英语书籍知识讲解

Hello, everyone! Today, we're going to explore a classic short story by O. Henry, After Twenty Years. Firstly, let's get to know the author .

Henry is the pen name of William Sydney Porter, a world - famous American short story writer from 1862 to 1910.

Then what is he famous for?Here’s what we get from doubao, an AI developed by ByteDance.Some of his well - known works include "The Gift of the Magi", "The Ransom of Red Chief", "The Last Leaf", "The Cop and the Anthem", and "A Retrieved Reformation". His stories are famous for their surprising endings.

After Twenty Years is set in the early 1900s, near the end of America’s Westward Expansion, which began in the early 1800s. During that time, many Americans went to the West to seek their fortune. The story takes place in New York City, which was already a big city back then.

Let's start reading for the elements. We need to find out the characters, the time, the place, what happened, and why, which is related to the plot and the theme of the story.

In Scene 1, it's barely ten o'clock at night. A man is waiting at the doorway of a store in New York. Who is he waiting for? His friend Jimmy Wells. Why? Because they made an appointment 20 years ago. From the description, we can sense his anxiety. He says, "It’s all right, officer. I’m just waiting for a friend...". And he has a keen - eyed look with a little white scar, and he even pulls out a handsome watch set with small diamonds, which might show he's a bit boastful.

Then comes Scene 2. We start to wonder, would Jimmy turn up at the appointment? When a tall man in a long overcoat shows up, we are left guessing if he's Jimmy Wells. Let's act this part out. So is he Jimmy Wells? As you have acted, he is not Jimmy.

In Scene 2 and 3, we find some interesting dialogues. The man asks, "Is that you, Bob?" doubtfully. And Bob says, "You’ve changed lots, Jimmy. You seem taller, at least two or three inches." But later, Bob realizes something is wrong and gets angry.

If we recap the plot, first, Jimmy went to the agreed place. Then, Bob didn't recognize Jimmy and chatted with him. Next, Bob realized the man wasn't Jimmy. After that, the man arrested Bob. Finally, Bob knew the truth from Jimmy's note.

Now, let's analyze the characters. What kind of people are Jimmy and Bob? Jimmy is a policeman. We can see he's responsible because he's on the beat as usual. He's also true and reliable. He was at the appointed place on time, and although he couldn't arrest his friend himself, he got a plain - clothes man to do it. This shows he's loyal to his friend but also rigid about his principles.

What about Bob? He was ambitious. He went to the West to make his fortune. He said, "It has given me everything I asked it for." He's loyal to their friendship because he came a thousand miles to keep the appointment. But he's also a bit boastful when showing off his watch.

O. Henry is really good at using writing techniques. For example, there are many foreshadowings in the story. The description of the pale face with a little white scar, the handsome watch, and the tall man's appearance all hint at something. Also, we see euphemisms like "Chicago police...want to have a chat with you" instead of directly saying "you're arrested".

Here comes a question. What's the purpose of writing this passage? Is it to change our impression of friendship, show how hard it is to meet a friend after 20 years, warn us not to be late, or tell us to make the right moral decision? The answer is D. The story makes us think about the balance between responsibility and friendship.

Let's do some critical thinking. If you were Jimmy, what would you do? Arrest your friend or let him go? Jimmy chose to arrest Bob in the end. Do you think he did the right thing? Well, as a policeman, his duty was to protect society. And living an honest and upright life is everyone's responsibility.

Finally, let's do an extension. Suppose there's a Scene 4, and they meet again. What would they say and how would they feel? Think about it. Maybe Jimmy would say, "My old friend. I am really sorry. But, will you forgive me?" And Bob might reply, "I know that was you when I saw the note. I was so disappointed at first." Then Jimmy could ask, "What happened in the West? You must have faced a lot of difficulties. Why not ask for help?" Bob might answer, "I was so eager for money that I made my fortune there by all means. I even did some wrong things." Jimmy would sigh and say, "What a shame, my friend. But it's never too late to change." And Bob would respond, "You are always doing what a policeman should do. I will mend my way. I promise."

That's all for today's class. I hope you've enjoyed exploring this wonderful story with me. Thank you!