ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born William Sidney Porter, this master of short stories is much better known under his pen name “O. Henry.” He was born September 11, 1862 in N. Carolina. He has become a symbol to represent a recognizable species of short story writing. He wrote nearly three hundred stories. Most of O. Henry` s were translated into foreign languages. His stories are very American in language. And one of the most popular and famous story is “The Skylight Room”
PLOT SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
Introduction of the rooms and Miss Leeson, without a choice, buys the “skylight room” with money she can afford.
RISING ACTION
Meets Billy Jackson the Star and fellow lodgers
CLIMAX
Job becomes scarce so Miss Leeson goes to her room without food, and dying from starvation
FALLING ACTION
Fellow lodgers finds her in her room and call an ambulance.
RESOLUTION
In typical O. Henry fashion, we get the surprise ending – gets treatment from a doctor named William Jackson.
SETTING
New York City probably in early 1990s.
CHARACTERS
- Ms. Leeson
- Mrs. Parker
- Mr. Hoover
- Ms. Longnecker
- Mr. Skidder
- Clara
- William Jackson
POINT of VIEW
Third person
CONFLICT
- MAN Vs. CIRCUMSTANCES (Dominant)
- MAN Vs. SOCIETY
SYMBOLISM
- Billy Jackson – her hopes and dreams
- The skylight room – a metaphor of her life
THEME
The reality of life and our hopes
“No matter what situation you are in, you should always have an optimistic heart”
VOCABULARY
- Lambrequin- a short piece of decorative jewelry hanging above a door.
- Smite – strike with a firm blow
- Cicerone- a tour guide, esp. one who explains antiquities
- Contemptuous- showing contempt
- Roguish- characteristic of a dishonest and unprincipled person
- Tocsin- an alarm bell or signal
- Cabalistic- referring to meanings of esoteric and mythical interpretations
- Whimsical- playfully quaint or fanciful
- Implacable- unstopable
- Corpulence- the state of being fat
The Literary Amateur 