The Ransom of Red Chief

Story: A Retrieved Reformation

Instructions: Read each question.  Post your response.
Note:You can answer the questions in a paragraph or you can answer each question separately.

How is William Sydney Porter’s life reflected in the story?

Why did Ralph risk everything in order to help Agatha who got locked inside the safe?

What clues does the author provide that foreshadow the future.

What is ironic about the ending of this story?

The Last Leaf

O. Henry

William Sydney Porter

How Ironic

Instructions: Read the text and state the type of irony is being used.

Though the police considered him a criminal, and property owners considered him a menace, Noodles considered himself an artist.  Noodles would paint huge murals and spray can artwork on everything he could reach, water towers, billboards, shop windows, overpasses, anything he could reach.  One day, Noodles spray painted his name in big block letters over the window of the local grocery store.  When the store owner arrived the next day, he was heard to utter, “Oh!  Thank you.  How nice of you, Noodles, to spray paint your name over my store window like that.  I really appreciate it.”  He never got to thank Noodles personally, though he often wished that he had.