英美文学笔记5.docVIP

美国文学史及选读（第二册）笔记 The Literature of Realism 陈银 2014/3/28 Lecture 5 O.Henry－William Sydney Porter(1862-1910) Contents Introduction His Life His Major Works and the Feature of His Storys The Gift?of?the?Magi The Cop and the Anthem Introduction a prolific American short-story writer wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City noted for their careful plotting, ironic coincidences, and surprise endings. His life （1） William Sydney Porter (O. Henry) was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. His father was a physician. When William was three, his mother died, and he was raised by his paternal grandmother and aunt. William was an avid reader, but at the age of fifteen he left school, and then worked in a drug store and on a Texas ranch. He continued to Houston, where he had a number of jobs, including that of bank clerk. After moving in 1882 to Texas, he worked on a ranch in LaSalle County for two years. His life （2） O. Henrys last years were shadowed by alcoholism, ill health, and financial problems. O. Henry died of cirrhosis of the liver on June 5, 1910, in New York. Three more collections, Sixes And Sevens (1911), Rolling Stones (1912) and Waifs And Strays (1917), appeared posthumously. During his lifetime, O. Henry published 10 collections and over 600 short stories. Major Works The Gift?Of?The?Magi -- 麦琪的礼物A?Service?Of?Love-- 爱的奉献The?Last?Leaf -- 最后的常春藤叶 The?Cop?And?The?Anthem -- 警察和赞美诗Lost?on?Dress?Parade? -- 华而不实 An?Unfinished?Story -- 没有完的故事The?Man?Higher?Up?-- 黄雀在后 After?Twenty?Years?-- 二十年以后 Stories O. Henry stories are famous for their surprise endings, to the point that such an ending is often referred to as an “O. Henry ending”. His stories are also well known for witty narration. Most of O. Henry?s stories are set in his own time, the early years of the 20th century. Many take place in New York City, and deal for the most part with ordinary people: clerks, policemen, waitresses. The Gift燨f燭he燤agi ishe The Gift of t