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

2. What distinguishing feature does Bob have on his face?

3. What is the most likely reason that Bob does not recognize Jimmy when they are talking?

4. What does the narrator mean by the description of the police officer's impressiveness as "habitual and not for show"?

5. What does Jimmy notice about Bob's pocket watch?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story's beginning, what evidence is there that Jimmy takes pride in his job?

2. Why does Jimmy, in his role as the police officer, ask Bob if he is going to keep waiting for his friend to show up?

3. How does the introduction of Bob's character contrast with the introduction of Jimmy's character?

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

5. What surprises Bob about the appearance of the man that he thinks is his old friend, and how does the man explain away Bob's doubts?

6. What is ironic about the way that Bob describes his old friend to the "policeman" he encounters?

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

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

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 makes and defends a claim about the role of setting in "After Twenty Years." Use textual evidence to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Write an essay that analyzes O. Henry's use of wit in "After Twenty Years." Be sure that you understand the literary definition of "wit" and that you clearly tie O. Henry's use of wit to his goals as a writer in this story. Support your claims with quoted textual evidence.

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