"After Twenty Years" is a short story by O. Henry, first published in 1906. The story is set in New York City and tells the tale of two old friends, Jimmy and Bob, who made a pact to meet at a specific location after twenty years. The story begins with a police officer, Patrolman Wells, who .............................
After Twenty Years - Oxford Reading Circle - Class 8 - English
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Back Questions - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
What kind of area was the policeman patrolling? Describe it.
The policeman was patrolling an avenue in a neighbourhood that kept early hours. Most business places had already closed, suggesting it's a mostly commercial area that shuts down after business hours. The area doesn't see a lot of late-night activity, with very few people out on the street. This could possibly indicate it is a quiet, safe neighbourhood. The only establishment open was an all-night food counter.
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Why did the man in the doorway start speaking to the policeman?
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Unlock now 🔓What does Bob say about his life in the West compared to Jimmy’s in New York?
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Unlock now 🔓When did the patrolman recognize Bob, and why did he not reveal to him who he was?
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Unlock now 🔓From his speech and behaviour, what picture do we get of Bob? Try to give a short character sketch of Bob.
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Unlock now 🔓‘Sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain if you’d like to make certain it’s all straight.’
a. Who says these words and to whom?
b. What was it that ‘sounds a little funny’?
c. What is meant by ‘to make certain it’s all straight’?
d. What did the speaker go on to say?
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Unlock now 🔓‘I wish it had lasted, so we could have had another dinner there.’
a. Who is speaking to whom?
b. What is it that the speaker wishes ‘had lasted’?
c. Where might they have had dinner, and why is this not possible now?
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Unlock now 🔓The policeman is referred to as ‘policeman’ and ‘officer’. Which other words or phrases are used to refer to him?
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Unlock now 🔓Bob says of Jimmy that he was ‘a kind of plodder’. How is this appropriate?
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Unlock now 🔓Bob says: ‘A man gets in a groove in New York. It takes the West to put a razor-edge on him.’ What does he mean by this? Explain the words in italics.
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Unlock now 🔓The plain clothes man says: ‘Chicago thinks you may have dropped over our way and wires us she wants to have a chat with you.’ Can you think of other things that are referred to as ‘she’?
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Unlock now 🔓Find suitable words in the passage to go with the ones given below. Will your chosen words come before or after these words?
a. dismally
b. uncertain
c. simultaneously
d. clothes
e. store
f.. drizzle
g. wits
h. all-night
i. stalwart
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Unlock now 🔓Use the following in sentences of your own.
a. big proposition
b. between meets
c. figured
d. impressiveness
e. enlarged by success
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Unlock now 🔓Can you make sense of these by putting in the correct punctuation?
1. Twenty years ago tonight, said the man I dined here at Big Joe Bradys with Jimmy Wells, my best chum and the finest chap in the world.
2. It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one, said the tall man you’ve been under arrest for ten minutes, silky Bob.
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Unlock now 🔓Read through the story again and find all the references to light (or the lack of it). What part does light play in the story, and how is it important?
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Unlock now 🔓What would you have done had you been in Jimmy’s shoes? Would you have acted as he did?
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Unlock now 🔓HOTS - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
How much has Jimmy changed over the years, and what does this story suggest about the way the passage of time affects people?
Jimmy has changed significantly over the twenty years since Bob last saw him. While he used to be a young man unsure of his future, he has matured into a responsible figure of authority over time, becoming a policeman.
The story suggests that the passage of time affects people differently, depending on their life choices and experiences. While Bob became wealthier and more self-assured, he also turned to a life of crime. On the other hand, Jimmy may not have amassed wealth, but he developed the traits of resilience, moral rectitude, and loyalty.
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Can Jimmy and Bob be compared to ‘the hare and the tortoise’? How?
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Unlock now 🔓Extra Questions - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
What time of the night it was? Why were there such few people?
It was 10 o'clock at night in the story. There were such few people on the street because the chilly gusts of wind with a hint of rain in them had forced people to go indoors. The weather made it uncomfortable for people to be outside, so they hurried to their destinations or stayed inside.
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How did the man in the doorway try to reassure the policeman? What was he doing there?
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Unlock now 🔓Compare and contrast the characters of Bob and Jimmy.
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Unlock now 🔓Quiz - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
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Unlock now 🔓Summary - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
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About the Author - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter, an American short story writer who lived from 1862 to 1910. He is best known for his clever and witty stories that often had surprise endings, which became known as "O. Henry endings."
"After Twenty Years" is one of O. Henry's most popular stories. It is a short story that tells the tale of two friends, Jimmy and Bob, who made a pact to meet at a specific location after twenty years. The story is full of irony and twists, as it turns out that one of the friends has become a police officer and the other is a criminal.
O. Henry's writing style is marked by his use of wordplay, irony, and clever plot twists. He was able to capture the essence of life in turn-of-the-century America, and his stories often dealt with issues such as social class, crime, and the human condition.
Despite a relatively short career, O. Henry's impact on American literature has been significant, and his stories continue to be read and enjoyed today. His legacy lives on through the O. Henry Award, which is given each year to recognize the best short stories published in the United States.
Themes - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
Loyalty and Friendship
The story explores the theme of loyalty and friendship through the relationship between Bob and Jimmy. Despite their different paths in life, they have a strong bond forged through their shared experiences. Bob is loyal to Jimmy even though he has become a respectable businessman, and Jimmy is willing to risk everything to see his old friend again. The story shows the power of loyalty and how it can endure even after many years apart.
Regret and Redemption
The story highlights the theme of regret and redemption through the character of Bob. He feels guilty about leaving Jimmy behind when he decides...
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Unlock now 🔓Important Lines - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
“It’s an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain if you’d like to make certain it’s all straight. About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands-Big Joe Brady’s Restaurant.”
These lines set the tone for the story and introduce the central theme of the meeting between two old friends who made an appointment twenty years earlier. The reader becomes curious about what the appointment was for and what will happen next.
“Twenty years ago tonight,’ said the man,............................
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
- Impressive: making a strong impact, awe-inspiring
- Guardian: a person who protects or guards something/someone
- Neighbourhood: an area in a town or city where people live
- Appointment: a meeting ..
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Unlock now 🔓Plot - After Twenty Years | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
I. Policeman on Patrol
The chapter begins with a diligent policeman navigating a quiet neighbourhood during the late evening hours. His eyes on a lonely street, he checks....
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