Abstract
O. Henry, one of the three most famous short-story writers in the world, enjoys equal status with Chekhov and Maupassant. Some critics called him “the founder of American stories.” Exquisite plot, wry humor and twist ending dominate his works. The main stream of his works is eulogy of humanity and his many classical works are notable.
This thesis mainly analyses the twist ending and the humanity of characters in O. Henry’s short stories. With his humorous, ironical and comic writing style, O. Henry reveals the humanity from the twist ending. Part one is on the humanity of characters reflected from the twist ending. O. Henry shows sympathy for the poor social underdogs, upgrades human virtues as well as exposes human defeats. However, the previous human nature elicits the sudden twist ending. It not only gives the readers sudden fall but also makes us think plausibly. Part two is on the effect of twist ending writing devices on the humanity of characters. It mainly contains the writing background of ending which lights up the humanity of characters and the plot making technique of twist ending. In a capitalist society, the specific characters are the special society. They also foretell the fate ending. Furthermore, the cultivation of the plot and the surprise ending gives us a new open sight. Part three is about some comments on the twist ending. Some critics considered wry humor as “Smile with Tears,” or “Tears with Smile.” This part elevates the charm of the theme. In a word, the twist ending directs readers to think about the humanity. Meanwhile, the humanity elevates the artistic twist ending.
This thesis on O. Henry’s short stories will improve literary learning. More than that it will attract more people to pay attention to O. Henry’s works.
Key words: Twist ending; Humanity; Wry humor; Smile with tear

中文摘要
作为世界三大小说家之一,欧·亨利与契诃夫和莫泊桑齐名。他是美国现代短篇小说的开创者,他的作品因其奇巧的艺术构思、出其不意的结尾而著称。其中歌颂人性的小说是欧·亨利文学创作的主流,并且许多作品已成为家喻户晓的名篇。同时涌现出许多感人至深的经典人物。表现了作家对人性理想的执著追求。
本文从欧·亨利短篇小说的艺术结尾与人性层面分析。作者运用了幽默、讽刺的喜剧手段揭示了关于善恶的人性主题及其出奇不意的结尾,让主题升华。第一部分,从艺术结尾中折射的人性特点出发。欧·亨利同情下层人民,赞颂人性的闪光点“自我牺牲”、善良、真挚、无私等美德，以及人性的丑陋一面。还有资本主义社会所特有的自私、贪婪、冷酷等。这些为艺术结尾作了铺垫,使读者被其出奇不意的结尾所震撼,同时其结尾在情理之中。第二部分,作者如何将艺术结尾表现在人性上,从两方面入手:社会背景所反映的人性特征和作者奇巧的谋篇布局。在资本主义社会,人物具有典型的性格特征,这些都预示了他们的结局。而作者通过各种手法将其跃然纸上。第三部分,评论小说的艺术结尾,作者的作品也曾被认为是庸俗的小说,但他们忽视了艺术结尾所饱含的荒诞与幽默所产生的“含笑带泪”和“含泪带笑”的艺术效果。总之,艺术结尾激发了人们对人性特点深思,而人性特点又升华了艺术结尾,对读者的心灵产生了持久的震撼力。
本文对欧·亨利及其短篇小说进行的研究，对本人今后的文学路有一定的帮助。而且，可以让更多的人关注到欧·亨利。
关键词: 艺术结尾; 人性; 幽默; 带泪的微笑

Ⅰ. Introduction
O. Henry, originally named William Sydney Porter, is a distinguished American storywriter. He wrote more than 300 short stories in his life. His stories are full of colorful characters most of whom are derived from his inclination to wander streets and parks, and to talk to people of every kind and condition. And all of his stories are ingeniously conceived, with the endings always contrary to readers' expectations. Though his stories' endings are always surprising, yet it is not beyond reason, for both ways conform well to the logic of life. He creates an original, typically American democratic form of short stories with, at its best, a valuable critical awareness of life and society tellingly expressed through humor. Therefore, some critics call him "the founder of American stories". Being gifted with humor and a keen awareness of details, he objectively shows us what America looks like. As his experience shows, the majority people he met in his daily life are those lower class in society ---- clerks, policemen, and waitresses. All his stories putting together constitute a true panorama of American life, or as someone said, "The encyclopedia of American life". [1](P61)
O. Henry's trademark is the surprising ending that each of his stories contains. He sets a story moving in one direction, and just when the reader is convinced of the general direction of the narrative, the story will be completely reversed. And if we look back to the total story, the ending seems logical and plausible. As a “plot-maker”, and designer of incident, he is an amazing genius. No one can do better than him to holds the reader in “suspense”. More than that, the reader scarcely knows that he is suspended until the very close of the story. Just as turns on the lights and the whole tale is revealed in its entirety. [2]He uses this device of dramatic and humorous effect in the short story collection The Four Million which including “The Ransom of Red Chief ”, “The Gift of the Magi ”, and “The Cop and the Anthem”, “the Service of Love”,

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