A Study Guide for William Sydney Porter's "Mammon and the Archer," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Short Stories for Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Short Stories for Students for all of your research needs.

The story is about a wealthy businessman whose son wants to propose to his sweetheart before she leaves the USA for Europe in a couple of days’ time. Although the son believes that money cannot buy you time – the one thing he dearly needs more of if he is to woo his beloved – the events of the story suggest that money can be used to buy someone extra time. O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.

Do you believe that people can change? Can a bank robber marry the banker’s daughter without having any hidden thoughts and intentions? "A Retrieved Reformation" tells the story of Jimmy, a formal prisoner, who decides to quit violating the law in the name of love. He takes up a new identity and starts a new life as an honorable man. However he is about to face a choice which can cost him his future. Will he sacrifice himself in order to save a child in danger or he will prefer to keep his old identity in secret? William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was an American writer who lived in the late 19th century. He gains wide popularity with his short stories which often take place either in New York or some small American towns. The plot twists and the surprise endings are a typical and integral part of O. Henry’s short stories. Some of his best known works are "The Gift of the Magi", "The Cop and the Anthem", "A Retrieved Reformation". His stories often deal with ordinary people and the individual aspects of life. As a result of the outstanding literature legacy that O. Henry left behind, there is an American annual award after his name, given to exceptional short stories.

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been popular for adaptation, especially for presentation at Christmas time.

"The Furnished Room" is a short story about love and dedication, about exhaustion and despair. A young man is in search for a girl he fell in love with. He rents a room near the theaters where she is to be seen and he devotes his days to the dream of finding her. When all of a sudden the sweet fragrance of her perfume fills his room ... Is he finally blessed with success? Or this is an evil ghost from the past? Will he get to embrace the girl he loves or she will drag him to the verge of sanity? William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was an American writer who lived in the late 19th century. He gains wide popularity with his short stories which often take place either in New York or some small American towns. The plot twists and the surprise endings are a typical and integral part of O. Henry’s short stories. Some of his best known works are "The Gift of the Magi", "The Cop and the Anthem", "A Retrieved Reformation". His stories often deal with ordinary people and the individual aspects of life. As a result of the outstanding literature legacy that O. Henry left behind, there is an American annual award after his name, given to exceptional short stories.