Question

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story.

How does O. Henry craft "After Twenty Years" to create surprise?

A) The author withholds information about Bob's true identity until the end of the story.
B) The author focuses on Jimmy to distract readers from the identity of the other policeman.
C) The author presents false information about the characters throughout the story.
D) The author uses parallel plots to make unlikely connections between the characters.

Answer 1

The author presents false information about the characters throughout the story.

Step-by-step explanation:

This story talks about loyalty and how one of the main characters takes it very seriously when he has to arrest his youth friend. He sends an impostor, and we see how the identity is hidden throughout the story and generates the conflict since he was loyal through a lie, and it has a strong impact when the truth comes out.

Answer 2

O. Henry crafts "After Twenty Years" to create surprise as:

He withholds information about Bob's true identity until the end of the story.

O.Henry uses third person narrative to build surprise until the end of the story. Third person narration gives an insight of the story not through any character's perspective rather through a third person. This helps the writer to hold the climax of the story until the end.