Ships by O. Henry (1911)
The story revolves around a wealthy man who befriends a poor sailor and promises to help him financially. The wealthy man dies, leaving behind a large sum of money that he had been saving for the sailor's benefit. However, the sailor does not receive the inheritance because it was left to his wife in trust.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Fiction · 3,246 words
First lines
Within a week a suitable building had been secured in the Calle Grande, and Mr. Hemstetter's stock of shoes arranged upon their shelves. The rent of the store was moderate; and the stock made a fine showing of neat white boxes, attractively displayed.
What this Textopian page supports
Ships 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: Comedy, Satire, Fiction, Adventure, Social Commentary
- Length: 3,246 words
- Structure: 1 section, 54 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ships 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 Ships?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Girl by O. Henry
- A Ruler Of Men by O. Henry
- Rouge Et Noir by O. Henry
- The Admiral by O. Henry
- A Universal Favorite by O. Henry
- A Service Of Love by O. Henry
Genres
- Comedy — The narrative employs humor and wit, particularly through the absurdity of the characters' situations and the clever schemes they devise.
- Satire — The story critiques social norms and human behavior, particularly in the context of commerce and human folly.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative that explores the lives and interactions of its characters in a specific setting.
- Adventure — The characters engage in schemes that involve risk and cunning, reflecting a sense of adventure in their entrepreneurial pursuits.
Tags
Short Story · Classic Literature · American Fiction · Maritime Theme · Nautical Setting · Romance · Tragedy · Fate vs Free Will · Moral Lesson · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Love Triangle