After Twenty Years Cover Image

After Twenty Years

by O. Henry

Start Free Trial

After Twenty Years Questions on Irony

After Twenty Years

In O. Henry's "After Twenty Years," Jimmy Wells is portrayed as a loyal and dutiful policeman who faces a moral dilemma when he recognizes his old friend, Bob, as a wanted criminal. Although Jimmy is...

4 educator answers

After Twenty Years

"After Twenty Years" employs misdirection, situational irony, and foreshadowing. Misdirection creates an ironic twist, leading readers to believe the policeman is Jimmy Wells. Situational irony is...

1 educator answer

After Twenty Years

"After Twenty Years" is rich with situational irony. The main instance is Bob's unawareness that he's conversing with Jimmy, the friend he's waiting for, leading to his ironic arrest. Bob...

3 educator answers

After Twenty Years

"Silky" Bob is portrayed as a loyal but morally ambiguous character in O. Henry's "After Twenty Years." He values his friendship with Jimmy Wells, keeping their appointment despite his criminal...

3 educator answers

After Twenty Years

The title "After Twenty Years" is ironic as it suggests a reunion between old friends, but instead highlights their divergent paths—one is a criminal, the other a policeman. The irony deepens as Bob...

6 educator answers

After Twenty Years

It is the dialogues of "After Twenty Years" that propel the plot and reveal O. Henry's signature irony in this story. From these dialogues, then the main characters meet and speak in the exposition,...

1 educator answer