Masters of Arts by O. Henry (1919)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after years abroad and becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman. He begins to pursue her, but she rejects him multiple times. The young man's obsession grows, and he starts to notice the woman's flaws, which he had previously overlooked. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the woman is not as perfect as the young man initially thought. She is shown to be vain, selfish, and manipulative. Despite this, the young man continues to pursue her, driven by his own desires. The story explores themes of obsession, love, and the flaws of human nature. It raises questions about the nature of beauty and whether it is worth sacrificing one's values for.
By O. Henry · First published 1919 · Genre: Satire, Fiction, Comedy · 6,381 words
First lines
A two-inch stub of a blue pencil was the wand with which Keogh performed the preliminary acts of his magic. So, with this he covered paper with diagrams and figures while he waited for the United States of America to send down to Coralio a successor to Atwood, resigned.
The new scheme that his mind had conceived, his stout heart endorsed, and his blue pencil corroborated, was laid around the characteristics and human frailties of the new president of Anchuria. These characteristics, and the situation out of which Keogh hoped to wrest a golden tribute, deserve chronicling contributive to the clear order of events.
What this Textopian page supports
Masters of Arts 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: Satire, Fiction, Comedy, Adventure, Drama
- Length: 6,381 words
- Structure: 1 section, 88 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Masters of Arts 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 Masters of Arts?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Explaining It by O. Henry
- The Higher Abdication by O. Henry
- The Enchanted Profile by O. Henry
- Inconsistency by O. Henry
- Two Recalls by O. Henry
- In Mezzotint by O. Henry
Genres
- Satire — The work critiques political power and the absurdities of vanity in leadership, using humor and irony.
- Fiction — The narrative is a fictional story that explores the lives and ambitions of its characters.
- Comedy — The interactions and situations often lead to humorous outcomes, highlighting the folly of the characters.
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey and the pursuit of a scheme that takes the characters to new locations.
Tags
Short Story Collection · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Realism · Irony · Twist Ending · Moral Lesson · Character Study · Psychological Insight · Relationships