The Dream by O. Henry (1910)
A young man inherits a large sum of money from a distant relative he has never met. He decides to travel to the city where his relative lived and to learn more about him. Upon arrival, he meets a woman who claims to be the deceased's former mistress. She tells him that she is in dire need of financial assistance due to her poverty-stricken situation. The young man, feeling sympathetic towards her, agrees to help her financially.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Drama, Tragedy · 1,420 words
First lines
Murray dreamed a dream.
Both psychology and science grope when they would explain to us the strange adventures of our immaterial selves when wandering in the realm of "Death's twin brother, Sleep. " This story will not attempt to be illuminative; it is no more than a record of Murray's dream. One of the most puzzling phases of that strange waking sleep is that dreams which seem to cover months or even years may take place within a few seconds or minutes.
What this Textopian page supports
The Dream is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1910 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: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Psychological Fiction, Drama, Tragedy, Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction
- Length: 1,420 words
- Structure: 1 section, 22 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Dream 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 The Dream?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Psychological Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative explores the inner thoughts and emotions of the protagonist as he faces death, delving into the complexities of the human psyche.
- Drama — The story presents intense emotional situations and conflicts surrounding life, death, and existential reflection.
- Tragedy — The protagonist's fate is sealed in a tragic manner, highlighting themes of loss, regret, and the consequences of actions.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is introspective and character-driven, focusing on thematic depth and emotional resonance.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Realism · Symbolism · Dreams · Psychology · Philosophy · Fate · Free Will · Morality · Ethics · Social Commentary