An Unsuccessful Experiment
The story revolves around a man who attempts to win the heart of his beloved through an elaborate and expensive gesture. He plans to give her a valuable diamond necklace, but his scheme backfires when he realizes that she has been secretly engaged to another man for months. The man's attempt at grand romantic gestures ultimately ends in embarrassment and rejection.
By O. Henry · First published 1904 · Genre: Humor, Social Commentary, Fiction · 851 words
First lines
There is an old colored preacher in Texas who is a great admirer of the Rev. Sam Jones.2 Last Sunday he determined to drop his old style of exhorting the brethren, and pitch hot shot plump into the middle of their camp, after the manner so successfully followed by the famous Georgia evangelist. After the opening hymn had been sung, and the congregation led in prayer by a worthy deacon, the old preacher laid his spectacles on his Bible, and let out straight from the shoulder.
What this Textopian page supports
An Unsuccessful Experiment is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1904 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: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Social Commentary, Fiction, Drama, Satire
- Length: 851 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Unsuccessful Experiment 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 An Unsuccessful Experiment?
- 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
- Grounds For Uneasiness by O. Henry
- Inconsistency by O. Henry
- Hygeia At The Solito by O. Henry
- The Higher Abdication by O. Henry
- The Other Side Of It by O. Henry
- It Covers Errors by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The narrative employs satire and comedic elements to critique social and religious hypocrisy.
- Social Commentary — The story addresses themes of morality, judgment, and the flaws within a community, reflecting societal issues.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative that explores character interactions and conflicts within a church setting.
- Drama — The intense exchanges and confrontations among characters create a dramatic atmosphere.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Plot Twist · Comedy of Errors · Misadventure · Fate vs. Free Will · Class Conflict · Economic Inequality