Identified by O. Henry (1910)
A wealthy man returns to his hometown after a long absence and is mistaken for a beggar by the townspeople due to his tattered clothes. He decides to play along with the charade, enjoying the sympathy and generosity of the people. However, when he reveals his true identity, he discovers that one of the townspeople has been murdered in an attempt to steal from him while he was pretending to be a beggar.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Humor, Short Story, Social Commentary · 336 words
First lines
A stranger walked into a Houston bank the other day and presented a draft to the cashier for payment.
"You will have to be identified," said the cashier, "by someone who knows your name to be Henry B. Saunders."
What this Textopian page supports
Identified 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: Humor, Short Story, Social Commentary, Drama, Satire
- Length: 336 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Identified 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 Identified?
- 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
- How It Started by O. Henry
- What It Was by O. Henry
- A Question Of Direction by O. Henry
- The Call Of The Tame by O. Henry
- A Years Supply by O. Henry
- An Odd Character by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The story employs comedic elements through the absurdity of the identification process and the stranger's exaggerated claims.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and structured as a brief tale, typical of the short story format.
- Social Commentary — The plot critiques societal norms regarding identification and trust, reflecting on human behavior in bureaucratic situations.
- Drama — The interaction between the stranger and the cashier creates tension and conflict, characteristic of dramatic storytelling.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Twist Ending · Plot Twist · Moral Lesson · Class Satire · Identity Crisis · Self-Discovery