Here is the complete study material for the short story "After Twenty Years" by O. Henry. Read the summary, learn the textbook questions and answers, and test your knowledge with the interactive MCQ quiz.
"After Twenty Years" is a famous short story written by O. Henry. His real name was William Sydney Porter. The story highlights the conflict between friendship and professional duty.
The Promise of Two Friends
The story opens on a dark, chilly night in New York at 10 o'clock. A policeman is patrolling his beat when he notices a man standing in the doorway of a darkened hardware store.
The man explains that he is waiting for his old friend. Twenty years earlier, two close friends, Bob and Jimmy Wells, had met at Brady's Restaurant. Bob was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty at that time.
Bob decided to go West to make his fortune, while Jimmy preferred to stay in New York. Before parting, they promised to meet at the same place after twenty years, regardless of their circumstances.
The Meeting After Twenty Years
Bob had travelled a thousand miles to keep his promise. He was waiting confidently for Jimmy. He had a pale face, square jaws, keen eyes, a small white scar near his right eyebrow and a diamond scarf pin.
After some time, a tall man wearing a long overcoat arrived. He introduced himself as Jimmy Wells. Bob was delighted to meet his old friend. They shook hands warmly and walked arm-in-arm.
The Surprising Truth
When they reached a brightly lit medicine store, Bob noticed that the man beside him had a flat nose. He remembered that Jimmy had a sharp nose. He realised that the man was not his old friend.
The tall man revealed that he was a plain-clothes police officer. He informed Bob that he was wanted by the Chicago police for printing counterfeit notes.
Jimmy's Sacrifice
The officer handed Bob a note written by Jimmy Wells. In the note, Jimmy explained that he had arrived at the meeting place on time. When Bob struck a match to light his cigar, Jimmy recognised him from a police portrait of a wanted criminal.
Jimmy could not bring himself to arrest his old friend personally. However, he did not ignore his duty as a police officer. Therefore, he sent another plain-clothes officer to arrest Bob.
Conclusion
The story ends with a surprising twist. Jimmy keeps his promise but chooses professional duty over personal friendship. The story teaches us that honesty and duty are important responsibilities.
💡 Central Theme: The story shows the conflict between friendship and duty. Jimmy Wells proves that a police officer must perform his duty even when it involves an old friend.
🟣 Unit I – Think It Out
Questions and Answers
1. How does the writer describe the atmosphere of the story?
The atmosphere is dark, quiet and chilly. It is 10 o'clock at night, and a drizzling rain has emptied the streets. Most business establishments are closed.
2. How did the policeman perform his duties?
The policeman performed his duties smartly and habitually. He checked the closed doors as he walked, twirled his club skilfully and kept a watchful eye on the quiet street.
3. What picture of the wanted criminal do you get from the text?
The wanted criminal has a pale face, square jaws, keen and dark eyes, and a small white scar near his right eyebrow. He is wanted by the Chicago police for printing counterfeit notes.
4. How did the stranger try to interact with the policeman?
The stranger quickly explained that he was not doing anything wrong. He told the policeman that he was waiting to meet an old friend after twenty years.
5. How did the policeman see the stranger's face?
The policeman saw the stranger's face when he struck a match to light his cigar.
🔵 Unit II – Think It Out
Questions and Answers
1. What was the appointment made between two friends twenty years before?
Twenty years earlier, Bob and Jimmy Wells agreed to meet at the same place, Brady's Restaurant, at the appointed time after twenty years, whatever their circumstances might be.
2. What information about the friends do you gather from their conversation?
Bob was eighteen and adventurous. He went West to make his fortune. Jimmy was twenty and loved New York. He was described as a "homing bird" because he did not want to leave the city. Both friends were very close, but they chose different paths in life.
🟢 Unit III – Think It Out
Questions and Answers
1. How long did the man from the West wait? What was the weather then?
The man from the West waited for about twenty minutes beyond the appointed time. The weather had become colder, the drizzle had thickened and a chilly wind was blowing.
2. How did the man from the West and the man in a long overcoat greet each other?
The man in the overcoat asked, "Is that you, Bob?" Bob exclaimed, "Is that you, Jimmy Wells?" They grasped each other's hands warmly and walked arm-in-arm.
3. When did Bob realise that the tall man he had met was not Jimmy Wells?
Bob realised it when they stood in front of a brightly lit medicine store. He noticed that the man had a flat nose, whereas Jimmy had a sharp nose.
4. Why did Jimmy get Bob arrested?
Jimmy got Bob arrested because he was a wanted criminal in Chicago for printing counterfeit notes. Jimmy chose to perform his professional duty as a police officer rather than protect his old friend.
5. Did Jimmy keep his appointment with Bob after twenty years? What consideration did he show for his old friend?
Yes, Jimmy kept his appointment and arrived on time. However, when he recognised Bob as a wanted criminal, he could not arrest him personally. So, he sent a plain-clothes officer to arrest Bob and gave him an explanatory note.
🎯 20 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
📝 Practice Test
Choose the correct answer from the four options. After answering all the questions, click Submit Answers to see your score and the correct answers.
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