Abstract：O. Henry is a great short story writer. He enjoys outstanding status in American literature as well as in world literature for his distinctive writing style. His story has unique charm not only for the “surprising ending”, but also the power of initiating tearful smile. This thesis will concentrate on his writing techniques and themes by analysing several short stories, which makes the readers smile with teasr.
O. Henry is one of great three masters of short stories in the world. His stories outmaneuver other writers with peculiar writing techniques and profound themes. This thesis will refer to his special writing styles and the formation of his styles from several aspects. Firstly, his family helps him to open the door to the literature, and his rough life with rubble and reflexive violence enables him to think profoundly and be sympathetic to the poor people. Therefore, humanity turns out to be the main theme of his stories, which includes good and evil elements in human nature. On the other side, writing techniques are also the winning trump of O. Henry’s short stories. Exquisite plots, twist endings, humorous language and various figures of speech used in the stories are the major aspects talked in this thesis.
With these distinct features, O. Henry has profoundly influence the course of American short stories as well as the world literature. So it is meaningful to study O. Henry’s stories and his humanness.
Keywords: O. Henry, theme, writing techniques
摘要:欧亨利是一位伟大的短篇小说作家。他的独特的写作风格为他在美国文学乃至世界文学中赢得了卓越地位。他的小说的魅力不仅仅在于出乎意料的结局，更重要的是小说让人微笑着流泪的力量。本文将通过几篇短篇小说来分析欧亨利的写作风格和主题，这也是使读者微笑着流泪的原因。
欧•亨利是世界三大小说家之一。他的小说以独特的写作技巧和深刻的主题取胜。本文将涉及到他的特殊的写作风格及其风格的形成。首先，欧•亨利家庭的影响为他打开了文学的大门，他自身的充满曲折和坎坷的艰难人生也使他思想更加深刻同时更加同情底层的贫苦人民。因此，人性成为了欧•亨利小说的重要主题，其中包含人性中的善与恶。另外，写作技巧也是欧•亨利的制胜法宝。精巧的情节，曲折的结尾，幽默的语言和多种修辞手法都是本文要探讨的方面。
这些鲜明的特点使得欧•亨利对在美国文学乃至世界文学都产生了深远的影响。因此，学习欧•亨利的作品和人格是很有意义的。
关键词：欧•亨利；主题；写作手法
As one of the three greatest short story masters in the world, O. Henry has enormous influence on the course of American short stories as well as the world literature, especially those who want to see things clearly and write surprising ending smartly. He focuses on incidents of everyday life and characters of various kinds. His story conveys a basic human warmth and sympathy for the common joys and sorrows of mankind. He has shown to his successor how to utilize materials for artistic effect. He provides the readers a vivid picture of his time with a unique vision. He has the charm to make readers smile with tears with humorous language, exquisite plots, surprising endings and profound themes.
O. Henry is wit and he is fond for words coinages, slang and sophistries, which is thoroughly American and it makes the characters seem authentic funny and plots humorous. The misery reality is usually reflected with humor. Humor enables people to feel bitterness from laughs. It is like a sharp sword which may pierce people’s heart. After laughing, readers will contemplate the stories and shocked by the story , which contributes to tearful smile.
In narration, O. Henry often uses twist plot to keep the interest of the audience. The audience is always surprised by the revelation appeared in the end. Exquisite plot is the foreshadowing of the surprising endings. The twist plots and endings will strengthen the effects of irony and draw more attention of readers. It is always the surprising turn at the end of the stories that make the readers smile and sign.
As known to all, surprising ending is the long suit of O. Henry. Once talk about his story, the unexpected ending will first come to people’s mind. The well established ending has become the symbol of O. Henry’s story. At the beginning, reader may feel confused by the sudden ending, but after thinking, the readers will suddenly see the light. The ending is reasonable under the writer’s compilation.
