Question

O. Henry's short story "The Ransom of Red Chief" tells the tale of two kidnappers who seize a child who brings them nothing but trouble and leaves them second-guessing their kidnapping plan. Read the excerpt from the short story. Then, respond to the question that follows.

After breakfast the kid takes a piece of leather with strings wrapped around it out of his pocket and goes outside the cave unwinding it.

"What's he up to now?" says Bill, anxiously. "You don't think he'll run away, do you, Sam?"

"No fear of it," says I. "He don't seem to be much of a home body. But we've got to fix up some plan about the ransom. There don't seem to be much excitement around Summit on account of his disappearance; but maybe they haven't realized yet that he's gone. His folks may think he's spending the night with Aunt Jane or one of the neighbours. Anyhow, he'll be missed to-day. To-night we must get a message to his father demanding the two thousand dollars for his return."

Just then we heard a kind of war-whoop, such as David might have emitted when he knocked out the champion Goliath. It was a sling that Red Chief had pulled out of his pocket, and he was whirling it around his head.

I dodged, and heard a heavy thud and a kind of a sigh from Bill, like a horse gives out when you take his saddle off. A rock the size of an egg had caught Bill just behind his left ear. He loosened himself all over and fell in the fire across the frying pan of hot water for washing the dishes. I dragged him out and poured cold water on his head for half an hour.

David and Goliath is a biblical allusion. David was a human warrior who went against the much larger Goliath armed only with a slingshot and some stones. David was victorious. In a short response of 2–3 sentences, explain why the author used this allusion and how it affects the connotation and meaning of this section of text.

Answer 1

The author uses the allusion to David and Goliath to emphasize the power of Red Chief, a small child, over the two kidnappers. The allusion implies that Red Chief is a formidable opponent, despite his size, and that he is capable of causing trouble for the kidnappers. This adds a humorous connotation to the text and emphasizes the irony of the situation.

Answer 2

This answer was generated by an AI and may be incorrect.

The author uses the biblical allusion of David and Goliath to describe Red Chief's attack on Bill with a slingshot. The comparison highlights Red Chief's bravery and cunning, despite his young age, and suggests that he is capable of being victorious even against larger and more experienced opponents, just like David was against Goliath. The allusion contributes to the connotation of the text by creating a sense of humor and irony, as the two kidnappers, who thought they had control over the situation, are now being outsmarted and overpowered by a young boy.