Allusion and Structure in O. Henry
Literary Technique in Gift of the Magi
William Sydney Porter writes a tightly woven story using tried and true literary tools and techniques and combining them into story style so unique that his stories were
William Sydney Porter, also known as O. Henry was a consummate craftsman when it came to his work as a short story writer. Porter understood his audience and new how to build a story that they could relate to while at the same time creating a twist, which provide them with an ‘Oh!’ moment. To craft his stories, Porter understood his need to use his words effectively in order to draw the reader in quickly without wasting time on peripherals. This article looks at two common literary techniques that Porter uses to build the story Gift of the Magi and end it with the famous ‘O. Henry twist.’
Allusion
Allusion is a literary technique that many authors use to help define their story by referring to cultural touchstones in order to compare or contrast elements in their story to something else that with which the reader is familiar. Clearly allusion is a major theme in a story titled The Gift of the Magi, which isn’t any way directly about the magi at all. For a more detailed look at allusion in the story read Biblical Allusions in O. Henry or Allusions to Kings in O. Henry.
Structure
Porter was well known for writing stories known for their "the O. Henry twist." A story with an O. Henry twist was a story that was brief, tightly constructed, fast paced and ended with a surprise ending. Because of his need to hold the reader firmly in his grasp, Porter’s stories launched the reader directly into the middle of the situation. Often his stories begin with words that do double and even triple duty, setting the scene, introducing us to a primary character, and giving us clues as to the plot.
The first paragraph of the Gift of the Magi is 68 words long and is made of very short sentences some of which are only fragments. With these almost puzzle-quick pieces we learn that the Christmas is coming, the people that the story is about are poor, and that the main character Della has worriedly counted her small sum three times. This tightly woven introduction launches us into immediate action “There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it.”
Porter clearly understood that a short story must pull the reader into the situation and scene rapidly and he does so in 88 words. Eighty-eight words in a story that is less than 2100 words long. From the beginning 88 words we move rapidly through the story to the ‘surprise’ ending where we learn that these gifts for which so much was sacrificed are now the ironic twist in the story. So much was sacrificed to give another something, which no longer can be used. And yet the richness of sacrifice is gift enough.
More Information about Gift of the Magi
Biblical Allusions in O. Henry
Allusions to Kings in O. Henry
Point of View and Setting in Gift of the Magi
