One Thousand Dollars Questions and Answers
One Thousand Dollars
What are the main characters in the story "One Thousand Dollars"?
The main characters in O. Henry's short story "One Thousand Dollars" are the young man named Robert Gillian and Miss Hayden. Interestingly, the name Gillian means "youthful," and it is a youthful,...
One Thousand Dollars
In "One Thousand Dollars," why does Gillian let Miss Hayden think that the money was willed to her by his uncle?
Although O. Henry does not tell us in “One Thousand Dollars” why Gillian wants Miss Hayden to think that his uncle willed her the money, we can have a pretty good guess as to why he does. We can...
One Thousand Dollars
What characteristics apply to Robert Gillian in "One Thousand Dollars" by O. Henry?
Gillian is left an inheritance of one thousand dollars by his late Uncle. He is required to report to the lawyer, Mr. Tolman, how he spends this inheritance. Gillian is at his wits end on what to...
One Thousand Dollars
One Thousand Dollars Theme
The theme of this story is, quite clearly, love and human decency. It is a story (like many of O. Henry's) about what people do (and should do) for love. Young Gillian is characterized as...
One Thousand Dollars
How is irony expressed in the story “One Thousand Dollars”?
There are three instances of irony in O. Henry's story "One Thousand Dollars": It is ironic that Young Gillian does not grumble about inheriting only one thousand dollars when he has been entirely...
One Thousand Dollars
One Thousand Dollars Theme
At the end of O. Henry's story, the lawyers are puzzled at the sound of Gillian's laughter as he leaves. He has lied and told them that he lost the one thousand dollars so that Miss Hayden will...
One Thousand Dollars
What is a character sketch of Old Bryson in "One Thousand Dollars" by O. Henry?
Old Bryson is one of the middle-aged men who frequents the gentlemen's club to which "Young Gillian" also belongs. Below, I listed different character traits and explanations of why he fits those...
One Thousand Dollars
What were the terms of the codicil to the uncle's will in "One Thousand Dollars" by O. Henry?
A codicil is a legal document that alters the content of a will. It also serves to explain some aspects of the will in question. In the story, Gillian was bequeathed one thousand dollars according...
One Thousand Dollars
What is the dramatic irony in "One Thousand Dollars"?
The dramatic irony of O. Henry's short story "One Thousand Dollars" involves Gillian's interpretation of the will's stipulation that he must render "an account of the manner of expenditure of this...
One Thousand Dollars
Were you surprised by the ending of the story? Explain why or why not.
I was a little surprised on first reading. I thought that Gillian was disappointed that his uncle only left him a $1,000 and would be delighted that he now had $50, 000. However, on second reading...
One Thousand Dollars
What did Gillian do finally do with the money in "One Thousand Dollars"?
After many people give him suggestions on how to spend the money, Gillian finally gives the money to Miss Hayden. In the story, Gillian inherits one thousand dollars from his uncle. Gillian, who...
One Thousand Dollars
Why does Gillian decide to give Miss Hayden the money but not tell the lawyers?
This is a very interesting question! As we read the story, it is evident that Gillian is in love with Miss Miriam Hayden. Miriam is the former ward of Gillian's deceased uncle. When Gillian is...
One Thousand Dollars
Who is the character in "One Thousand Dollars"?
The main character in this great story is Robert "Bobby" Gillian, a young man who inherits an initial amount of $1000 from the estate of his late uncle. The fact that his uncle leaves him such a...
One Thousand Dollars
One Thousand Dollars Analysis
In O. Henry's short story, "One Thousand Dollars," the dissolute, self-indulgent Young Gillian, who inherits the sum of one thousand dollars and is required to render an account of its disposition,...
One Thousand Dollars
What are the literary devices used in "One Thousand Dollars"?
O. Henry's "One Thousand Dollars" uses many different literary devices. 1. Alliteration- Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound (typically) within a line of poetry. This is used to...
One Thousand Dollars
What is the plot of the story "One Thousand Dollars" by O. Henry?
O. Henry's stories often express the romantic wish that people, who possess an inherent dignity, are essentially good and generous. "One Thousand Dollars" expresses this wish. Here is the structure...
One Thousand Dollars
What are the main complications in the story "One Thousand Dollars" by O. Henry?
1. Inheritance of $1,000.00 The greatest complication of O. Henry's story "One Thousand Dollars" is indicated in the title. A young man named Bobby Gillian inherits $1,000.00 from his wealthy...
One Thousand Dollars
In "One Thousand Dollars" what is your first opinion about Gillian? Does he force you to change this decision? How?
O. Henry's stories typically contain ironic reversals that come at the end of a narrative that is constructed upon the basis of some incongruity, and "One Thousand Dollars" clearly fits this...
One Thousand Dollars
What is the tone or mood of "One Thousand Dollars," by O. Henry?
As is so often true of O. Henry's stories, the narrative of "One Thousand Dollars" conveys the author's light and ironic tone, as well as his sentimental mood. (It is important to note that there...
One Thousand Dollars
Need help with the characterization of Gillian in "One Thousand Dollars."
For most of the story, Gillian is shown as something of a playboy. He is presented as a person who is only interested in having fun. When he is given the money right at first, he seems really...
One Thousand Dollars
How is Mr. Bryson important in the story "One Thousand Dollars"?
Old Bryson, as he is described by O. Henry, is a gentleman of forty who frequents the men's club. He is important to the story in his role both as a foil to Young Gillian and as a mirror of the...
One Thousand Dollars
Who is Old Bryson in "One Thousand Dollars" by O. Henri?
Old Bryson is the rather brusque and vinegary member of the men's club that young Gillian frequents. Old Bryson is really not old; at forty years of age, he is simply one of those anti-social men...
One Thousand Dollars
In O. Henry's poem "One Thousand Dollars," is the "rabbit-foot" in the line "Rabbit-foot your right ear" any type of...
O. Henry's charming prose-poem "One Thousand Dollars" has in it the line: "Rabbit-foot your right ear a little." This referes to the means in previous eras of applying ladies' face powder, a part...
One Thousand Dollars
What is ironic about the ending of O. Henry's short story "One Thousand Dollars"?
O. Henry's short story "One Thousand Dollars" tells the tale of Bobby Gillian, a carefree man who one day learns that he has inherited a thousand dollars from his uncle—with one stipulation. He...
One Thousand Dollars
In "One Thousand Dollar" what problem does Gillian face?
Young Gillian faces the immediate problem of spending the $1,000 inheritance he's just received from his uncle's will, of which he needs to account for every last penny. For most people, it sounds...
One Thousand Dollars
How does the story "One Thousand Dollars" by O. Henry show that disreputable people are also capable of compassion?
Love often changes a man, and in O. Henry's "One Thousand Dollars," the prodigal Robert Gillian demonstrates generosity and compassion alike. After Lawyer Tolman instructs Gillian that he has...
One Thousand Dollars
What is the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, and Falling Action of "One Thousand Dollars"?
Exposition A "decidedly amused" Bobby Gillian leaves the offices of Tolman & Sharp where he is given an envelope containing $1000.00, a sum willed to him by his uncle. He has been told that he...
One Thousand Dollars
How does O. Henry's short story "One Thousand Dollars" address issues of money and materialism?
Bobby Gillian's grandfather wishes to teach his nephew how to respect the value of money, so in his will, he bequeaths the young man one thousand dollars with the stipulation that he report how he...
One Thousand Dollars
What is the chronicle of events in "One Thousand Dollars?"
Typical of O. Henry's stories that end with an ironic twist, "One Thousand Dollars" has an ending that is both ironic and sentimental. Here is the sequence of events in O. Henry's narrative: 1....
One Thousand Dollars
Examine old Bryson and determine his feelings about Gillian. Support your answer with evidence from the text
In the short story "One Thousand Dollars" by O. Henry, a lawyer informs a man named Gillian that his uncle has left him one thousand dollars. However, there is a stipulation that Gillian must give...
One Thousand Dollars
According to Gillian, why is one thousand dollars an awkward amount in "One Thousand Dollars"?
Young Gillian finds one thousand dollars "a confoundedly awkward amount" because it is not enough for him to "do himself credit," and it is too much to unburden himself of it facilely...
One Thousand Dollars
Was Gillian satisfied with the amount his uncle bestowed upon him? Justify your answer by quoting the sentence from...
Gillian is absolutely not satisfied with the amount of money his uncle gave him. When his uncle's lawyer tells him the amount in the will, Gillian says: If it had been ten thousand a man might...
One Thousand Dollars
True love seeks nothing in return. Discuss this statement with reference to the story "One Thousand Dollars" by O....
The phrase "true love seeks nothing in return" is meant to suggest that true love is about selfless giving. To me, the story (perhaps inadventently) calls into question what it means to be...
One Thousand Dollars
Why is young Gillian called the "black sheep" of the family?
Young Gillian actually labels himself the "black sheep" because he does not value money, nor does he work; instead, he lives off the allowance that his uncle affords him. After his uncle dies, the...
One Thousand Dollars
If Gillian's girlfriend is Miss Lotta Lorial, how is it that he loves Miss Hayden?
Gillian has probably long been in love with Miss Hayden, but because she is his uncle's ward, he has not pursued her because he knows that his uncle, who considers him a "black sheep" in the family...
One Thousand Dollars
Is the conflict in "One Thousand Dollars," by O. Henry, person vs self? Gillian struggles to spend his money and...
I would agree that the conflict in this story is that of a person versus himself. I would put it just a bit differently than you do, though. I do not think that Gillian is struggling to do...
One Thousand Dollars
In O. Henry's "One Thousand Dollars," are there any foreshadowings or flashbacks in this story? If so, where in the...
Since a flashback is a scene in a story that interrupts the present action to tell about events that happened at an earlier time, there are clearly no flashbacks in O. Henry's "One Thousand...
One Thousand Dollars
In "One Thousand Dollars," what is the meaning of the lines "If it had been $10,000, a man might celebrate with a lot...
The first quote is a reference to Gillian's inheritance. His deceased uncle has bequeathed him the sum of a thousand dollars. Gillian maintains that a larger or smaller sum would have been more to...
One Thousand Dollars
Is there any use of poetic devices such as similes, metaphors, imagery or personification in "One Thousand Dollars"...
With the way that O. Henry writes, there are always examples of things like this in his stories. Let me list a few. Early on in the story, when Gillian is talking to Old Bryson, he mentions that...
One Thousand Dollars
What is O. Henry's purpose in writing "One Thousand Dollars"?
To me, the purpose of this story (other than entertainment) is to show that people can change their ways and act in ways that are not expected of them. In this story, everyone thinks that Young...
One Thousand Dollars
Why does Gillian go to Old Bryson?
In "One Thousand Dollars," Gillian receives an inheritance of one thousand dollars from his late Uncle. As an added requirement, however, he is expected to spend that money, while collecting...
One Thousand Dollars
Why does Gillian laugh when the lawyer hands him the money?
Gillian explains to the lawyer why he started to laugh upon being handed his inheritance. He explains that the sum he has been given, which is $1,000, is an “unusual amount.” He goes on to explain...
One Thousand Dollars
Money is not "everything," as it is often a source of much anxiety and trouble. How does this truth relate to the...
The irony of O. Henry's story "One Thousand Dollars" is that the spendthrift nephew of the now deceased, wealthy Mr. Gillian has never been materialistic, and the greatest anxiety that he feels is...
One Thousand Dollars
To whom did Robert give one thousand dollars in "One Thousand Dollars"?
In "One Thousand Dollars," Robert Gillian is left a bequest of $1,000 in his uncle's will. The lawyer who disburses this inheritance to him stipulates that Robert must account for precisely how he...