October and June by O. Henry (1904)
The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She becomes pregnant and the man's family discovers her true intentions. The family devises a plan to test her character by pretending that the child has died at birth, but she reveals her true nature when she is relieved by the news.
By O. Henry · First published 1904 · Genre: Romance, Literary Fiction, Comedy · 1,078 words
First lines
The Captain gazed gloomily at his sword that hung upon the wall. In the closet nearby was stored his faded uniform, stained and worn by weather and service. What a long, long time it seemed since those old days of war's alarms!
And now, veteran that he was of his country's strenuous times, he had been reduced to abject surrender by a woman's soft eyes and smiling lips. As he sat in his quiet room he held in his hand the letter he had just received from her -- the letter that had caused him to wear that look of gloom. He reread the fatal paragraph that had destroyed his hope.
What this Textopian page supports
October and June is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1904 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: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Literary Fiction, Comedy, Drama, Coming-of-Age
- Length: 1,078 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for October and June 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 October and June?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Midsummer Masquerade by O. Henry
- Her Ruse by O. Henry
- By Courier by O. Henry
- The Reckoning by Edith Wharton
- The Touchstone by Edith Wharton
- The Plutonian Fire by O. Henry
Genres
- Romance — The central plot revolves around the romantic tension and emotional conflict between the Captain and Theodora, highlighting themes of love and age difference.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships, focusing on character development and introspection.
- Comedy — The story contains elements of humor, particularly in the Captain's naive perspective and the light-hearted dialogue between characters.
- Drama — The emotional stakes and the internal struggles of the characters create a dramatic atmosphere, particularly in the Captain's realization of his situation.
Tags
Romance · Short Story · Literary Fiction · American Literature · Classic · Love Triangle · Social Class · Marriage · Society · Morality · Consequences · Deception