The Ransom of Red Chief An obscure tale of two greedy men and the boy who would be chief.

So Who Wrote It? William Sydney Porter wrote it. William Sydney Porter wrote it. Not listed as the author, you say? True. Not listed as the author, you say? True. O. Henry, the man we know as the author, used a Pen Name or nom de plume (Oh, fancy!). O. Henry, the man we know as the author, used a Pen Name or nom de plume (Oh, fancy!). Why? Wouldn’t you like to know. Why? Wouldn’t you like to know.

Who Was O. Henry? Good question, Watson. Good question, Watson. Before he was a writer, O. Henry was: Before he was a writer, O. Henry was: A drug store clerk A drug store clerk A ranch hand A ranch hand A bank teller A bank teller A convicted felon A convicted felon Oh, did I forget to mention that? Apparently, old Mr. Henry got his hand caught in the bank’s cookie jar and was convicted of embezzlement.

A Life In Bars Continued… No, O. Henry did not spend his life in prison. No, O. Henry did not spend his life in prison. Actually, he made a go of writing while inside. Actually, he made a go of writing while inside. Shortly, after getting out of prison, he changed his name from William Sydney Porter to O. Henry. His writings earned him the income he needed to support himself and his daughter. Shortly, after getting out of prison, he changed his name from William Sydney Porter to O. Henry. His writings earned him the income he needed to support himself and his daughter. From there, he became the writer we know today. From there, he became the writer we know today.

O. Henry: The Write Style Everything he wrote was Fiction OR NOT REAL Everything he wrote was Fiction OR NOT REAL His stories were short and usually printed in the weekly newspaper (You know, that paper thing you run over in your driveway?) His stories were short and usually printed in the weekly newspaper (You know, that paper thing you run over in your driveway?) His stories generally had surprise endings. His stories generally had surprise endings. Now stories with twists are often said to be written in the “O. Henry style.” Now stories with twists are often said to be written in the “O. Henry style.” O. Henry preferred to write: O. Henry preferred to write: Adventures, Humorous Tales, Slice-of-Life Tales

O. Henry and Irony O. Henry LOVED irony. O. Henry LOVED irony. In fact, “The Ransom of Red Chief” is stuffed to the gills with it. In fact, “The Ransom of Red Chief” is stuffed to the gills with it. There are actually 3 different types of Irony. There are actually 3 different types of Irony. Let’s take a look. Let’s take a look.

Situational IRONY ◦ Situational : irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected. ◦ Example:

Dramatic Irony Oh, let’s see…JUST ABOUT EVERY HORROR MOVIE EVER MADE! Oh, let’s see…JUST ABOUT EVERY HORROR MOVIE EVER MADE! Dramatic : irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play. In other words: In other words: We (the audience) see the spider, but Frodo (the character) has no idea.

Verbal Irony ◦ Verbal : irony in which a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning (e.g., sarcasm). Example: Example: “Gee, I was hoping I’d “Gee, I was hoping I’d get wet today.”

Literary Terms to Know Prediction: In other words, you take clues from your reading to make an educated guess about upcoming events. Prediction: In other words, you take clues from your reading to make an educated guess about upcoming events. It’s like previews at a movie theater. You watch the preview and then you decide whether you will spend the money to come back and watch the movie. It’s like previews at a movie theater. You watch the preview and then you decide whether you will spend the money to come back and watch the movie. In other words, you predict how good the movie will be. In other words, you predict how good the movie will be Let’s spend a minute and predict what O. Henry’s story might be about based on the title. Let’s spend a minute and predict what O. Henry’s story might be about based on the title.

Prediction Practice Go ahead. Predict what happened when the front door opened and I saw this? Go ahead. Predict what happened when the front door opened and I saw this? Look, the skinny on prediction is this: the more information you gather, the more accurate your guess will be. It’s all about evidence! Look, the skinny on prediction is this: the more information you gather, the more accurate your guess will be. It’s all about evidence!

Terms Continued  Pun: the humorous use of a word that suggests a different meaning than the literal meaning.  Example: In this instance, check out the word, “toad.” It’s a play on the word, “towed.”

Foreshadowing Foreshadowing: to indicate Foreshadowing: to indicate before something happens. Example: This scene appears in the movie, Van Helsing BEFORE he turns into a werewolf.

Allusion Allusion: an implied or indirect reference especially in literature. Allusion: an implied or indirect reference especially in literature. Example: There was an episode of Example: There was an episode of this TV show titled, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester.”

Hyperbole Hyperbole: an extreme exaggeration. Hyperbole: an extreme exaggeration.

Simile Simile: a phrase that uses the words like or as to describe someone or something by comparing it with someone or something else that is similar. Simile: a phrase that uses the words like or as to describe someone or something by comparing it with someone or something else that is similar. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

Metaphor Metaphor: a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar. Example: He is a charging bull when it comes to getting things done. Metaphor: a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar. Example: He is a charging bull when it comes to getting things done. Example: The car became a prison Example: The car became a prison of gaseous doom once Jill’s father finished his snack of dried apricots and prune juice.

Drawing Connections