Speaking of Big Winds by O. Henry
The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She becomes pregnant and her husband dies suddenly, leaving her with a large sum of money. However, she also inherits his debts and must navigate the complexities of his business dealings to secure her future.
By O. Henry · First published 1908 · Genre: Humor, Fiction, Short Story · 684 words
First lines
The man with the bronzed face and distinguished air was a great traveler, and had just returned from a tour around the world. He sat around the stove at the Lamlor, and four or five drummers and men about town listened with much interest to his tales.
He was speaking of the fierce wind storms that occur in South America, when the long grass of the pampas is interlaced and blown so flat by the hurricanes that it is cut into strips and sold for the finest straw matting.
What this Textopian page supports
Speaking of Big Winds is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Fiction, Short Story, Adventure, Satire
- Length: 684 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Speaking of Big Winds 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 Speaking of Big Winds?
- 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
- The Hand That Riles The World by O. Henry
- A Startling Demonstration by O. Henry
- New Years Eve And How It Came To Houston by O. Henry
- Art And The Bronco by O. Henry
- A Valedictory by O. Henry
- Guessed Everything Else by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and irony, particularly in the portrayal of the real estate agent and the absurdity of the cyclone incident.
- Fiction — The story is a work of fiction that presents a fictional narrative centered around characters and events.
- Short Story — The work is concise and structured as a short story, focusing on a single incident and its humorous implications.
- Adventure — The protagonist's travels and experiences suggest elements of adventure, particularly in the context of storytelling about storms and travels.
Tags
Short Story Collection · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Realism · Regionalism · Southern Gothic · Folklore · Mythology · Symbolism · Irony