After Twenty Years

• English
• Secondary Education

AFTER TWENTY YEARS

BY 

O.HENRY

LESSON OBJECTIVES

Identify the setting and tone.

Infer the meaning of the new words

Interpret the key ideas of the text.

The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was habitual and not for show, for spectators were few. The time was barely 10 o'clock at night, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had depeopled the streets.

The policeman on the BEAT...

1. patrolling
2. hitting

The policeman on the beat moved up the AVENUE impressively.

1. mall or discotheque
2. broad lane or road

...had DEPEOPLED the streets.

1. heavily populated
2. reduced population

What time does the story begin?

1. 9 pm
2. 9:30 pm
3. 10 pm
4. 10:30 pm

Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye down the thoroughfare, the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace. Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or of an all-night lunch counter, but the majority of the doors belonged to business places that had long since been closed.

What all has been mentioned about the policeman

Why were the streets devoid of people?