One Dollar's Worth by O. Henry
The story revolves around a man who finds a dollar bill on the street and decides to return it to its rightful owner. He sets out to find the person who lost it, but his search leads him down a series of unexpected paths. Along the way, he encounters various characters who are struggling with their own financial difficulties. The man's actions ultimately have a profound impact on those around him, leading to a chain reaction of kindness and generosity that changes lives forever.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Crime Fiction · 3,090 words
First lines
The judge of the United States court of the district lying along the Rio Grande border found the following letter one morning in his mail:
What this Textopian page supports
One Dollar's Worth 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, Drama, Crime Fiction, Western, Romance
- Length: 3,090 words
- Structure: 1 section, 58 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for One Dollar's Worth by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering One Dollar's Worth?
- 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 complex themes of justice, morality, and human emotion, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Drama — The narrative involves intense emotional conflicts and character-driven situations, typical of dramatic storytelling.
- Crime Fiction — The plot centers around a criminal case involving counterfeiting and the legal system.
- Western — The setting and characters reflect the American West, with themes of lawlessness and frontier justice.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Realism · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Poverty · Wealth · Class Struggle · Morality Tale · Fate vs. Free Will · Coincidence