The Girl and the Habit by O. Henry
A young woman inherits a fortune from a distant relative she has never met. She decides to live a life of poverty and humility by wearing a nun's habit in public.
By O. Henry · First published 1906 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Comedy · 2,471 words
First lines
Habit -- a tendency or aptitude acquired by custom or frequent repetition.
What this Textopian page supports
The Girl and the Habit is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1906 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: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Comedy, Social Commentary, Short Story
- Length: 2,471 words
- Structure: 1 section, 30 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Girl and the Habit 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 Girl and the Habit?
- 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?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex characters and social themes, focusing on the intricacies of human relationships and societal norms.
- Romance — The narrative centers around romantic interactions and the emotional dynamics between characters, particularly involving Miss Merriam.
- Comedy — The writing style incorporates humor and witty dialogue, highlighting the absurdities of social interactions and courtship.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques social class distinctions and the behaviors of different societal groups, particularly in a bustling urban setting.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Marriage · Love · Deception · Moral Lesson · Irony · Twist Ending