The Enchanted Kiss by O. Henry
A young woman's life is forever changed when she receives a mysterious kiss from a stranger that awakens her to the world of love and passion.
By O. Henry · First published 1907 · Genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy, Literary Fiction · 5,772 words
First lines
But a clerk in the Cut-rate Drug Store was Samuel Tansey, yet his slender frame was a pad that enfolded the passion of Romeo, the gloom of Laura, the romance of D'Artagnan, and the desperate inspiration of Melnotte. Pity, then, that he had been denied expression, that he was doomed to the burden of utter timidity and diffidence, that Fate had set him tongue-tied and scarlet before the muslin-clad angels whom he adored and vainly longed to rescue, clasp, comfort, and subdue.
What this Textopian page supports
The Enchanted Kiss is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Adventure
- Length: 5,772 words
- Structure: 1 section, 87 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Enchanted Kiss 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 Enchanted Kiss?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romantic Comedy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romantic Comedy — The plot centers around the romantic misadventures of the protagonist, highlighting themes of love, desire, and comedic misunderstandings.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes surreal elements and fantastical occurrences that blur the line between reality and imagination.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is characterized by rich language and exploration of complex themes, typical of literary fiction.
- Coming-of-Age — The protagonist experiences personal growth and self-discovery throughout the story, reflecting a journey of maturation.
Tags
Romance · Fiction · Short Story · Magical Realism · Fantasy · Love · Magic · Realistic Fiction · Literary Fiction · American Literature · Classic · Symbolic