?
William Sydney (Sidney) Porter
What are some common traits of an O. Henry story?
- romanticize ordinary life
- NYC
- surprise or twist ending
- humor and irony
O. Henry is a pseudonym for William Sydney Porter. What is the definition of pseudonym?
A fictitious name, especially one used by an author.
What was his Aunt Lina's job?
Private School Teacher
Upon news of his indictment, where did O. Henry flee to?
Honduras
In what city and state was O. Henry born?
Greensboro, North Carolina
Approximately how many short stories did O. Henry write?
about 300
WHY did O. Henry feel the need to create pseudonym?
He wanted to shed his bad reputation after being imprisoned for embezzlement.
What was the name of O. Henry's first wife?
Athol Estes
What is the definition of embezzlement?
Embezzlement is a type of financial crime, usually involving theft of money from a business or employer. It often involves a trusted individual taking advantage of their position to steal funds or assets, most commonly over a period of time.
At what age or in what year did O. Henry leave school?
Age 15
Year 1882
Approximately how many collections did O. Henry publish?
About 7
HOW did O. Henry come up with the idea for his pseudonym?
- the name of a European chemist and pharmacist
- a ranch hand nicknamed "Old Henry"
- a cowboy song
- a customer at the bank in Austin
- a wharf master in Honduras
- a prison guard
What was the name of O. Henry's second wife?
Sara L. Coleman
How long was O. Henry actually in prison for?
BONUS: How long was his original sentence?
3 years and 3 months
BONUS: 5 years
What was O. Henry's job as a young man?
A bank teller.
What was the name of the humorous weekly newspaper he published?
The Rolling Stone
What was O. Henry's eventual cause of death?
Alcoholism
What was the name of O. Henry's only child?
Margaret
What was O. Henry's job while he was in prison?
A pharmacist (night druggist)
O. Henry lived on what kind of property in Texas with his host Richard Hall?
A cattle ranch
What is the name of the O. Henry short story we will be reading in class?
The Gift of the Magi
O. Henry's funeral was mistakenly scheduled at the same time as what event?
A wedding