A Tempered Wind by O. Henry (1911)
The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She becomes pregnant and the man's family disowns him due to her pregnancy. The couple moves to a small town where they are shunned by society. The woman gives birth to twins, but one of them dies shortly after birth.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary · 7,933 words
First lines
The first time my optical nerves was disturbed by the sight of Buckingham Skinner was in Kansas City. I was standing on a corner when I see Buck stick his straw-colored head out of a third-story window of a business block and holler, "Whoa, there! Whoa! " like you would in endeavoring to assuage a team of runaway mules.
What this Textopian page supports
A Tempered Wind is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary, Short Story, Adventure
- Length: 7,933 words
- Structure: 1 section, 117 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Tempered Wind 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 Tempered Wind?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Caliph And The Cad by O. Henry
- The Lotus And The Bottle by O. Henry
- Brickdust Row by O. Henry
- The Greater Coney by O. Henry
- Telemachus Friend by O. Henry
- Transformation Of Martin Burney by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of morality, deception, and human nature through character-driven narratives.
- Humor — The writing style employs wit and satire, highlighting the absurdities of the characters' schemes and societal norms.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques social and economic systems, particularly the exploitation of the vulnerable by those in power.
- Short Story — The work is structured as a concise narrative, typical of the short story format, focusing on a specific incident.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Classic Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Poverty · Class Struggle · Morality Tale · Fate vs Free Will · Tragic Hero · Redemption Arc