'The Cop and the Anthem — O. Henry' — Practice

Question 1

Describe the various attempts Soapy made to get arrested.

Accepted Answer

Soapy tried to eat at an expensive restaurant without paying (he was thrown out), threw a stone through a shop window (the policeman did not believe he did it), tried to steal a man's umbrella (the man refused to call the police), pretended to be drunk and disorderly (the police ignored him), and tried to harass a woman (she laughed at him). Every attempt failed.

Question 2

Explain the irony at the end of the story.

Accepted Answer

Throughout the story Soapy desperately tries to get arrested so he can spend the winter in jail, but fails every time. The moment he hears an anthem, is inspired to reform his life, and decides to find honest work, a policeman arrests him for loitering and he is sentenced to three months in prison -- exactly what he had wanted but no longer needed.

Question 3

Why did Soapy want to get arrested?

Accepted Answer

Winter was approaching and Soapy, who was homeless, wanted to spend the cold months in the warmth of a prison cell on Blackwell's Island, where he would have food and shelter.

Question 4

What is O. Henry's style of storytelling? Give examples.

Accepted Answer

O. Henry is famous for surprise twist endings and situational irony. In this story, the twist is that Soapy is arrested just as he decides to reform, and the irony is that society refuses him jail when he wants it but gives it to him when he no longer does.

Practice — 'The Cop and the Anthem — O. Henry'

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