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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The police officer's is described as "stalwart" (619). What kind of man does this mean he is?

2. What is the clearest purpose of describing the plainclothes officer as "submerged in his overcoat" (621)?

3. Why have the two men set this particular meeting time?

4. What criticism does Bob have for New York itself?

5. On page 621, how does the reader learn that the first police officer was actually Jimmy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is appropriate about the plainclothes officer greeting Bob with the line "It's Bob, sure as fate" (621)?

2. Describe the story's opening moments, including its setting.

3. Why does Bob guess that Jimmy might not be as much of a success as Bob himself has become?

4. How is Bob characterized by the accessories that he carries?

5. What is amusing about the plainclothes officer's answer to Bob's question about whether he is doing well in New York?

6. What is the significance of the similarities and differences in the ways that Bob's and the plainclothes officer's faces are revealed?

7. When the plainclothes officer tells Bob "We'll go around to a place I know of, and have a good long talk about old times," (621), what does he mean, and what does Bob likely think he means?

8. What is the effect of the passage depicting Bob continuing to wait in the doorway as it begins to rain?

9. How did Bob and Jimmy know one another, 20 years ago?

10. What does the note from Jimmy explain to Bob?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that explores the significance of Jimmy's note at the end of "After Twenty Years." How does it advance the plot? How does it add entertainment value to the story? Is it congruous with the earlier characterization of Jimmy? How does it impact theme? Support your ideas with evidence from the text, including quoted evidence from the letter itself.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay in which you analyze the strategy of including the plainclothes officer in the story "After Twenty Years." How does this character introduce misdirection into the story and why is this necessary? How does this character increase or decrease the moral authority of Jimmy's choices? Use textual evidence to support your claims.

Essay Topic 3

O. Henry clearly admired New York City police officers. His stories hold them up as examples of humble servants of the public good. Research "Tammany Hall" and then write an essay comparing O. Henry's police officers with the historical reality. Cite all sources in MLA format.

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