The Unknown Quantity by O. Henry
A young man inherits a large sum of money from a distant relative he has never met. He decides to travel to the city where his relative lived and learn more about him. Upon arrival, he meets a woman who claims to be the relative's widow and asks for financial assistance. The young man is suspicious but agrees to help her.
By O. Henry · First published 1904 · Genre: Social Commentary, Literary Fiction, Drama · 2,409 words
First lines
The poet Longfellow -- or was it Confucius, the inventor of wisdom? -- remarked:
"Life is real, life is earnest;
What this Textopian page supports
The Unknown Quantity 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: Social Commentary, Literary Fiction, Drama, Satire, Romance
- Length: 2,409 words
- Structure: 1 section, 54 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Unknown Quantity 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 Unknown Quantity?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Social Commentary first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Higher Pragmatism by O. Henry
- The Plutonian Fire by O. Henry
- The Country Of Elusion by O. Henry
- Best Seller by O. Henry
- A Ramble In Aphasia by O. Henry
Genres
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques economic inequality and the consequences of wealth accumulation, highlighting the impact of financial decisions on individuals and society.
- Literary Fiction — The work employs a sophisticated writing style with rich character development and thematic depth, typical of literary fiction.
- Drama — The story features intense interpersonal conflicts and moral dilemmas, creating a dramatic tension between characters.
- Satire — The text uses humor and irony to expose the absurdities of wealth and social responsibility.
Tags
Short Story Collection · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Realism · Irony · Plot Twist · Mystery · Romance · Tragedy · Fate