The Fool-Killer by O. Henry (1904)
A traveling salesman is murdered and the killer is revealed to be a man who had been wronged by him. The story explores themes of justice and morality.
By O. Henry · First published 1904 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Satire, Fantasy · 3,471 words
First lines
Down South whenever anyone perpetrates some particularly monumental piece of foolishness everybody says: "Send for Jesse Holmes."
Jesse Holmes is the Fool-Killer. Of course he is a myth, like Santa Claus and Jack Frost and General Prosperity and all those concrete conceptions that are supposed to represent an idea that Nature has failed to embody. The wisest of the Southrons cannot tell you whence comes the Fool-Killer's name; but few and happy are the households from the Roanoke to the Rio Grande in which the name of Jesse Holmes has not been pronounced or invoked. Always with a smile, and often with a tear, is he summoned to his official duty. A busy man is Jesse Holmes.
What this Textopian page supports
The Fool-Killer is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1904 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: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Satire, Fantasy, Romance, Southern Gothic
- Length: 3,471 words
- Structure: 1 section, 70 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Fool-Killer by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Fool-Killer?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Church With An Overshot Wheel by O. Henry
- The Hypotheses Of Failure by O. Henry
- Thimble Thimble by O. Henry
- Three Paragraphs by O. Henry
- The Ethics Of Pig by O. Henry
- A Little Talk About Mobs by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of art, love, and societal expectations through character-driven narratives.
- Satire — It critiques societal norms and the concept of foolishness, using humor and irony to convey deeper messages.
- Fantasy — The character of the Fool-Killer embodies mythological elements, representing an abstract concept in a tangible form.
- Romance — The story revolves around the romantic relationship between Kerner and the factory girl, highlighting themes of love and sacrifice.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Fiction · Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Irony · Morality Tale · Moral Lesson · Critique of Society · Class Struggle · Poverty