The Winner by O. Henry (1910)
A young man wins a large sum of money in a lottery and decides to give it away anonymously to those he believes are more deserving than himself. He gives $1,000 to a blind man who had been begging on the street, $500 to a crippled newsboy, and $100 to a beggar woman.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Realism · 412 words
First lines
After the performance of "In Old Kentucky" Friday night three old cronies went into a saloon with the inflexible determination of taking a drink. After doing so, they added an amendment in the shape of another and then tacked on an emergency clause.
When they got to feeling a little mellow they sat down at a table and commenced lying. Not maliciously, but just ordinary, friendly lying, about the things they had seen and done. They all tried their hand at relating experiences, and as the sky was clear, there was no matinee performance of the Ananias tragedy.
What this Textopian page supports
The Winner is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1910 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: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Humor, Realism, Fiction, Social Commentary
- Length: 412 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Winner by O. Henry
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Discussion starters
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- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- An Opportunity Declined by O. Henry
- An Inspiration by O. Henry
- The Unprofitable Servant by O. Henry
- The Tale Of A Tainted Tenner by O. Henry
- Christmas Eve by O. Henry
- The Call Of The Tame by O. Henry
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
- Humor — The dialogue and situations are infused with wit and light-heartedness, showcasing comedic elements.
- Realism — The characters and their interactions reflect everyday life and relatable experiences.
- Fiction — The narrative is a work of fiction, presenting invented characters and scenarios.
Tags
Short Story · Literary Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Wealth Inequality · Morality Tale · Fate vs. Free Will · Irony · Twist Ending · American Literature