O. Henry is perhaps most famous for his short story, “The Gift of the Magi.” I would think that most of us who grew up in the States have read it either in middle or high school, and for good reason. O. Henry was a master of short stories, focusing on a simple problem or moment and turning it into a meaningful and memorable tale. Another O. Henry story teachers may find useful is “The Leaf” which tells the story of three artists living in Greenwich Village. One artist is sick with pneumonia, the other is her roommate (perhaps partner), and the third artist lives downstairs. The sick artist looks out her window and counts the ivy leaves growing on a vine and believes that when there are no more leaves, she will die. Enter the third artist who seems to be a curmudgeon of a neighbor, but is not. It is a beautiful story told only in a way that O. Henry can, with surprise, empathy, and a bittersweet ending. Students can analyze the irony, symbolism, and dialogue, and also come up with alternative endings for the story. Perhaps students can write their own short stories evolving around a talent that they have, creating a memorable moment and intriguing characters, just like O. Henry.
