A Narrow Escape by O. Henry (1913)
The story revolves around a man who narrowly escapes being hanged for murder due to a technicality. He returns home and finds his wife has been murdered by the same person he was accused of killing. The irony of the situation is that he had actually killed her in self-defense, but the circumstances were misinterpreted.
By O. Henry · First published 1913 · Genre: Humor, Fiction, Short Story · 521 words
First lines
A meek-looking man, with one eye and a timid, shuffling gait, entered a Houston saloon while no one was in except the bartender, and said:
"Excuse me, sir, but would you permit me to step behind the bar for just a moment? You can keep your eye on me. There is something there I wanted to look at."
What this Textopian page supports
A Narrow Escape is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1913 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Fiction, Short Story, Satire, Drama
- Length: 521 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Narrow Escape by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Narrow Escape?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Call Loan by O. Henry
- The Friendly Call by O. Henry
- An Afternoon Miracle by O. Henry
- A Slight Mistake by O. Henry
- Knew What Was Needed by O. Henry
- Had A Use For It by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The story employs wit and irony, showcasing the absurdity of the meek man's behavior and the bartender's responses.
- Fiction — The narrative presents a fictional scenario with developed characters and a plot that explores human behavior.
- Short Story — The work is concise, focusing on a brief encounter that encapsulates a complete narrative arc.
- Satire — The story critiques social norms and expectations through exaggerated character traits and situations.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Plot Twist · Moral Lesson · Fate vs Free Will · Class Conflict · Poverty · Wealth