The Cop and the Anthem by O. Henry
A homeless man tries to get arrested so he can have a warm place to sleep for the night. He attempts various ways to provoke the police into arresting him but ultimately fails until he gets caught in a snowstorm and is taken in by the authorities.
By O. Henry · First published 1916 · Genre: Short Story, Literary Fiction, Social Commentary · 2,634 words
First lines
On his bench in Madison Square Soapy moved uneasily. When wild geese honk high of nights, and when women without sealskin coats grow kind to their husbands, and when Soapy moves uneasily on his bench in the park, you may know that winter is near at hand.
A dead leaf fell in Soapy's lap. That was Jack Frost's card. Jack is kind to the regular denizens of Madison Square, and gives fair warning of his annual call. At the corners of four streets he hands his pasteboard to the North Wind, footman of the mansion of All Outdoors, so that the inhabitants thereof may make ready.
What this Textopian page supports
The Cop and the Anthem is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1916 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: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor, Drama
- Length: 2,634 words
- Structure: 1 section, 48 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Cop and the Anthem by O. Henry
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- His Only Opportunity by O. Henry
- An Inspiration by O. Henry
- The Sparrows In Madison Square by O. Henry
- A Night Errant by O. Henry
- The Unprofitable Servant by O. Henry
- The Trimmed Lamp by O. Henry
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single character's experience and transformation, typical of the short story format.
- Literary Fiction — The story explores deep themes of social class, dignity, and redemption, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Social Commentary — It critiques societal attitudes towards homelessness and the justice system, reflecting on the human condition.
- Humor — The protagonist's misadventures and ironic situations provide a humorous perspective on serious themes.
Tags
Short Story · Literary Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Poverty · Homelessness · Crime · Punishment · Redemption · Morality Tale · Altruism