Nothing New under the Sun
The story revolves around a man who is struggling to make ends meet and is desperate for money. He comes up with a plan to fake his own death in order to collect life insurance and pay off his debts. However, the plan goes awry when he realizes that his wife has been embezzling funds from him and is now trying to collect on the insurance policy as well.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Tragedy, Social Commentary · 948 words
First lines
The wind tears at the shingles that poorly cover the attic at the top of seven flights of stairs. The snow crystals, blown as fine as frost by the force of the tempest, buzz through crannies and sift upon the mean bed. Some shutters outside slam and creak with every frequent gale, and the snow clouds sweeping southward suffer a splendent blue-tinged star to turn a radiant eye downward upon the world.
Through a rift in the roof of the attic the star alone sees what transpires there that night. On the bare floor stands some rickety furniture, and in the center is a table on which lie paper, pens and ink, and stands a lighted candle.
What this Textopian page supports
Nothing New under the Sun 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: Literary Fiction, Tragedy, Social Commentary, Psychological Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 948 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Nothing New under the Sun 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 Nothing New under the Sun?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deep themes of originality, genius, and the struggles of the creative process, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Tragedy — The narrative culminates in the tragic fate of the protagonist, highlighting themes of despair and unrecognized talent.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal perceptions of success and the harsh realities faced by struggling artists.
- Psychological Fiction — The internal conflict and emotional depth of the protagonist reflect psychological themes.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Short Story Collection · American Literature · Humor · Irony · Wit · Realism · Critique of Society · Class Struggle · Marriage · Love