ICSE CHAMP

After Twenty Years

by O. Henry

(William Sydney Porter)

(Mulberry) (Standard Version)

Pre-Read Question

Q. Do you have any friends that you have not seen for a long time? Do you think they have stayed the same or do you think they have changed? Explain your answer.

Answer:

Yes, I have a few friends whom I have not seen for a long time. I think they must have changed in many ways over the years. As people grow older, their appearance, interests, habits, and personalities often change because of their experiences, education, jobs, and responsibilities. They may look different, have new goals, or live in different places. However, I believe that true friendship remains the same. Even if we have changed on the outside, the happy memories and strong bond we shared can still bring us close when we meet again.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Quick Answers

1. Choose the correct option.

a. Where is the story set?

i. Chicago

ii. New York ✔

iii. The West

b. At the beginning of the story, how does the author characterize Jimmy?

i. Confident and capable

ii. Dull and plodding

iii. Loyal and true ✔

c. Why does Jimmy ask Bob what time he plans to leave?

i. He wants to see Bob's diamond-studded watch again.

ii. He wants to give Bob a chance to escape.

iii. He wants to see if he has time to get someone else to arrest Bob. ✔

d. A conflict is a struggle that a character faces in the story. Which of the following best describes Jimmy's conflict or struggle in the story After Twenty Years?

i. A conflict with the weather

ii. A conflict with Bob

iii. A conflict within himself ✔

e. The narrator's voice is the voice telling us the story. Which of these sentences is in the narrator's voice? (Hint: sentences in the narrator's voice are those sentences which are not spoken by the characters.)

i. Is that you, Bob?

ii. You're not Jimmy Wells.

iii. The note was rather short. ✔

Reference to Context

1. "Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it?"

a. Who says this line and to whom is it addressed?

This line is spoken by Bob, the man waiting outside the hardware store, to the policeman who has stopped to question him. Bob says this while explaining why he is standing in the doorway late at night.

b. Where are the characters? What used to be there at this place?

The characters are standing outside a darkened hardware store in New York City. Twenty years earlier, the place was occupied by 'Big Joe' Brady's Restaurant, where Bob and his best friend Jimmy Wells had their last dinner together before Bob left for the West. They had decided to meet again at the same place exactly twenty years later.

c. What, according to the speaker, might sound 'funny' to the listener?

According to Bob, it might sound funny that he has travelled a thousand miles and is waiting outside a closed hardware store simply because of a promise made twenty years earlier. He believes that such an appointment may seem unusual or unbelievable, so he explains the story in detail to the policeman.

2. "And in the door of the hardware store, the man who had come a thousand miles to fill an appointment, uncertain almost to absurdity, with the friend of his youth, watched the street and waited."

a. What is the time at this point in the story?

The time is about 10:20 p.m. Bob has already waited for about twenty minutes after the policeman left. It is a cold, rainy night, and Bob continues to wait patiently, hoping that Jimmy will arrive before the half-hour is over.

b. What kind of weather was it?

The weather was cold, windy, and unpleasant. A fine drizzle had begun to fall, and the wind had become stronger. There were very few people on the streets because of the chilly weather, making the surroundings quiet and lonely.

c. What do these lines tell you about the man mentioned in the extract?

These lines show that Bob is a man who values friendship and keeps his promises. Even after twenty years, he has travelled a great distance to honour the appointment he had made with Jimmy. Although he realises that it may be foolish to expect his friend to come after such a long time, he remains hopeful and patient. His willingness to wait in the cold rain shows his faith, determination, and loyalty.

3. "The man from the West unfolded the little piece of paper handed him. His hand was steady when he began to read, but it trembled a little by the time he had finished."

a. Who gave the man from the West the little piece of paper?

The little piece of paper was given to Bob by the plain-clothes police officer who arrested him. Before taking Bob to the police station, the officer handed him a note written by Jimmy Wells.

b. What was the little piece of paper?

The little piece of paper was a note written by Jimmy Wells. In the note, Jimmy explained that he had recognised Bob as the wanted criminal from Chicago. Although he had come to the meeting place as promised, he could not bring himself to arrest his old friend. Therefore, he arranged for another police officer in plain clothes to carry out the arrest.

c. Why do you think the man's hand trembled as he finished reading it?

Bob's hand trembled because he was deeply shocked and saddened by what he had read. He had come expecting to reunite happily with his best friend after twenty years. Instead, he discovered that Jimmy had recognised him as a criminal and had arranged for his arrest. The note made Bob realise that his old friend had chosen his duty as a police officer over personal friendship. The sudden disappointment, surprise, and emotional pain caused his hand to tremble.

Read, Reflect, Write

4. Give a detailed description of the setting of the story.

Answer: The story is set in New York City on a cold, windy autumn night at about 10 o'clock. The streets are almost deserted because chilly gusts of wind and light rain have driven most people indoors. The main location is outside a darkened hardware store, which had once been the famous 'Big Joe' Brady's Restaurant. It was at this restaurant that Bob and Jimmy had their last meal together twenty years earlier before Bob left for the West. The quiet streets, dim street lamps, closed shops, and rainy weather create an atmosphere of mystery and suspense. This setting prepares the reader for the surprising twist at the end of the story.

5. Compare and contrast the characters of Jimmy and Bob.

Answer: Jimmy Wells and Bob were close friends in their youth and both valued their friendship. Both were honest about keeping the appointment they had made twenty years earlier, as each of them came to the meeting place on time.

However, they became very different as adults. Jimmy remained in New York and became a sincere, responsible police officer. He believed in obeying the law and carrying out his duty honestly. Bob moved to the West in search of wealth and success. Although he became rich and confident, he also became a wanted criminal known as "Silky Bob."

Jimmy was quiet, humble, and thoughtful, while Bob was talkative, proud of his success, and eager to describe his achievements. Jimmy found it difficult to arrest his old friend himself because of their shared past, but he did not ignore his duty. Instead, he asked another officer to make the arrest. Bob, despite becoming a criminal, remained loyal enough to keep the promise he had made twenty years earlier. Thus, both men valued friendship, but Jimmy placed justice above personal feelings.

6. O. Henry's stories are known for their surprise endings, the unexpected twist at the end of the story. Did this ending take you by surprise? Why or why not?

Answer: Yes, the ending was very surprising. At first, the reader believes that Bob has finally met his old friend Jimmy after twenty years. The conversation between the two friends appears warm and natural, and everything seems to be leading to a happy reunion.

However, the unexpected twist comes when Bob notices the man's face under the bright light and realises that he is not Jimmy. The stranger then reveals himself as a plain-clothes police officer sent to arrest Bob. The final surprise is Jimmy's note, explaining that he had recognised Bob as the wanted criminal but could not arrest his old friend himself. This clever ending changes the reader's understanding of the entire story and makes it memorable.

7. Give an alternate title to the story and give a reason to justify your choice.

Answer: Alternate Title: Duty Before Friendship

This title is suitable because the main idea of the story is Jimmy Wells' difficult decision. He deeply values his friendship with Bob but also knows that, as a police officer, he must uphold the law. Instead of ignoring Bob's crimes, Jimmy arranges for another officer to arrest him. The title highlights the central message that honesty, responsibility, and duty should come before personal relationships.

8. After Twenty Years is a story of friendship and loyalty. How far do you agree with this statement? Support your answer with close reference to the story.

Answer: I agree with this statement to a great extent. The story shows that both Bob and Jimmy remained loyal to the promise they had made twenty years earlier. Bob travelled nearly a thousand miles to keep the appointment, while Jimmy also came to the meeting place at the appointed time.

Their friendship had remained alive in their memories despite the long separation. However, the story also shows that loyalty must be balanced with responsibility. Jimmy did not allow friendship to prevent him from performing his duty as a police officer. Although he could not arrest Bob himself because of their past, he arranged for another officer to do so. Thus, the story teaches that true loyalty does not mean supporting wrongdoing. Real friendship should never come before honesty and justice.

9. Do you think that Jimmy Wells did the right thing by having his old friend arrested? Would you have done the same thing? Why or why not?

Answer: Yes, I believe Jimmy did the right thing. As a police officer, he had taken an oath to enforce the law and protect society. If he had allowed Bob to escape simply because he was an old friend, he would have failed in his duty.

At the same time, Jimmy's actions show that he still cared deeply for Bob. He found it emotionally difficult to arrest him personally, so he asked another officer to carry out the arrest and wrote Bob a respectful note explaining his decision. This shows both kindness and integrity.

If I were in Jimmy's place, I would also choose to obey the law. True friendship should not encourage or protect criminal behaviour. Justice should be fair to everyone, regardless of personal relationships.

10. Extended Writing

In not more than 60 words, describe the events that led to Bob's arrest from the time Jimmy wishes him goodnight and leaves.

Answer: After Jimmy left, Bob continued waiting outside the hardware store. About twenty minutes later, a tall man arrived and pretended to be Jimmy. As they walked together, Bob realised the man was a stranger. The man identified himself as a plain-clothes police officer from Chicago, arrested Bob, and handed him Jimmy Wells' note explaining why he could not arrest his friend himself.

Integrate

11. Bob's diamond-studded pocket watch features prominently in the story. Horology is the study and measurement of time and the art of making clocks and watches. Do a little research on the history and development of time-keeping devices. Share the information in class and then collaboratively draw up a timeline based on the information collected.

Answer

Timekeeping has developed over thousands of years. Early people measured time by observing the movement of the Sun, Moon, and stars. As civilizations became more advanced, they invented different devices to measure time more accurately.

The sundial was one of the earliest timekeeping devices. It used the shadow cast by the Sun to indicate the time. However, it could only be used during the daytime.

Later, people invented water clocks (clepsydras) and hourglasses, which measured time by the flow of water or sand. These were useful even when the Sun was not visible.

During the Middle Ages, mechanical clocks were developed and installed in churches and public buildings. These clocks used gears and weights.

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, pendulum clocks made by Christiaan Huygens greatly improved the accuracy of timekeeping.

The invention of the pocket watch allowed people to carry time with them. Later, wristwatches became popular because they were more convenient.

In the twentieth century, quartz clocks and watches were invented. They used the vibrations of a quartz crystal and were much more accurate than mechanical watches.

Today, we use digital watches, smartphones, smartwatches, and atomic clocks, which provide extremely precise time and are used in communication, navigation, and scientific research.

Timeline

Ancient Times

↓

People observed the Sun, Moon and stars.

Around 1500 BCE

↓

Sundials invented.

Around 1400 BCE

↓

Water clocks developed.

Around 800 CE

↓

Hourglasses came into use.

1300 CE

↓

Mechanical clocks invented.

1656 CE

↓

Pendulum clock invented by Christiaan Huygens.

1500s–1700s

↓

Pocket watches became popular.

1900s

↓

Wristwatches widely used.

1969

↓

Quartz watches introduced.

Present Day

↓

Digital watches, smartwatches and atomic clocks.

WORD WALL

1. Make sentences of your own with the following phrases from the story.

a. chilly gusts of wind

Answer: The chilly gusts of wind made everyone hurry indoors.

b. a watchful eye

Answer: The teacher kept a watchful eye on the students during the examination.

c. a slight swagger

Answer: The young athlete walked with a slight swagger after winning the championship.

d. sounds pretty interesting

Answer: Your plan sounds pretty interesting, and I would like to know more about it.

e. lost track of

Answer: We lost track of our childhood friend after he moved to another city.

Root Words

2. Use the clues to complete the list of 'ped' and 'pod' words given below.

1. A q________ ped: a creature with four feet.

→ Quadruped

2. A ped________ r: a person who goes from door to door selling things.

→ Peddler

3. A ped________ e: a foot treatment.

→ Pedicure

4. A ped______ : a lever that is moved with one's foot.

→ Pedal

5. An i_ped________ : an obstacle that stands in one's way.

→ Impediment

6. An m______ ped__: a creature with a hundred feet.

→ Millipede

7. An e__ped_____ : an adventurous journey to a place that is far away.

→ Expedition

8. A ped______ l: a base support for a statue.

→ Pedestal

9. A t___pod: a three-legged stand.

→ Tripod

10. A pod____ m: a platform on which a person stands while giving a speech.

→ Podium

11. A pod__________ t: a person qualified to diagnose and treat foot disorders.

→ Podiatrist

GRAMMAR TIME

Active and Passive Voice

1. Fill in this table to revise active and passive voice.

Simple Present

Active → Our teacher encourages us.

Passive → We are encouraged by our teacher.

Simple Past

Active → I baked this cake.

Passive → This cake was baked by me.

Simple Future

Active → The students will decorate the room.

Passive → The room will be decorated by the students.

Present Continuous

Active → The drivers are driving the trucks.

Passive → The trucks are being driven by the drivers.

Past Continuous

Active → Dr Lal was treating her.

Passive → She was being treated by Dr Lal.

Present Perfect

Active → I have sent the letters.

Passive → The letters have been sent (by me).

Past Perfect

Active → The children had eaten the cake.

Passive → The cake had been eaten by the children.

Future Perfect

Active → They will have taught us the rules by then.

Passive → By then, we will have been taught the rules (by them).

2. Complete these conversations by filling in the blanks with the correct active and passive verbs chosen from the box below.

Words given:

was picked • be found • was built • picked • has been stolen

a. Tourist: When was this monument built?

Guide: It was built in 1648.

b. Customer: Where can a bag like this be found?

Shop attendant: On the first floor of our shop, Madam.

c. Woman: My purse has been stolen.

Policeman: Do you remember where you were when your pocket was picked?

3. Change the voice in the following sentences and rewrite them.

a. Active: The prices include taxes.

Passive: Taxes are included in the prices.

b. Active: My teacher encouraged me to participate in the play.

Passive: I was encouraged by my teacher to participate in the play.

c. Active: Constant effort and hard work brought about his success.

Passive: His success was brought about by constant effort and hard work.

d. Active: Last night the electricians were repairing the street lamps.

Passive: Last night the street lamps were being repaired by the electricians.

e. Active: The tourists boarded the flight in the evening.

Passive: The flight was boarded by the tourists in the evening.

f. Active: You can buy film tickets online.

Passive: Film tickets can be bought online.

g. Passive: The president is going to be elected tomorrow.

Active: The people are going to elect the president tomorrow.

h. Passive: Thousands of new jobs are going to be created once the car factory is set up.

Active: The new car factory is going to create thousands of new jobs once it is set up.

i. Active: Ali will have completed his homework by then.

Passive: The homework will have been completed by Ali by then.

j. Active: The engineers are going to build a new bridge across the Tista by next year.

Passive: A new bridge across the Tista is going to be built by the engineers by next year.

PUNCTUATION

Quotation Marks

1. Now read the following sentences and insert quotation marks and commas, wherever necessary.

a.

Original:

I am going to the market, said Subbu.

Answer:

"I am going to the market," said Subbu.

b.

Original:

Asha said I was waiting to watch a film and then promptly went off to sleep and began to snore.

Answer:

Asha said, "I was waiting to watch a film and then promptly went off to sleep and began to snore."

c.

Original:

Anand was boarding the school bus when somebody from the other end of the road screamed Careful!

Answer:

Anand was boarding the school bus when somebody from the other end of the road screamed, "Careful!"

d.

Original:

She had a terrible toothache she claimed then she went and ate gobstoppers.

Answer:

She had a terrible toothache, she claimed, "then she went and ate gobstoppers."

(The quotation marks highlight the irony, as explained in the lesson.)

e.

Original:

He said I am going out for a long walk and was back in ten minutes!

Answer:

He said, "I am going out for a long walk," and was back in ten minutes!

WRITE WELL

1. You are the police chief of Chicago. Write a formal letter to the police chief of New York giving him the background of 'Silky' Bob (including the reasons why he had to be placed under arrest). Don't forget to give him the information that Bob was expected to be in New York and the instruction that he must be placed under arrest.

Answer

Police Headquarters

Chicago Police Department

Chicago, Illinois

Date: __________

To

The Police Chief

New York Police Department

New York

Subject: Arrest of the criminal known as 'Silky' Bob

Sir,

I wish to inform you that a notorious criminal known as 'Silky' Bob is wanted by the Chicago Police Department for his involvement in several serious crimes, including robbery and other illegal activities. He has managed to avoid arrest for some time and is considered a dangerous offender.

Our investigations have revealed that Bob had made an appointment twenty years ago with his childhood friend, Jimmy Wells, to meet outside the place where Big Joe Brady's Restaurant once stood in New York City. We have reliable information that he intends to keep this appointment on the agreed date at 10 p.m.

You are therefore requested to keep the area under careful observation. If Bob arrives as expected, kindly arrange for his immediate arrest and ensure that he is treated according to the law. After his arrest, please inform the Chicago Police Department so that further legal proceedings may be taken.

Your cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

Police Chief

Chicago Police Department

LISTEN AND SPEAK WELL

Monologue

1. Listen carefully to this story and imagine that you are meeting Madame Forestier while on a walk. Through a monologue, explain to her the long saga of losing the necklace. You may add details of your own in the monologue. Put down your points. Make pairs and speak your monologue to your partner.

Answer

Good morning, Madame Forestier. I have wanted to tell you something for many years. You remember the beautiful necklace you kindly lent me for the minister's ball. That evening was the happiest night of my life. I felt admired and important. But when I returned home, I discovered that the necklace was missing. My husband and I searched everywhere but could not find it.

We were afraid to tell you the truth because we thought you would be angry. Instead, we borrowed a large sum of money and bought another necklace exactly like yours. It cost us a fortune. We returned it to you without telling you what had happened.

To repay the debt, we spent ten long years living in poverty. We dismissed our servant, moved into a small house, and worked day and night. I did household chores, carried heavy loads, and my husband worked late into the night. Those years changed our lives completely. I lost my beauty and my youth because of the hard work.

Today, I have finally gathered the courage to tell you the truth. I am deeply sorry for hiding the matter from you. I wish I had trusted you enough to confess my mistake in the beginning. Perhaps our lives would have been very different. This experience has taught me that honesty is always better than fear and that appearances can often be misleading.

Points for Speaking

→ Borrowed the necklace from Madame Forestier.

→ Wore it to the minister's ball.

→ Lost the necklace while returning home.

→ Searched everywhere but could not find it.

→ Bought a costly replacement necklace.

→ Borrowed money and fell into heavy debt.

→ Worked hard for ten years to repay the loans.

→ Became poor and aged before time.

→ Finally confessed the truth.

→ Learnt that honesty is more valuable than pride and fear.

About the Author

O. Henry was the pen name of the famous American writer William Sydney Porter (1862–1910). He is regarded as one of the greatest writers of short stories in English literature. His stories are well known for their surprise endings, clever plots, humour, irony, and realistic portrayal of ordinary people.

Before becoming a full-time writer, O. Henry worked in different professions, including as a pharmacist, bank clerk, ranch hand, journalist, and draftsman. These varied experiences helped him understand people from all walks of life, making his stories lively and believable.

Many of O. Henry's stories are set in New York City and focus on the lives of common men and women. His writing often explores themes such as friendship, love, sacrifice, honesty, justice, and human kindness. Although his stories are usually simple and easy to read, they often carry deep moral lessons and end with an unexpected twist that leaves a lasting impression on readers.

Some of his most famous short stories include The Gift of the Magi, The Last Leaf, After Twenty Years, The Ransom of Red Chief, The Cop and the Anthem, and A Retrieved Reformation.

In After Twenty Years, O. Henry beautifully combines the themes of friendship, loyalty, duty, and justice. The story's unexpected ending, in which Jimmy Wells chooses his duty as a police officer over his personal friendship with Bob, is a perfect example of O. Henry's unique storytelling style and his mastery of the surprise ending.