The Rake-Off by O. Henry (1911)
A wealthy man's daughter is kidnapped and a ransom demanded. The father pays the ransom but it turns out to be a scam. The kidnappers are caught and the money recovered.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Short Story, Literary Fiction, Drama · 322 words
First lines
"Who bids?"
The auctioneer held up a child's rocking-horse, battered and stained. It had belonged to some little member of the man's family whose household property was being sold under the hammer.
What this Textopian page supports
The Rake-Off is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Literary Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary, Tragedy
- Length: 322 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Rake-Off 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 Rake-Off?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- A Departmental Case by O. Henry
- An Adjustment Of Nature by O. Henry
- Compliments Of The Season by O. Henry
- Something For Baby by O. Henry
- By Easy Stages by O. Henry
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
- Literary Fiction — The themes explore human emotions, loss, and the complexities of life, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Drama — The emotional tension and character interactions create a dramatic atmosphere.
- Social Commentary — The story reflects on societal issues such as financial ruin and the impact of economic hardship.
Tags
Short Story · Comedy · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · 20th Century Fiction · Humor · Irony · Plot Twist · Moral Lesson · Class Satire · Economic Satire