Mammon and the Archer by O. Henry
The story revolves around a wealthy man who has lost his fortune due to a series of unfortunate events. He meets an archer who offers to shoot at a target for him in exchange for a share of the winnings. The wealthy man agrees, and the archer shoots and hits the target, winning a large sum of money. However, it is later revealed that the archer had deliberately missed the target on purpose, as he knew the wealthy man would be unable to pay his share of the winnings if he hit the target. The story explores themes of greed, poverty, and the consequences of one's actions.
By O. Henry · First published 1919 · Genre: Romantic Comedy, Social Commentary, Short Story · 2,929 words
First lines
Old Anthony Rockwall, retired manufacturer and proprietor of Rockwall's Eureka Soap, looked out the library window of his Fifth Avenue mansion and grinned. His neighbour to the right -- the aristocratic clubman, G. Van Schuylight Suffolk-Jones -- came out to his waiting motorcar, wrinkling a contumelious nostril, as usual, at the Italian renaissance sculpture of the soap palace's front elevation.
"Stuck-up old statuette of nothing doing! " commented the ex-Soap King. "The Eden Musée'll get that old frozen Nesselrode yet if he don't watch out. I'll have this house painted red, white, and blue next summer and see if that'll make his Dutch nose turn up any higher."
What this Textopian page supports
Mammon and the Archer is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1919 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: 1919 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romantic Comedy, Social Commentary, Short Story, Drama, Literary Fiction
- Length: 2,929 words
- Structure: 1 section, 64 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mammon and the Archer by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Mammon and the Archer?
- 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?
Similar titles
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- The Sphinx Apple by O. Henry
- The Guardian Of The Accolade by O. Henry
- A Poor Rule by O. Henry
- Compliments Of The Season by O. Henry
- The Memento by O. Henry
Genres
- Romantic Comedy — The plot centers around a romantic relationship and includes humorous elements, particularly in the interactions between characters and the situations they find themselves in.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques social class distinctions and the influence of wealth on relationships and societal status.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story arc within a limited word count, typical of the short story format.
- Drama — The emotional stakes and character conflicts create a dramatic tension that drives the narrative forward.
Tags
Short Story · Literary Fiction · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Wealth and Poverty · Morality Tale · Fable · Allegory · Symbolism