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Creative Quotations from O. Henry

O. Henry. The Master of irony and surprises

We all know such prominent American author as O. Henry. It is the pseudonym of William Sydney Porter, who wrote colorful short stories with surprising and ironic twists, coincedences and unexpected endings. He was born on September 11, 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Porter attended school for a short time, then clerked in an uncle's drugstore. At the age of 20 William Sydney Porter went to Texas, working first on a ranch and later as a bank teller. Then he married and began to write freelance sketches. A few years later he founded a humorous weekly, the Rolling Stone and worked as a columnist. Released from prison in 1902, Porter went to New York, his home and the setting of most of his fiction for the remainder of his life. The writer pioneered in picturing the lives of lower-class and middle-class New Yorkers. Incapable of integrating a book-length narrative, O. Henry was skilled in plotting short ones, he wrote in a dry, humorous style.  Writing prodigiously, he went on to become a revered American writer. O. Henry's other popular collections of his stories included The Four Million (1906); Heart of the West and The Trimmed Lamp (both 1907); The Gentle Grafter and The Voice of the City (both 1908); even after O. Henry's death on June 5, 1910, stories continued to be collected: Sixes and Sevens (1911); Rolling Stones (1912); Waifs and Strays (1917); O. Henryana (1920); and O. Henry Encore (1939).

First impressions

 "...life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating."- Is it really so?

As I have read the story "The Gift of a Magi" for the first time, it left a lasting impressions on me. I should say, that my expectations about the plot of the text were mostly correct. This is a short-story about a great and strong feeling of love between two young people. The couple works very hard, although lives in a poor flat, and there is not enough money for each of the lovers to buy a suitable present for Christmas. But they are always ready to sacrifice their most expensive and valueless things for the sake of such deep devotion to each other. Della and Jim are like real magi, their gifts presented and recieved wisely. The most appealing detaill for me in this story  was that the protagonists are so innocent, and dedicated to their powefull love. They consider each other to be worth the greatest treasures in their lives.
As for my own opinion, I do believe, that such a strong feeling to another person still exists in our modern world of cruelty, cynicism and greed. And you should trust me! ;) I wish everybody to look out of window, see the spring sun, and to fill your hearts with this bright and pure feeling of love!

Expectations versus Reality

The Gift of the Magi

by O. Henry

I have chosen this story of an outstanding American short-story writer O. Henry, because I enjoy reading his works, as they are always written in a laconic but still bright, vivid and interesting way with unexpected turns and surprise endings. You can never tell what will happen next. As for "The Gift of the Magi", I haven't read it before, but my expectations and feelings about it are very warm and romantic. To my mind, this is a love-story, where the couple give some small but very special gifts to each other on such a great holiday as Christmas. I hope the reading and further analyzing will bring pleasure to me.
P.S. NEVER click on this link, if you do, you will have to read the whole thing!!! NO! Don't do it!!! TOPSECRET

Ready! Steady! Go!

Hello, everyone! Here is my first blog, devoted to the studying of English Stylistics! I'm so excited and intrested in learning online. I've been really waiting for this moment. It's a good sign, that our education system will have another qualitative level and students will be able to get useful information and knowledge for their future in the internet. And I'm one of a thousand. It was not difficult for me at all to create a blog, as I like and appreciate such kind of work, cooperating and communicating with my group-mates (sometimes it's even not enough time to talk with them during the period at the university, you know;). So, I believe, it's a good start and the students will have more interesting tasks, and we will cope with them easily and with joy. Goog luck, guys!