Sufficient Provocation by O. Henry
The story revolves around a young woman who seeks revenge against her former lover for abandoning her after she became pregnant with his child. She manipulates him into marrying her by pretending to be ill and in need of financial support, but ultimately kills him when he discovers the truth about their child's parentage.
By O. Henry · First published 1915 · Genre: Humor, Social Commentary, Drama · 439 words
First lines
"He hit me fust."
"He gimme de probumcation, judge."
What this Textopian page supports
Sufficient Provocation is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1915 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: 1915 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Social Commentary, Drama, Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 439 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Sufficient Provocation 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 Sufficient Provocation?
- 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
- Whiskey Did It by O. Henry
- His Only Opportunity by O. Henry
- The Shocks Of Doom by O. Henry
- Somebody Lied by O. Henry
- A Strange Case by O. Henry
- An Opportunity Declined by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The dialogue and situation are comedic, showcasing absurdity and wit.
- Social Commentary — The narrative reflects on social dynamics and cultural contexts of the characters.
- Drama — The conflict between the characters creates a dramatic tension.
- Fiction — The story is a work of fiction, presenting a narrative that is not based on real events.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Mystery · Thriller · Crime Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Justice System · Law and Order · Morality Tale