After Twenty years - Questions and Answers

After Twenty Years

by O. Henry

Introduction to the Author-

Born: 11 September 1862, Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

Died: 5 June 1910, New York, New York, United States

Full name: William Sydney Porter

Pen name: O. Henry, Olivier Henry, Oliver Henry

Spouse: Athol Estes (m. 1887–1897)

Parents: Mary Jane Virginia Swaim Porter, Algernon Sidney Porter

Children: 2 Margaret Worth Porter

Unit – 1

1. How does the writer describe the atmosphere of the story?

Answer – The atmosphere of the story was all quiet, dark and somewhat fearful and mysterious. It was set in a lonely rain-drenched night in a desolate street in a city. Only few lights were visible at some parts. A smart and sincere police officer was walking down the street, lost in the thought of a criminal.

2. How did the policeman perform his duties?

Answer – The policeman, who walked up and down the New York streets was smart, professional, and vigilant about the surroundings.He had in him the picture of dedication, sincerity and spirited service. He was in service for past eighteen years.

3. What picture of the wanted criminal do you get from the text?

Answer – Apparently, the criminal in the run had a pale face, square jaws, deep and dark eyes, with a scar near the right eyebrow. He was counterfeiting currencies, and no one knew his name.

4. How did the stranger try to interact with the policeman?

Answer – When the stranger saw a policeman coming toward him he thought that the policeman would suspect him as he did not know his story. So he said to him that he was just waiting for a friend. It was an appointment made twenty years ago, which was true, but seemed funny. So, to remove the doubts of the policeman, he narrated that about twenty years ago there was a restaurant where this store stands and its name was “Brady’s restaurant”. Then the policeman said that it was changed into a store just five years ago. In this way the stranger interacted with the policeman.

5. How did the policeman see the stranger’s face?

Answer – When the stranger struck his lighter to lit his cigar and brought it near his face. That gave a glimpse of the stranger’s face to the policeman. At that time the policeman suddenly saw the stranger's face.

Unit– 2

1. What was the appointment made between two friends twenty years before?

Answer – The two friends in the story Bob and Jimmy wells both promised to one another that they would meet up in the same place (where the stranger stood then), under any circumstances. It was a solemn promise both agreed to keep despite their profession or place of location.

2. What information about the friends do you gather from their conversation?

Answer – The stranger was risk-taking adventurous type. He moved West to make money. He faced many challenges, but he succeeded. His friend was somewhat timid, and he stayed back in New York to chart his course. In short, two friends naturally exchanged pleasant words and talked about old times without recognizing each other.

Unit– 3

1. How long did the man from the West wait? What was the weather then?

Answer – The man from the West waited for about twenty minutes and then a tall man in a long overcoat came from the opposite side of the street to meet him. The weather then was very bad. The wind was too cold and the rain was continuing. People who were out hurried up home.

2. How did the man from the West and the man in a long overcoat greet each other?

Answer – They called out each other’s names. One asked if the other was ‘Bob’, and the second man asked if it was Jimmy Wells. The man who was in a long overcoat shook hands with the man from the West. He was sure that the man from the West was his friend Bob.

3. When did Bob realise that the tall man he had met was not Jimmy Wells?

Answer – When they neared a medicine store, its bright light fell on their faces. They looked at each other, and Bob was surprised by looking Jimmy Wells because Bob thought that twenty years of their departure was a long time but it was not long enough to change a man's sharp nose to a flat one.

4. Why did Jimmy get Bob arrested?

Answer – Jimmy, who was a policeman, was a man of principle, honest and dutiful. But his friend Bob, on the other hand, was a professional criminal who printed counterfeit notes and earned easy money.  When he knew that his friend was wanted by Chicago Police, the responsibility and devotion of his duty made him ignore his personal relationship.So, he had Bob arrested.

5. Did Jimmy keep his appointment with Bob after twenty years? What consideration did he show for his old friend?

Answer – Yes, Jimmy kept  his appointment with his friend Bob after twenty years as planned. Jimmy was sincere police officer. He was assigned the duty to catch a notorious criminal from Chicago. When he knew that the criminal was his friend Bob, he did not disclose his identity. As a policeman he considered his duty more than his friendship. Thus he made him arrested by another policeman who played the role of Jimmy wells. Though he did not arrest his friend directly, he did it by another policeman.