Cupid À La Carte by O. Henry (1917)
The story revolves around a young man who seeks to win the heart of his beloved through a series of elaborate and expensive gestures, each one designed to outdo the last in its display of romantic devotion. As he continues to lavish her with gifts and attention, she becomes increasingly bewildered by his actions, unsure of how to respond or what to make of his behavior. The young man's efforts ultimately prove futile, as his beloved remains unimpressed by his displays of affection and instead begins to view him as a nuisance.
By O. Henry · First published 1917 · Genre: Romantic Comedy, Slice of Life, Social Commentary · 8,193 words
First lines
"The dispositions of woman," said Jeff Peters, after various opinions on the subject had been advanced, "run, regular, to diversions. What a woman wants is what you're out of. She wants more of a thing when it's scarce. She likes to have souvenirs of things that never happened. She likes to be reminded of things she never heard of. A one-sided view of objects is disjointing to the female composition.
What this Textopian page supports
Cupid À La Carte is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1917 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: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romantic Comedy, Slice of Life, Social Commentary, Humor, Fiction
- Length: 8,193 words
- Structure: 1 section, 103 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Cupid À La Carte by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Cupid À La Carte?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romantic Comedy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romantic Comedy — The plot centers around romantic entanglements and humorous situations arising from misunderstandings and character interactions.
- Slice of Life — The narrative captures everyday experiences and the nuances of human relationships, particularly in a restaurant setting.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal norms regarding gender roles and the nature of love and relationships.
- Humor — The writing style employs wit and comedic elements to explore serious themes in a light-hearted manner.
Tags
Romance · Short Story · Comedy · Satire · Social Commentary · Marriage · Love · Infidelity · Deception · Humor · Wit · Irony