The Sparrows in Madison Square
A young woman's life is turned upside down when she discovers a large sum of money hidden in her boarding house. She decides to keep the money and use it to improve her circumstances, but soon finds herself struggling with guilt and the consequences of her actions.
By O. Henry · First published 1907 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary · 1,645 words
First lines
The young man in straitened circumstances who comes to New York City to enter literature has but one thing to do, provided he has studied carefully his field in advance. He must go straight to Madison Square, write an article about the sparrows there, and sell it to the Sun for $15.
What this Textopian page supports
The Sparrows in Madison Square 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, Humor, Social Commentary, Short Story, Urban Fiction
- Length: 1,645 words
- Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Sparrows in Madison Square 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 Sparrows in Madison Square?
- 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 Greater Coney by O. Henry
- Brickdust Row by O. Henry
- The Cop And The Anthem by O. Henry
- The Unprofitable Servant by O. Henry
- The Tale Of A Tainted Tenner by O. Henry
- A Poor Rule by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores themes of aspiration, disillusionment, and the contrast between rural innocence and urban reality, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Humor — The narrative employs irony and wit, particularly in the protagonist's expectations versus reality, which adds a humorous tone.
- Social Commentary — It critiques societal expectations of success and the romanticized view of the writer's journey in a metropolitan setting.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story arc, typical of the short story format.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Realism · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Poverty · Homelessness · Urban Life · New York City · 19th Century · Literary Fiction