Getting Acquainted by O. Henry
The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She becomes pregnant and the man's family discovers her true intentions. The family decides to take matters into their own hands, leading to a series of events that ultimately result in the woman's downfall.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Social Commentary · 602 words
First lines
His coat was rusty and his hat out of style, but his nose glasses, secured by a black cord, lent him a distinguished air, and his manner was jaunty and assured. He stepped into a new Houston grocery yesterday, and greeted the proprietor cordially.
"I'll have to introduce myself," he said. "My name is -- -- -, and I live next door to the house you have just moved in. Saw you at church Sunday. Our minister also observed you, and after church he says, ‘Brother -- -- -, you must really find out who that intelligent-looking stranger is who listened so attentively today. ' How did you like the sermon?"
What this Textopian page supports
Getting Acquainted is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1910 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: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Humor, Social Commentary, Realism, Character Study
- Length: 602 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Getting Acquainted 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 Getting Acquainted?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- A Disagreement by O. Henry
- By Easy Stages by O. Henry
- A Dinner At by O. Henry
- Seeing People Off by Max Beerbohm
- The Lady Higher Up by O. Henry
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
- Humor — The dialogue and situations present a comedic portrayal of social interactions and misunderstandings.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques social norms and behaviors, particularly in the context of community and hospitality.
- Realism — The characters and settings reflect everyday life and realistic social dynamics.
Tags
Short Story · Romance · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Marriage · Relationships · Love · Comedy of Manners · Irony · Wit · Sarcasm