Marvelous by O. Henry (1911)
The story revolves around a young couple who are struggling to make ends meet. The husband is a poor but honest man who works hard to provide for his wife and child. One day, he wins a large sum of money in a lottery, but instead of keeping it for himself, he decides to give it away anonymously to those in need. The story follows the couple's journey as they use the money to help others, bringing joy and happiness into their lives. However, the husband's decision also brings about unintended consequences, leading to a series of events that ultimately change the course of their lives forever.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Humor, Fiction, Satire · 183 words
First lines
There is one man we know who is about as clever a reasoner as this country has yet produced. He has a way of thinking out a problem that is sometimes little short of divination. One day last week his wife told him to make some purchases, and as with all his logical powers he is rather forgetful on ordinary subjects, she tied a string around his finger so he would not forget his errand. About nine o'clock that night while hurrying homeward, he suddenly felt the string on his finger and stopped short. Then for the life of him he could not remember for what purpose the string had been placed there.
What this Textopian page supports
Marvelous 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, Fiction, Satire, Short Story, Character Study
- Length: 183 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Marvelous 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 Marvelous?
- 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
- A Startling Demonstration by O. Henry
- Did You See The Circus by O. Henry
- Slightly Mixed by O. Henry
- The Enchanted Profile by O. Henry
- Calculations by O. Henry
- A Valedictory by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and irony, showcasing the absurdity of the protagonist's reasoning.
- Fiction — The story presents a fictional scenario that explores human behavior and thought processes.
- Satire — It critiques the nature of logic and forgetfulness in a light-hearted manner.
- Short Story — The work is concise and structured as a brief narrative.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Twist Ending · Plot Twist · Moral Lesson · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Realism