Ridiculous by O. Henry (1919)
A young man returns to his hometown after a long absence and is reunited with an old flame. He learns that she has married another man but still harbors feelings for him. The two engage in a series of encounters, during which the woman's husband becomes increasingly suspicious. Ultimately, the young man decides to leave town again, leaving the woman to her marriage.
By O. Henry · First published 1919 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Short Story · 90 words
First lines
The following conundrum was left at the office yesterday by a young man, who immediately fled:
"Why is the coming Sunday like a very young body?"
Answer: "Because it's neck's weak."
We do not see any reason why this should be the case. It is impossible for Sunday or any other day in the week to have a neck. The thing is printed merely to show what kind of stuff people send in to the paper.
What this Textopian page supports
Ridiculous 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: Humor, Satire, Short Story, Literary Fiction
- Length: 90 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ridiculous 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 Ridiculous?
- 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
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Genres
- Humor — The work employs wit and playful language to engage the reader through comedic elements.
- Satire — It critiques societal norms and the absurdity of certain behaviors through a humorous lens.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and focused, typical of the short story format.
- Literary Fiction — It explores themes of human behavior and societal commentary, characteristic of literary fiction.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Comedy · Irony · Humor · Short Story · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Realism · Absurdity · Critique of Society · Morality Tale