Calculations by O. Henry (1911)
The story revolves around a man who wins the lottery and decides to give away his winnings anonymously. He leaves clues for the people he wants to help, but they are unable to decipher them. The main character's identity remains unknown until the end of the story.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Humor, Short Story, Social Commentary · 234 words
First lines
A gentleman with long hair and an expression indicating heavenly resignation stepped off the twelve-thirty train at the Grand Central Depot yesterday. He had a little bunch of temperance tracts in his hand, and he struck a strong scent and followed it up to a red-nosed individual who was leaning on a trunk near the baggage room.
"My friend," said the long-haired man, "do you know that if you had placed the price of three drinks out at compound interest at the time of the building of Solomon's temple, you would now have $47,998,645.22?"
What this Textopian page supports
Calculations 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: Humor, Short Story, Social Commentary, Character Study, Realism
- Length: 234 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Calculations 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 Calculations?
- 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
- Guessed Everything Else by O. Henry
- A Startling Demonstration by O. Henry
- The Hand That Riles The World by O. Henry
- A Sure Method by O. Henry
- The Sphinx Apple by O. Henry
- Marvelous by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The dialogue and situations are infused with wit and comedic elements, showcasing the absurdity of the characters' interactions.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and focused, typical of a short story format, delivering a complete arc in a brief encounter.
- Social Commentary — The story reflects on societal issues such as alcoholism and temperance, using characters to critique social norms.
- Character Study — The focus on the eccentricities and personalities of the characters provides insight into human behavior and motivations.
Tags
Short Story Collection · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Twist Ending · Moral Lesson · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic Literature · 19th Century American Literature