The Elusive Tenderloin by O. Henry
A wealthy man's daughter falls in love with a poor artist who cannot afford to marry her. He devises a plan to win her hand by pretending to be a wealthy man and then revealing his true identity after they are married, hoping she will still love him for himself.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Satire, Realism, Humor · 1,804 words
First lines
There is no Tenderloin. There never was. That is, none that you could run a tapeline around. The word really implies a condition or a quality -- much as you would say "reprehensibility" or "cold feet."
Metes and bounds have been assigned to it. I know. Realists have prated of "from Fourteenth to Forty-second," and "as far west as" etc., but the larger meaning of the word remains with me.
What this Textopian page supports
The Elusive Tenderloin 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: Satire, Realism, Humor, Social Commentary, Fiction
- Length: 1,804 words
- Structure: 1 section, 31 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Elusive Tenderloin 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 Elusive Tenderloin?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Satire — The work critiques societal norms and the concept of vice in urban life, using humor and irony.
- Realism — It portrays the everyday experiences and observations of a character in a specific urban setting, reflecting the realities of life in New York.
- Humor — The narrative employs comedic elements and witty dialogue to convey the absurdity of the protagonist's quest.
- Social Commentary — It comments on the perceptions of morality and vice in society, particularly in relation to urban culture.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Struggle · Poverty · Wealth Inequality · Irony · Twist Ending · Plot Twist · Moral Lesson