The Lotus and the Bottle by O. Henry
A young woman's life is turned upside down when she discovers a valuable gemstone hidden within a bottle that has been passed down through her family for generations. The story explores themes of identity, class, and the complexities of human relationships.
By O. Henry · First published 1907 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Drama · 4,499 words
First lines
Willard Geddie, consul for the United States in Coralio, was working leisurely on his yearly report. Goodwin, who had strolled in as he did daily for a smoke on the much coveted porch, had found him so absorbed in his work that he departed after roundly abusing the consul for his lack of hospitality.
"I shall complain to the civil service department," said Goodwin; -- "or is it a department? -- perhaps it's only a theory. One gets neither civility nor service from you. You won't talk; and you won't set out anything to drink. What kind of a way is that of representing your government?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Lotus and the Bottle 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: Literary Fiction, Romance, Drama, Adventure, Short Story
- Length: 4,499 words
- Structure: 1 section, 59 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Lotus and the Bottle by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Lotus and the Bottle?
- 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 themes of love, identity, and the human condition through rich character development and introspective narrative.
- Romance — Central to the plot is the romantic tension between the protagonist and his past love, highlighting themes of longing and reconciliation.
- Drama — The narrative unfolds with emotional depth, focusing on personal conflicts and the protagonist's internal struggles.
- Adventure — The setting in a tropical locale and the protagonist's journey of self-discovery provide elements of adventure.
Tags
Short Story · Literary Fiction · American Literature · Realism · Symbolism · Fate vs Free Will · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Love Triangle · Marriage · Infidelity · Deception