24 pages 48 minutes read

O. Henry

The Cop and the Anthem

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1904

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Essay Topics

1.

Is “The Cop and the Anthem” a comedic piece? What role does humor play in the story?

2.

Analyze the ways in which O. Henry characterizes Soapy (his name, his nonviolent nature, his sense of himself as a “gentleman,” etc.). Why is this important in conveying O. Henry’s message?

3.

How does O. Henry use imagery to convey the realities of life as an unhoused person in turn-of-the-century New York City?

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