Congratulations for reaching Year 4 of your American English studies. This year we will read numerous American short stories to build American English listening and reading comprehension skills. Please pay close attention to each American short story assigned here and share your insights and what you’ve learned in the comments section below.
Directions: Listen and read each short story and then share what you learned in the comments section below.
4.8.4: year 4 -Lesson -8, American short stories
” The Cop and the Anthem” written by O’Henry
The main character of the story is Soapy. it’s beginning of fall and winters are just on the corner in New York. Soapy is homeless man, his home is just a bench in a park. Soapy sets out his way to make his way to Island. He makes plan to arrest himself by the cop of New York so that he can spend his winter in the jail. Soapy repeatedly tries to fulfil his plans, but ultimately fails. Two times he goes to restaurant to eat without money and with his torn clothes and messed up shoes, but he has been thrown out of the restaurant by the waiters, even though the cops have been standing there.
Next Soapy breaks a glass the window with a stone, cop is standing nearby and doesn’t arrest him, cop thinks that Soapy is not culprits, because he is not running to escape himself. He should run as fast as possible. He wants to talk to a nice-looking woman before a shop window, looking at the objects inside, a cop is standing nearby too. Her response is positive but not for Soapy. Then he takes man’s an umbrella and walks slowly. the man follows him and makes sorry for having his umbrella, which he found it from a restaurant. Now Soapy, feels that his plan to spend winter in prison is a dream. He thinks, he should go back to his home which is just a bench in the park. On his way back, he comes across of an old church. Sweet music comes from the church to Slappy’s ears and seems to hold him there. The Anthem that is coming from the Chruch changes his mind. It is sudden and wonderful change in his soul. That sweet music has changed him, and he starts thinking to find a proper and respectful job or work for his living. The same moment Soapy feels a hand on his arm and a cop of New York takes him for three months on the island, for the least criminal thing he has done so far loitering outside a church. Soapy is only arrests after being inspired by the church’s anthem and committing to turn his life around.
”Man proposes, but God disposes” by ‘Thomas a Kempis’