In O. Henry's story "After Twenty Years," a policeman patrols a quiet street on a chilly night. He encounters a man named Bob waiting in the doorway of a hardware store. Bob explains he is waiting for his old friend Jimmy Wells, with whom he made a promise to meet exactly twenty years after their last dinner together at "Big Joe" Brady's restaurant.
As they talk, Bob shares that he has done well in the West, while Jimmy, he believes, would still be in New York. The policeman, intrigued, wishes Bob luck and continues his patrol. After twenty minutes, a tall man approaches, and Bob eagerly thinks he is Jimmy. However, as they talk, Bob realizes this man is not his friend, but a police officer who has come to arrest him.
The officer reveals that he is actually Jimmy Wells and has been watching Bob. He shows Bob a note he wrote, explaining that he recognized Bob’s face when he struck a match. Although Bob was his old friend, Jimmy could not bring himself to arrest him directly. Instead, he got another officer to take him in.
The story illustrates themes of friendship, loyalty, and the impact of time on relationships. It highlights the tension between personal loyalty and moral duty, showcasing how circumstances can change people profoundly over the years.
Thinking about professional skills:
1. What do you understand by the word professionalism?
Ans: Professionalism means behaving well and being responsible in a job. It includes being reliable, respectful, and skilled. It’s about doing your best and treating others right.
2. Whom would you call professionals? Give at least five examples.
Ans: Professionals are individuals with specialized skills or knowledge in a particular field. Examples include:
1. Doctors
2. Teachers
3. Engineers
4. Lawyers
5. Accountants
3. Whom would you classify as being non-professionals? Give at least five examples.
Ans: Non-professionals are individuals who may not have specialized training or certification in a specific field. Examples include:
1. Retail workers
2. Waitstaff
3. Janitors
4. Delivery drivers
5. Construction laborers
4. Why do some professionals behave unprofessionally sometimes?
Ans: Some professionals act unprofessionally because of stress or burnout. Personal problems and a bad work environment can also play a role. Sometimes they just forget their responsibilities or values.
Workplace Skills:
1. How does an effective understanding of professionalism help in performing one's job satisfactorily and successfully?
Ans: When we understand professionalism, we learn how to behave well at work. It helps us do our job better and earn respect from others.
2. How can individuals develop their professional skills continuously throughout their career and their lives?
Ans: People can keep learning new things by reading, taking courses, and listening to others. Practice and hard work also help them grow in their job.
3. What are some of the ways in which professionalism has been enshrined in a code of conduct of certain organisations such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and State Bank of India Officers Association (SBIOA)?
Ans: These groups have rules that tell members to be honest, helpful, and respectful. They also ask members to care for others and work with discipline.
4. What are some of the ways in which you feel you can be more professional in your own life? Do you think you can achieve a balance between duty and personal considerations?
Ans: I can be more professional by being on time, speaking politely, and doing my work well. I think with good planning, I can manage both my duties and personal life.
Real-life Experience / Case Study:
Duty Before Self
My uncle is a doctor. He works at a big hospital. He is very good at his job and helps many people every day. But because of his work, he often misses family events. Once, during my cousin's wedding, he got an emergency call from the hospital. He left the wedding and went to treat a patient. Everyone was sad because he could not stay. But we also felt proud because he saved someone’s life. He works even on holidays and weekends. He cannot spend much time with his children. They sometimes feel lonely. But he always says that his duty is important. His story shows how being professional can take away time from personal life. It is not easy, but some jobs need full-time care. We must respect such people. They make sacrifices for others.
📘 After Twenty Years – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who wrote the story “After Twenty Years”?
A. Mark Twain
B. O. Henry
C. William Shakespeare
D. R.K. Narayan
2. What was the time when the story started?
A. 8 PM
B. 9 PM
C. 10 PM
D. 11 PM
3. What was the weather like?
A. Hot and sunny
B. Cold and rainy
C. Snowy and bright
D. Windy and dusty
4. What was the policeman doing?
A. Running after a thief
B. Walking his beat
C. Taking rest
D. Talking to people
5. Where was the man waiting for his friend?
A. Coffee shop
B. Hardware store doorway
C. Park
D. Train station
6. What was the name of the old restaurant?
A. Joe’s Place
B. The West Inn
C. Big Joe Brady’s
D. The Central Café
7. How many years ago had the two friends met?
A. 10
B. 15
C. 20
D. 25
8. What was the name of the man waiting in the doorway?
A. Bob
B. Jimmy
C. Joe
D. Harry
9. Where did Bob go to earn money?
A. East
B. South
C. North
D. West
10. How was Bob dressed?
A. In old clothes
B. In fine clothes with a diamond pin
C. In rags
D. In uniform
11. What did Bob light while talking to the policeman?
A. A lantern
B. A cigarette
C. A cigar
D. A fire
12. What did Bob say about Jimmy Wells?
A. He was rude
B. He was lazy
C. He was his best friend
D. He was a stranger
13. What kind of watch did Bob have?
A. Gold
B. Plain
C. Fancy with diamonds
D. Pocket calendar
14. Did Bob and Jimmy stay in touch for long?
A. Yes, for many years
B. No, only a few years
C. No, not at all
D. Yes, they met often
15. What kind of person was Jimmy, according to Bob?
A. Smart and fast
B. Strong and clever
C. True and honest
D. Rude and selfish
16. What did the policeman do after talking to Bob?
A. Arrested him
B. Walked away
C. Shouted at him
D. Took him to a café
17. What happened 20 minutes later?
A. A crowd came
B. A stranger crossed the street
C. A car arrived
D. Bob left the place
18. What did the tall man ask Bob?
A. "Are you a policeman?"
B. "Is this a shop?"
C. "Is that you, Bob?"
D. "Do you need help?"
19. How did Bob feel when he met the man?
A. Angry
B. Surprised and happy
C. Sad
D. Silent
20. Where did the two men go after meeting?
A. To a drugstore
B. To the police station
C. To a hotel
D. To a nearby restaurant
21. Why did Bob stop walking suddenly?
A. He got tired
B. He was shocked
C. He saw the man’s face
D. He lost his wallet
22. What made Bob realize it was not Jimmy?
A. The man’s eyes
B. The way he walked
C. His height
D. His nose
23. What was different about the man’s nose?
A. It was Roman
B. It was flat
C. It was pug-shaped
D. It was long
24. What did the tall man say to Bob?
A. "You are free to go."
B. "Jimmy will meet you later."
C. "You are under arrest."
D. "Let’s have coffee."
25. What crime had Bob committed?
A. Robbery
B. Murder
C. Fraud
D. Unknown, but wanted in Chicago
26. Where did Chicago police want Bob?
A. For an interview
B. For questioning
C. For a reward
D. For a crime
27. How long had Bob been under arrest before being told?
A. 5 minutes
B. 10 minutes
C. 15 minutes
D. 1 hour
28. What did the plain clothes officer give Bob?
A. A gift
B. A warning
C. A letter
D. A police badge
29. Who wrote the note Bob read?
A. A lawyer
B. Jimmy Wells
C. A judge
D. A stranger
30. What did Jimmy say in the note?
A. He would meet Bob later
B. He missed Bob
C. He saw Bob and sent someone else
D. He was scared
31. How did Bob feel while reading the note?
A. Calm
B. Happy
C. Angry
D. His hands trembled
32. What kind of ending does the story have?
A. Sad
B. Funny
C. Surprising
D. Peaceful
33. What does the story mainly show?
A. Friendship and loyalty
B. Crime and justice
C. Fun and laughter
D. Hard work
34. What was the scarfpin made of?
A. Gold
B. Silver
C. Diamond
D. Iron
35. What is the theme of the story?
A. Wealth
B. Love
C. Duty vs Friendship
D. Travel
36. Why didn’t Jimmy arrest Bob himself?
A. He was off duty
B. He didn’t recognize him
C. He still cared about him
D. He was sick
37. How old were Bob and Jimmy when they parted?
A. Bob 18, Jimmy 20
B. Both 20
C. Bob 20, Jimmy 18
D. Both 18
38. What kind of person was Bob?
A. Honest
B. Loyal
C. Wanted criminal
D. Policeman
39. How long did Bob wait for Jimmy?
A. 10 minutes
B. 20 minutes
C. 30 minutes
D. 1 hour
40. What city does the story take place in?
A. Chicago
B. Boston
C. Los Angeles
D. New York
41. What was the street mostly filled with?
A. Shops
B. Restaurants
C. Closed businesses
D. Parks
42. What did Bob think about the West?
A. Easy life
B. Hard life
C. A place to grow
D. A boring place
43. What did Jimmy think about New York?
A. It was too busy
B. Best place on Earth
C. Expensive
D. Not safe
44. What did Bob say about Jimmy's character?
A. Lazy
B. Talkative
C. Plodder but loyal
D. Smart and greedy
45. What was the tone of the story in the end?
A. Joyful
B. Mysterious
C. Serious and emotional
D. Comedic
46. Who was the real hero of the story?
A. Bob
B. Jimmy
C. The plain clothes officer
D. The policeman
47. What kind of ending is “After Twenty Years”?
A. Tragic
B. Romantic
C. Twist ending
D. Open ending
48. Why did Bob believe Jimmy would come?
A. He was poor
B. He was a loyal friend
C. He wanted to meet
D. He had free time
49. Why is the story called “After Twenty Years”?
A. The story took 20 years to write
B. Two friends met after 20 years
C. It happens over 20 years
D. A man lived 20 years in jail
50. What does the story teach us?
A. Always trust strangers
B. Success is easy
C. Loyalty and justice can conflict
D. Wealth is most important
✅ Answer Key
O. Henry
-
10 PM
-
Cold and rainy
-
Walking his beat
-
Hardware store doorway
-
Big Joe Brady’s
-
20
-
Bob
-
West
-
In fine clothes with a diamond pin
-
A cigar
-
He was his best friend
-
Fancy with diamonds
-
No, only a few years
-
True and honest
-
Walked away
-
A stranger crossed the street
-
"Is that you, Bob?"
-
Surprised and happy
-
To a drugstore
-
He saw the man’s face
-
His nose
-
It was pug-shaped
-
"You are under arrest."
-
Unknown, but wanted in Chicago
-
For a crime
-
10 minutes
-
A letter
-
Jimmy Wells
-
He saw Bob and sent someone else
-
His hands trembled
-
Surprising
-
Crime and justice
-
Diamond
-
Duty vs Friendship
-
He still cared about him
-
Bob 18, Jimmy 20
-
Wanted criminal
-
20 minutes
-
New York
-
Closed businesses
-
A place to grow
-
Best place on Earth
-
Plodder but loyal
-
Serious and emotional
-
Jimmy
-
Twist ending
-
He was a loyal friend
-
Two friends met after 20 years
-
Loyalty and justice can conflict