In "A Retrieved Reformation," there are several instances of personification, which is a literary device that involves attributing human qualities or characteristics to non-human entities or concepts.
Jimmy Valentine is the story's enigmatic protagonist. A notorious and highly skilled safecracker known to law enforcement as Prisoner 9762, Jimmy's kindness, youthful appearance, and good nature garners people's trust. He has no apparent interests...
The majority of the action takes place in Indiana and in Elmore, Arkansas; the story is set at the beginning of the twentieth century. The language is consistent with Southern inflections and cultural markers of the era.
A Retrieved Reformation study guide contains a biography of O. Henry, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
