Jimmy Valentine ~ O.Henry Summary, Explanation, Word meanings, MCQs, Class 11 Semester 2

 

Jimmy Valentine ~ O.Henry

Summary, MCQs, Class 11 Semester 2

Summary of the Story

‘Jimmy Valentine’ is the story of the transformation of a heart from darkness to a bright future. Jimmy had been captivated once or twice, but he remained the same. He came back and resumed his old activities of cracking safes. The strenuous days of the jail could not reform his heart. The advice of the warden or the rehabilitation money could not impress upon his mind. He carried on his operations. It was not advice or money or even punishment which transformed Jimmy. He was transformed with the touch of a touchstone which he came into contact with in Elmore. It was the love which bloomed in Jimmy after seeing Annabel Adams that transformed him. He took a new name, Mr. Ralph D. Spencer. Ralph was the phoenix that arose from Jimmy’s ashes. He totally wanted to forget his past life and decided to give his burglary suitcase to a friend. He was preparing to marry Annabel and live with an honest earning which he got from his shoe-shop. But sin cannot easily be rescued from. The clever detective Ben Price followed him to Elmore for his earlier thefts. Though Ben Price wanted to arrest Jimmy, Jimmy’s rescue of the little girl from the safe made him think differently. Ben Price found a new man, changed by the gentle touch of love. He denied to recognise Jimmy. Jimmy could start his new life only because of love which he found in Annabel. Love has such immense potential that can change thousands of wayward hearts.

Short Answer Type Questions

•  Who is the writer of the short story, ‘Jimmy Valentine’? What is his original name?

   Ans. O. Henry is the writer of the short story, ‘Jimmy Valentine’.

    The original name of O. Henry is William Sydney Porter.

 

•  What is the original title of the story, ‘Jimmy Valentine’?

   Ans. The original title of the story, ‘Jimmy Valentine’ is ‘A Retrieved Reformation’.

•   Why was Jimmy Valentine put into jail?

   Ans. Jimmy Valentine was put into jail because he was found guilty of cracking the safe of a bank at Springfield.

•   Where did Jimmy Valentine work during the ten months of his imprisonment? What work did Jimmy perform there?

   Ans. Jimmy Valentine worked at the prison shoe-shop during the ten months of his imprisonment.

    Jimmy used to stitch shoe-uppers in the prison shoe-shop.

•   How long was Jimmy Valentine there in prison? What was his original term of imprisonment?

   Ans. Jimmy Valentine was there in prison for nearly ten months.

    Originally, he was sentenced to imprisonment for four years.

•   What was Jimmy doing when a guard came to the prison shoe-shop?

   Ans. When a guard came to the prison shoe-shop, Jimmy was carefully and tirelessly stitching uppers of shoes.

•   How many months had Jimmy expected to stay in the prison at the longest?

   Ans. Jimmy had expected to be in the prison only for about three months at the longest.

•   Why did the warden laugh when Jimmy told him that he had never cracked a safe in his life?

   Ans. The warden laughed because he knew that Jimmy was telling a lie.

•   What did the warden advise Jimmy?

   Ans. The warden advised Jimmy not to break safes anymore and to lead a straight life.

•   What did Jimmy tell the warden in reply to his advice?

   Ans. Jimmy told the warden that he had never cracked a safe in his life.

•   “I never was in Springfield in my life.”—Who said this and to whom? How is Springfield related to the life of the speaker?

   Ans. Jimmy Valentine said this to the prison warden.

    Jimmy Valentine was put into jail because he was found guilty of cracking the safe of a bank at Springfield.

•   “Brace up, and make a man of yourself.”—Who said to whom?

   Ans. The prison warden said this to Jimmy Valentine.

•   Who had pardoned Jimmy Valentine? Who handed him the letter of pardon?

   Ans. The Governor had pardoned Jimmy Valentine.

    The warden handed Jimmy the letter of pardon.

•   What was the name of the guard in the prison? Why did a guard come to the prison shoe-shop?

   Ans. Cronin was the name of the guard in the prison.

    A guard came to the prison shoe-shop to escort Jimmy Valentine to the front office of the prison’s warden.

•   What did the clerk at the prison give Jimmy Valentine? Why?

   Ans. The clerk at the prison gave Jimmy a railroad ticket for travelling and a five-dollar bill for his rehabilitation.

    The clerk gave them to Jimmy because the law expected him to rehabilitate himself into good citizenship and prosperity.

•   What was the number of Jimmy Valentine during his stay in prison? Who is the investigator in the story ‘Jimmy Valentine’?

 Ans. During his stay in prison, the number of Jimmy Valentine was 9762.

    In ‘Jimmy Valentine’, Ben Price is the investigator.

•   How did Nature look when Jimmy was released and came out of the jail?

   Ans. When Jimmy came out of the jail, Nature looked beautiful with the birds singing, the waving green trees and the fragrance of flowers everywhere.

•   What did Jimmy Valentine do first after coming out of the jail?

   Ans. After coming out of the jail, Jimmy Valentine first headed to a restaurant where he enjoyed a broiled chicken and a bottle of white wine and smoked a cigar of good quality.

•   How did Jimmy enjoy the freedom immediately after being released from jail?

   Ans. Immediately after being released from jail, Jimmy went straight to a restaurant to enjoy the taste of freedom. There he enjoyed a broiled chicken, a bottle of white wine and smoked a cigar of good quality.

•   How long did it take Jimmy to reach the small town where he used to live? How much did he give to a blind man before boarding his train?

   Ans. It took Jimmy three hours to reach the small town where he used to live.

    Before boarding his train, Jimmy tossed a quarter of a dollar (i.e. 25 cents) into the hat of a blind man sitting by the door.

•   Whom did Jimmy Valentine meet first after his release from jail?

   Ans. After his release from jail, Jimmy Valentine first met Mike Dolan in his cafe.

•   Where had Jimmy put his suitcase?

   Ans. Jimmy had put his suitcase in the hollow of the wall in a rear room upstairs in Mike Dolan’s place.

•   What did Jimmy’s suitcase contain?

   Ans. Jimmy’s suitcase contained a complete set of burglar’s tools, the latest designs in drills, punches, braces and bits, jimmies, clamps, and augers with two or three novelties invented by Jimmy himself.

•   How much did it cost Jimmy to procure the burglar’s tools? Or, How much did the tools of Jimmy cost?

   Ans. It cost Jimmy over nine hundred dollars to procure the tools of burglary.

•   “Sorry we couldn’t make it sooner, Jimmy ...”—Why was the speaker sorry?

   Ans. Mike Dolan was sorry because he and his associates could not arrange for the release of Jimmy from prison sooner.

•   Which company did Jimmy claim to be representing?

   Ans. Jimmy claimed to be representing the New York Amalgamated Short Snap Biscuit Cracker and Frazzled Wheat Company.

•   What did Jimmy enjoy in the restaurant?

   Ans. In the restaurant, Jimmy enjoyed a broiled chicken and a bottle of white wine.

•   What happened a week after the release of Jimmy? At which places were safes cracked after the release of Jimmy?

   Ans. A neat job of cracking the safe of a bank took place at Richmond, Indiana.

    After the Richmond safe-cracking, a burglar-proof safe at Logansport and an old-fashioned bank-safe in Jefferson City were cracked.

•   “That began to interest the rogue-catchers.”—What started creating interest among the rogue catchers?

   Ans. The looting of only money after cracking the burglar-proof safe at Logansport interested the rogue-catchers.

•   “The losses were now high enough to bring the matter up into Ben Price’s class of work.”—What was the amount of loss referred in this case? Who was Ben Price?

   Ans. The amount of loss referred to here is five thousand dollars.

    Ben Price was an expert detective.

•   What was the result of the investigation conducted by Ben Price at the three places of robbery?

   Ans. After conducting investigation at all the three places of safe-burglary, Ben Price found Jimmy Valentine’s autograph in all the cases.

•   “That’s Dandy Jim Valentine’s autograph.”—Who makes the comment? What does the word ‘autograph’ mean?

   Ans. Ben Price, the detective, makes this comment.

    Here, the word ‘autograph’ means a special feature or signature style.

•   “He’s resumed business.”—Who makes this remark about whom? What is the business referred to here?

   Ans. Ben Price, the detective, makes this remark about Jimmy Valentine.

    The business of cracking safes is referred to here.

•   Who knew Jimmy’s habits? When had he learned them?

   Ans. Detective Ben Price knew Jimmy’s habits.

    He had learned them while working on the Springfield case.

•   “Ben Price had taken up the trail of the elusive cracksman...”—Who was the elusive cracksman? Why had Ben Price taken up his trail?

   Ans. The elusive cracksman was Jimmy Valentine.

    Ben Price had taken up his trail because he had found Jimmy’s autograph in all the recent cases of cracking safes.

•   How does Ben Price realise that Jimmy Valentine is the mastermind behind the recent burglaries?

   Ans. Ben Price finds similarity in the style and method of operating in all the three cases. It matches Jimmy Valentine’s signature style—neat, clean and precise. So, from his personal experience, Ben Price realises that Jimmy Valentine is the mastermind behind that recent burglaries.

•   What did Ben Price promise when he was certain that the three cases of safe-cracking were committed by Jimmy Valentine?

   Ans. Ben Price promised that for these offences, Jimmy would get a full jail-term and this time, there would not be any pardon for Jimmy.

•   When did people begin to feel more at ease?

   Ans. People with burglar-proof safes felt more at ease when Ben Price took up the responsibility of tracking down Jimmy Valentine.

•   Where did Jimmy Valentine go after committing three safe burglaries? In which hotel did Jimmy engage a room?

   Ans. After committing three safe burglaries, Jimmy Valentine went to Elmore, a little town in Arkansas.

  Jimmy engaged a room in the Planters' Hotel.

•   Where did Jimmy first meet Miss Annabel Adams? How did the young lady react when her eyes met with those of Jimmy's?

   Ans. Jimmy met Miss Annabel Adams for the first time on the street leading to the Elmore Bank.

  The lady lowered her eyes and coloured slightly.

•   What information did Jimmy collect about Annabel Adams from the boy loafing on the steps of Elmore Bank? What was the first reaction of Jimmy when he saw Annabel Adams?

   Ans. Jimmy learnt from the boy that the young lady was Annabel Adams, the daughter of the owner of Elmore Bank.

  Jimmy forgot what he was and became another man.

•   With which name did Jimmy register himself in the Planters' Hotel? What did Jimmy tell the clerk at the counter of the hotel?

   Ans. In the Planters' Hotel, Jimmy registered his name as Ralph D. Spencer.

  Jimmy told the clerk that he was there to look for a location to go into business and enquired him about the prospect of shoe business at Elmore.

•   "He now perceived his shortcomings."—How did the person referred to as 'he' perceive his shortcomings?

   Ans. 'He', the clerk at the Planters' Hotel, perceived his shortcomings in comparison to the dress and manners of Ralph D. Spencer.

•   What information did Ralph D. Spencer collect from the clerk at the Planters' Hotel?

   Ans. Ralph D. Spencer learnt from the clerk that there was good prospect for shoe business at Elmore as there was no exclusive shoe-store there.

•   How did Jimmy Valentine look when he reached Elmore? Where was he going?

   Ans. Jimmy Valentine looked like an athletic young senior just home from college.

  He was going towards the hotel.

•   Who was Annabel Adams? Where did she enter?

   Ans. Annabel Adams was the daughter of Mr. Adams, the owner of the bank of Elmore.

  She entered a door over which a sign saying 'The Elmore Bank' was hung.

•   Why was the clerk impressed by Jimmy?

   Ans. The clerk was impressed by the clothes and manners of Jimmy.

•   What is a phoenix? What is compared to the rebirth of a phoenix?

   Ans. Phoenix is a mythological bird that is reborn out of its own ashes.

  Jimmy's transformation from a safe-cracker to a successful person is compared to the rebirth of a phoenix. After he arrived in Elmore, Jimmy started a new life and became a successful businessman.

•   "And he accomplished the wish of his heart."—Who was he and what was the wish of his heart?

   Ans. He was Jimmy Valentine alias Ralph D. Spencer, who wished deeply to meet Miss Annabel Adams and get to know her.

•   Whom did Jimmy write a letter to? How did Jimmy refer to Annabel in his letter?

   Ans. Jimmy wrote a letter to Billy, one of his old friends.

  In his letter, Jimmy referred to Annabel as an angel and as the finest girl on earth.

•   Where did Jimmy propose to settle after his marriage with Annabel? What kind of life did Jimmy want to live after his marriage with Annabel?

   Ans. After his marriage with Annabel, Jimmy decided to sell out his stock and go West to settle.

  After his marriage with Annabel, Jimmy wanted to give up his criminal past and live a straight life.

•   Where did Jimmy want to meet his friend Billy? What was the purpose of Jimmy's proposed meeting?

   Ans. Jimmy wanted to meet his friend Billy at Sullivan's place in Little Rock.

  Jimmy proposed to present his favourite kit of tools for safe-cracking to his old friend Billy.

•   Who was Ben Price? Why did he go to Elmore?

   Ans. Ben Price went to Elmore to arrest Jimmy Valentine, who was there with the name of Ralph D. Spencer.

•   Where did Jimmy want to go to buy his wedding suit? Whom did he agree to meet there?

   Ans. Jimmy wanted to go to Little Rock to buy his wedding suit.

  Jimmy agreed to meet Billy there.

•   "He was going to Little Rock that day."—Why was Jimmy going to Little Rock that day?

   Ans. Jimmy was going to Little Rock that day to order his wedding-suit and buy something nice for Annabel.

•   Why did Jimmy think that he could safely venture out of Elmore now?

   Ans. Jimmy thought so because it had been more than a year since he came to Elmore after his last professional job of safe-cracking.

•   "After breakfast quite a family party went downtown together."—Who were there in the family party?

   Ans. In the family party, there were Mr. Adams, Miss Annabel, Jimmy alias Ralph, Annabel's married sister and her two daughters, May and Agatha.

•   What was Annabel's observation about the contents of Ralph's suitcase? What did Ralph say about the contents of his suitcase?

   Ans. The suitcase was so heavy that Annabel thought it was full of gold bricks.

  Ralph said that it was filled with nickel-plated shoe-horns which he was going to return.

•   Who would take Jimmy from Elmore Bank to the railroad station?

   Ans. Dolph Gibson would drive Jimmy in his horse-drawn buggy from the Elmore Bank to the railroad station.

•   What was Mr. Adams proud of?

   Ans. Mr. Adams was very proud of the new safe and vault installed in his bank.

•   What were the special features of the new vault in Mr. Adams' bank? How did Jimmy react when Mr. Adams explained the working of the new vault?

   Ans. The vault was a small one with a new patented door fastened with three solid steel bolts thrown simultaneously with a single handle and a time lock.

  When Mr. Adams explained the working of the new vault to Jimmy alias Ralph, he showed a courteous but not too intelligent interest.

•  "Suddenly there was a scream or two from the women."—Why did the women scream suddenly?

   Ans. The women suddenly screamed in fright because May had shut Agatha inside the vault while playing.

•   What were the names of the two daughters of Annabel's sister?

   Ans. The names of the two daughters of Annabel's sister were May and Agatha.

•   How was Agatha trapped in the vault? Why could the door of the vault not be opened?

   Ans. May, the older daughter of Annabel's sister, had shut Agatha, the younger one, in the vault in a spirit of play.

  The door of the vault could not be opened because the clock had not been wound and the combination had not been set.

•  "Hush!" said Mr. Adams raising his trembling hand"—Why was Mr. Adams' hand trembling?

   Ans. Mr. Adams' hand was trembling in fear because he was aware of the danger Agatha was in after being locked inside the vault.

•  How old was Agatha who got trapped inside the vault? Why did Mr. Adams look upset as Agatha accidentally got locked inside the vault?

   Ans. Agatha was only five years old.

 Mr. Adams looked upset because the vault had a time-lock which had not been set and there was no expert available nearer than Little Rock to open the door.

•   With which act did Ralph Spencer pass away? Who took his place?

   Ans. With the act of breaking the door of the vault, Ralph Spencer passed away.

  The safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine took his place.

•   "She can't stand it long in there."—Why can't she stand it long in there?

   Ans. She, i.e., Agatha, cannot stand it long in there because there is not enough air inside the vault and she will go into convulsions from fright.

•   What was the reaction of Agatha's mother when no one could help in rescuing the little girl from the vault?

   Ans. Agatha's mother screamed and wailed and beat the door of the vault wildly with her hands.

•  "Can't you do something, Ralph?"—How did Ralph react to this earnest imploring of Annabel?

   Ans. Ralph looked at Annabel with a queer, soft smile on his lips and in his keen eyes.

•   What did Jimmy alias Ralph ask for from Annabel before he started breaking the vault?

   Ans. Jimmy alias Ralph asked Annabel to give him the rose she was wearing on her dress.

•   "Give me that rose you are wearing, will you?"—Why did Ralph want the rose from Annabel?

   Ans. Ralph wanted the rose from Annabel to keep it as a memento for he knew he would lose Annabel's love afterwards.

•   How much time did Jimmy take to break open the safe and vault?

   Ans. Breaking his own record, Jimmy took only ten minutes to open the vault door.

•   "At the door a big man stood somewhat in his way."—Who was that big man? In whose way did he stand?

   Ans. The big man was none other than Ben Price, the detective.

  He stood in Jimmy's way.

•   "I don't know that it makes much difference, now,"—Why did Jimmy think so?

   Ans. Jimmy realised that his real identity had been disclosed and he was sure that Annabel would no longer love him, so being free or imprisoned, made no difference to him.

•   Why did Ralph decide to break the vault even at the cost of disclosing his identity?

   Ans. Ralph alias Jimmy realised that saving the life of a little girl was more important than the risk of exposing his own identity and he could not ignore Annabel's plea for help either.

•   "And then Ben Price acted rather strangely."—When did Ben Price act strangely?

   Ans. When Ralph alias Jimmy recognised Ben Price and gave himself up for arrest, the detective acted in a strange fashion.

•   Why did Ben Price decide not to arrest Jimmy Valentine?

   Ans. Ben Price decided not to arrest Jimmy Valentine as he was convinced that Jimmy had really become a reformed person.

•   Whom did Jimmy Valentine rescue from the vault? Who was she to Annabel?

   Ans. Jimmy Valentine rescued Agatha from the vault.

  She was the younger niece of Annabel.

•   How many solid bolts were there in the new vault of the Elmore Bank? What type of handle and lock did it have?

   Ans. There were three solid bolts in the new vault of the Elmore Bank.

  It had a single handle and a time-lock.

•  What is the main theme of the story 'Jimmy Valentine'?

   Ans. The main theme of the story 'Jimmy Valentine' is the transformative power of redemption and love that can change a man's life.

•  How did Jimmy ultimately redeem himself?

   Ans. Jimmy Valentine ultimately redeemed himself by rescuing a child named Agatha from the vault. By using his expertise in safe-cracking to do a noble deed, he demonstrated his reformed motive and heroism.

•   How does the story reveal the overall changes in Jimmy's character?

   Ans. The story 'Jimmy Valentine' illustrates Jimmy's desire to transform himself from a criminal to a generous hero. Annabel's love roused in him the motivation to be worthy of her and drove him to start anew, leaving behind his criminal past.

•   What message does the story 'Jimmy Valentine' convey?

   Ans. 'Jimmy Valentine' by O. Henry conveys the message that people can change and reform themselves, if they desire to do so. Love can also act as the prime motivator in transforming a person.

•   What irony do you find at the end of the story?

   Ans. At the end of the story, Ben Price discovered that Jimmy Valentine had reformed himself and turned into a benevolent hero. So he decided not to arrest him. He let Jimmy go free. The ending is surprising and ironic.

•  How does Ben Price's character relate to Jimmy's transformation?

   Ans. Ben Price is engaged to catch Jimmy, the safe-cracker, but at the end of the story, he discovers Jimmy, the benevolent. So Ben Price allows Jimmy to go free.

Descriptive Type Questions :

1. Why was Jimmy sent to prison? What advice and things did Jimmy get from the prison officials at the time of his release? What is your impression of the prison and its officials where Jimmy was confined?

Ans. Jimmy Valentine was a safe-cracker. He was sent to prison for burglary at Springfield.

  The warden advised Jimmy to stop breaking safes and live honestly. At the time of his release the prison officials gave Jimmy a railroad ticket, a five-dollar bill, a cheap cigar and a handshake.

  The prison appears to be a modern one with provision for prisoners’ rehabilitation. During his stay in the prison, Jimmy learns shoemaking. His knowledge and skill in shoemaking helps him to set up a shoe-store at Elmore later. The warden of the prison is also quiet kind-hearted. He advises Jimmy to follow the path of honesty. So the prison helps in the reformation of Jimmy, and its officials appear quite generous and kind-hearted to criminals.

2. Describe the contents of Jimmy’s suitcase. Why did he gaze fondly at them?

Ans. Jimmy’s suitcase (suit-case) contained a complete set of burglar’s tools made of specially tempered  steel. It had latest designs of drills, punches, braces and bits, jimmies, clamps and augers. It also had two or three novelties, invented by Jimmy himself.

  Jimmy gazed fondly at those tools because it was the finest set of burglar’s tools in the East. Two or three of them were novelties invented by Jimmy himself. So he was proud of them. They helped him to carry on his profession of safe-cracking successfully and skillfully. Besides, he spent a large sum of over nine hundred dollars for procuring the set. His professional success was largely associated with those expensive tools.

3. Retrace Jimmy Valentine’s course of action from the moment he is granted parole to the time he reaches his room.

Ans. On being released from the jail with a railroad ticket and a five-dollar bill given on behalf of the state, Jimmy Valentine went straight to a restaurant to enjoy the sweet taste of liberty. For breakfast, he had a broiled  chicken and a bottle of white wine. He enjoyed a cigar of fairly good quality and headed towards the depot in a relaxed manner. At the door of the station, he threw a quarter of a dollar into the hat of a blind man. Then he boarded his train. It took him three hours to reach his little hometown. He went to the cafe of Mike Dolan and shook hands with him. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he took the key of his room from Dolan, went upstairs and unlocked the door of his room.

4. What did Jimmy Valentine do from the time he got out of jail till he met Mike Dolan?

Ans. Jimmy got out of the jail and took a train to another town where he met with Mike Dolan. But before that, disregarding the song of the birds, the waving green trees, and the smell of the flowers, he headed straight for a restaurant. There he ate a broiled chicken and sipped a bottle of white wine. Then he enjoyed a cigar a grade better than the one the warden had given him. From there, he moved leisurely to the depot. He tossed a quarter into the hat of a blind man sitting by the door, and boarded his train. In three hours, he reached the little town. He went to the cafe of Mike Dolan and shook hands with him.

5. Who was Ben Price? How did he conclude that Jimmy had resumed burgling? What did he decide next?

Ans. Ben Price was the detective who investigated the cases of burglary committed by Jimmy Valentine.

  A week after Jimmy’s release from prison, three cases of burglary were reported. Although no clue was left, Ben Price found similarity in the style and method of operating. The manner of burglary matched Jimmy’s neat, clean and easy style. So from his personal experience about Jimmy’s style of operating, Ben Price concluded that Jimmy had resumed burgling.

  Ben Price vowed to arrest Jimmy. He decided that Jimmy would have to undergo a full-term of punishment. He also vowed to see that no more pardons or short times were granted to Jimmy Valentine.

6. “That’s Dandy Jim Valentine’s autograph.”—Who made this comment? What was the occasion? What does the speaker mean to convey through this remark?

Ans. Ben Price, the detective, made this comment.

  After his release from jail, Jimmy Valentine was involved in three cases of safe-cracking at Richmond in Indiana, Logansport and then in Jefferson City. Ben Price, the detective, visited the sites of burglaries. There, he noticed a remarkable similarity in all the three cases and made this remark.

  Jimmy was very skilful  and meticulous  in his job. He did not leave any clue of his misdeeds. He jerked  out the combination lock using his own special tools. He used his drill to make only one hole in the vault. The tumblers were punched  out cleanly. This was his signature style. Ben Price knew Jimmy’s style of functioning well. He referred to this as Jimmy’s autograph.

7. “He’ll do his bit next time without any short time or clemency foolishness.”—Who makes this comment and about whom? What message does the person intend to convey through this remark?

Ans. Ben Price, the detective, makes this remark about Jimmy Valentine, the infamous safe-cracker.

  Ben Price was well aware of the activities of Jimmy Valentine and his method and style of functioning. Earlier, Jimmy had been accused in a case and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. But after serving ten months in prison, Jimmy received pardon from the Governor and was released. Immediately after his release from jail, Jimmy committed three safe-cracking burglaries at three different places. Ben Price determined to book Jimmy for his offences. He wanted Jimmy to be punished for the full term and not obtain any pardon or short time.

8. Who was Miss Annabel Adams? How did Jimmy come to know about the lady? What impression did Miss Adams have on Jimmy?

Ans. Miss Annabel Adams, a lovely young lady, was the daughter of the owner of Elmore bank.

  The boy, loafing on the steps of the bank was the main source of information for Jimmy. He gave the boy some dimes and came to know that the lovely young lady was Miss Annabel Adams, the daughter of the bank owner.

  Miss Annabel Adams attracted Jimmy’s attention the moment he saw her. According to Jimmy, she was the finest girl in the world. He looked into her eyes, forgot what he was and became another man. Jimmy’s transformation from a safe-cracker to an honest man was a result of his falling in love with her. Her influence on Jimmy is, therefore, profound.

9. What did Jimmy write to his old friend in St. Louis? Why did he write so? Or, What did Jimmy write in his letter to his old friend? What made him write the letter?

Ans. When Jimmy achieved success as an honest businessman at Elmore, he wrote a letter to his friend in St. Louis. In this letter, he informed his friend that he was then a businessman and was going to marry the finest girl in the world within two weeks. He vowed not to do any crooked thing anymore. He had started a new life. So, he wanted to give his friend the burglar’s tools. He, therefore, asked his friend to meet him in Sully’s place on Wednesday night.

  He wrote this letter to tell his friend clearly about his present position and future plans. He now wanted to lead an honest life. This letter projects Jimmy’s reformation.

10. “I wouldn’t do another crooked thing for the whole world.”—Who is the person referred to here as ‘I’? To whom did he make such a promise and when? Was he able to keep his promise?

Ans. The person referred to here as ‘I’ is Jimmy Valentine, the infamous safe-cracker.

  He made such a promise in his letter to his old friend Billy. Jimmy told him of his intention to present him his kit of safe-cracking tools.

  Leaving his old profession of cracking safes, Jimmy settled at Elmore and started an honest life of a businessman. He fell in love with Annabel and took for himself a new name, Ralph D. Spencer. His life had undergone a great change and he was going to marry Annabel. At this point, an accident occurred and Jimmy had to take out his safe-cracking tools once again—but this time not to loot money from a safe but to break the door of a vault to save the life of an innocent little girl. Thus, Jimmy was able to keep his promise.

11. Why did Jimmy think about going into shoe business? How did he establish himself in Elmore? What did Jimmy Valentine write to his friend after his success?

Ans. Jimmy had learnt the art of shoe making in prison. So, Jimmy thought about going into the shoe business at Elmore.

  At Elmore, Jimmy took the new name of Ralph D. Spencer and opened a shoe-store. It started running successfully. Spencer met Miss Annabel Adams, fell in love with her and they decided to marry. Because of his good looks and likable nature, he made friends with others. Thus, Jimmy established himself socially and economically at Elmore.

  Jimmy wrote to his friend Billy how he was making an honest living and of his resolve to live straight. He wrote that he would not do any crooked thing any more. He informed him of his intention to marry the finest girl on earth and to present Bill his kit of burglar’s tools.

12. What new name did Jimmy Valentine assume at Elmore? What business did he open there? How did Jimmy fare in Elmore?

Ans. Jimmy Valentine assumed the new name of Ralph D. Spencer at Elmore.

 He opened a shoe business at Elmore.

 Jimmy settled down at Elmore as Ralph D. Spencer and opened a flourishing shoe store. He secured a good run of trade. Socially, he was a successful man and made many friends there and won the respect of the community. He succeeded in securing the love of Annabel Adams. They got engaged. Even Mr. Adams, the typical, hard-working country banker, approved of Jimmy.

13. Write a short note on the dramatic structure of the story.

Ans. O. Henry’s short story, ‘Jimmy Valentine’, has a distinct dramatic structure. The safe-cracker Jimmy is in prison. The prison scene serves as an exposition. After release, Jimmy starts robbing again. Ben Price, the detective, vows to punish him with a full term. Jimmy goes to Elmore, meets Annabel and falls in love with her. At Elmore, he becomes Ralph D. Spencer and establishes himself as an honest businessman. These events serve to complicate the plot. The story reaches its climax when a little girl gets locked inside the vault. At Annabel’s request, Ralph becomes Jimmy again and uses the burglar’s tools to rescue the girl trapped inside the vault. Although Ben Price is there to arrest Jimmy, he lets Jimmy go free. He pretends not to know Jimmy. This part serves as the conclusion of the story. The ending is a surprising one.

14. Give a character sketch of Jimmy Valentine.

Ans. Jimmy Valentine is intelligent, young and handsome. He’s not a ‘bad fellow at heart’ and has compassion for those in need. An infamous safe-cracker at the beginning, he establishes himself as an honest lover and a successful businessman after falling in love. At Elmore, he assumes the name Ralph D. Spencer and opens a shoe-store. His learning the art of shoe-making in prison helps him to establish himself as an honest businessman. At the bank, when a little girl gets locked inside the vault he rescues her at the risk of revealing his past identity. He uses the burglar’s tools to save the girl. He proves himself honest to his new identity. His reformation from a burglar to an honest man with a humane approach makes Ben Price so sympathetic that he does not arrest him. Jimmy Valentine is really a very interesting character.

15. In your own words, briefly narrate the conversation between Jimmy and the warden inside the jail. Did Jimmy follow the advice of the warden?

Ans. The warden handed Jimmy his pardon and told him he would be released the next morning. He then advised Jimmy to stop cracking safes and live an honest life. In response to his advice, Jimmy feigned surprise and denied that he had ever cracked a safe in his life. Laughing, the warden asked how he was sent to jail for the Springfield job. He wanted to know if he had failed to produce any evidence in fear of any influential person or if it had been the evil design of the jury. When the warden described him as an innocent victim, Jimmy told him that he had never been to Springfield in his life. Then the warden once again asked him to think over his advice.

  After being released from jail, Jimmy did not follow the warden’s advice. He resumed burglary. A week after his release, three cases of safe-cracking were reported. Detective Ben Price realised that all the cases bore Jimmy’s ‘autograph’. It was only when he went to Elmore and fell in love with the banker’s daughter Annabel that he decided to give up his criminal career. He took the name Ralph D. Spencer, opened a shoe-store and achieved success. Jimmy’s innermost desire to reform himself was inspired by his genuine love for Annabel, not by the warden’s advice.

16. What role does Ben Price play in the story, ‘Jimmy Valentine’?

Ans. Ben Price plays a very significant role. He is the detective with the job of investigating the cases of safe-cracking and tracking down the criminal. He is intelligent, alert and effective in analysing situations. His power of observation is keen. He appreciates that the persons committing crimes like looting public money should be brought to book. His clear analytical mind and resolute nature bring him close to arresting Jimmy Valentine. But he realises that Jimmy has really changed and is set to start a real honest life with Annabel. The man in him urges him to allow Jimmy alias Ralph to get the much needed social rehabilitation. The greatness of his soul is revealed when Jimmy surrenders but he pretends that he does not know him. Ben Price is really a very likeable person.

17. Write a note on the title of the story, ‘Jimmy Valentine’.

Ans. In the story, Jimmy Valentine is the central character. The entire story moves with the focus fixed on Jimmy. Jimmy is intelligent, handsome and innovative. But he earns notoriety by cracking safes. He is convicted, released from prison and back in his old trade. He meets a beautiful young lady named Annabel Adams in Elmore and falls in love with her. He undergoes a radical change and assumes a new name Ralph D. Spencer. A safe-cracker becomes a successful businessman. Ben Price, the detective, enters the scene when Jimmy faces the greatest challenge in life. Will he save the life of a little girl at the risk of exposing his true identity? There is dramatic suspense with subtle twists but everything in the plot moves round Jimmy Valentine. So the title is appropriate.

18. In what sense is the conclusion of the story, ‘Jimmy Valentine’, surprising?

Ans. In the concluding part of the story, ‘Jimmy Valentine’, Ralph transforms himself into Jimmy and uses the burglary tools to rescue the trapped girl. Then he surrenders to Ben Price, the detective, who has been watching everything. But Ben Price pretends not to know him in order to allow him to lead an honest life as Ralph D. Spencer. The ending may be considered surprising because we expect Ben Price to arrest Jimmy after witnessing Jimmy’s safe-cracking with his own eyes. But it is really surprising that he decides to accept Jimmy’s reformation and lets him go so that he can begin his life afresh. Thus, the climax reaches a surprising but satisfying conclusion.

19. Give two examples of conflict from ‘Jimmy Valentine’.

Ans. Conflict in a story is opposition of characters, situations and views. It may be inner or outer or both. In ‘Jimmy Valentine’, when Annabel urges Ralph D. Spencer to do something to rescue the girl trapped inside the vault, he had a strange smile. This smile reveals his inner conflict. He knows how to open the vault. But it is really risky because it will reveal his past identity. Ultimately the conflict is resolved as he uses the burglar’s tools to save the girl. Again when Ben Price, the detective, is convinced that Jimmy Valentine has completely changed, he does not arrest him. Pretending not to know Jimmy, he allows him to lead an honest life.

20. “That child—she can’t stand it long in there.”—Who is referred to here? Why was she in danger? How was she saved?

Ans. Agatha, Annabel’s younger niece, is referred to here.

  In a spirit of play, May had shut Agatha in the new vault of Elmore bank. She was in danger because neither had the clock been wound nor the combination set. Moreover, there was not enough oxygen in the vault and she would go into convulsions from fright. There was none nearby who could open the vault.

 While all were at a loss in this situation, Annabel urged Ralph to do something in order to rescue the girl. Unable to ignore her plea, Ralph became Jimmy again. He took out his tools and, by using his pet drill, opened the door and rescued the girl trapped inside the vault.

21. What was the relation of the little girls with Annabel? What happened to the younger girl? Why did Annabel urge Ralph to do something? How did he save the little girl?

Ans. The little girls were the nieces of Miss Annabel Adams.

  At the bank, the elder girl playfully pushed her little sister inside the vault and shut the door. As a result, the little girl was locked in.

  All were terrified when the little girl got locked inside the new vault. But none could find a way to bring her out. Annabel thought that her lover, Mr Ralph D. Spencer, would be able to perform a miracle. So she urged Ralph to do something to rescue the girl trapped inside the vault.

  Ralph begged Annabel of her rose and became Jimmy again. He opened the door of the vault with his drill and other tools of safe-cracking and thereby rescued the trapped girl unharmed. Thus, he became a hero and his transformation was complete.

22. Who was Ben Price? Why did he ignore to recognise Jimmy at the end of the story?

Ans. In O. Henry’s short story ‘Jimmy Valentine’, Ben Price was the detective who investigated the burglaries committed by Jimmy.

  Ben Price had been watching Jimmy closely in Elmore. His clear, analytical mind and resolute nature enabled him to find out Jimmy’s location. But he realised that Jimmy had really changed and was set to start an honest life with Annabel. He was convinced that Jimmy was leading a new reformed life. At the bank, Jimmy risked re-arrest to save a little girl. Although Jimmy surrendered after rescuing the girl, Ben Price did not want to arrest him because Jimmy had proven that he was a changed man now. The man in Ben Price urged him to allow Jimmy to get the much-needed social rehabilitation. So he ignored to recognise Jimmy Valentine and walked down the street.

23. How does O. Henry establish a contrast between Jimmy Valentine and Ralph D. Spencer?

Ans. Jimmy Valentine and Ralph D. Spencer are the two names of the same person but at two different stages of life. Both are smart, handsome and intelligent. But they differ considerably in profession, association, place and sphere of work, financial condition, social status and mental disposition. While Jimmy Valentine is a notorious safe-cracker, Ralph D. Spencer is a successful businessman. Jimmy Valentine is a criminal being hunted by Ben Price, the detective, but Ralph D. Spencer exacts respect and sympathy from Ben Price for his honesty and generosity. It is ironical that both Valentine and Spencer use the same set of tools for cracking safes for two different purposes—one for looting and the other for rescuing  an innocent child. Ralph is the phoenix rising from the ashes of Jimmy burning in Miss Annabel's alterative fire of love.