Retrieved Reformation

What changed Jimmy Valentine into Ralph Spencer?

• he looked into the eyes of Annabel Adams

• he opened his own shoe buisness

• he was introduced to Miss Polly Simpson

• he registered at the Planters' Hotel

What advice did the warden give Jimmy Valentine in the beginning of the story?

• Get married and settle down.

• Go back to school for an education.

• Find a new profession to follow.

• Look up his family and apologize.

According to the author, Ralph Spencer switched back to be Jimmy Valentine when he...

• opened up his special suitcase.

• unlocked the bank's safe door.

• rescued frightened little Agatha.

• threw off his coat and pulled up his shirt sleeves.

Ben Price walked away from Jimmy at the end of the story because he...

• was getting the police.

• was not sure if it really was Jimmy.

• knew that Jimmy was a changed man.

• suspected that he did not have enough evidence.

Select the statement that Best shows Jimmy's sincere attempt to change.

• I want you to wind up some

  little matters for me.

• After I get married I'm going to sell out and go West, where there won't be so much danger of having old scores brought up against me.

• I

  wouldn't touch a dollar of another man's money now for a million.

• I'll bring along the tools with me.

"Hardly believing that she heard him aright, she unpinned the bud from the bosom of her dress, and placed it in his hand. Jimmy stuffed it into his vest-pocket, threw off his coat and pulled up his shirt-sleeves. With that act Ralph D. Spencer passed away and Jimmy Valentine took his place."

The title of the story is, "A Retrieved Reformation". Choose the statement that best reflects the underlined sentence (red).

• Jimmy throws his reformation away to save the girl.

• Jimmy retrieves his reformation by choosing to tell Annabel who he is.

• Jimmy reforms for the first time to save the girl's life.

• Jimmy retrieve's his reformation by no longer pretending to be Ralph Spencer.

What is Jimmy doing when we are first introduced to him in the story?

• Working intently on shoes in the prison shoe shop.

• Working carelessly on shoes in the prison shoe shop.

• Leaving prison with a Governor's pardon.

• Speaking with the warden about his crimes.

Which statement BEST illustrates the IRONY of this excerpt?

• The State expected Jimmy to turn the 5 dollars into a prosperous business.

• Jimmy had no where to go with the railroad ticket.

• The State expected Jimmy to use bad clothes and 5 dollars to reform from a thief that steals thousands of dollars.

• Jimmy has already rehabilitated and does not the clothes and money.

Mr. Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine's ashes--ashes left by the flame of a sudden and alterative attack of love--remained in Elmore, and prospered. He opened a shoe-store and secured

a good run of trade.

In Greek myth, a phoenix is a supernatural bird that dies and is reborn in fire. The rebirth is often better than the previous incarnation.

Which statement BEST summarizes this allusion?

• Jimmy has decided to quit being a thief and become an honest businessman named Ralph Spencer.

• Jimmy has cleverly changed his image to Ralph Spencer. There he can stay in Elmore and rob the bank.

• Jimmy changes his identity so that he can marry the banker's daughter and gain access to the bank.

• Jimmy pretends to open a shoe store so that he can stay in Elmore and be close to Annabel.

Which of the following best illustrates the resolution of the story?

• Jimmy retrieved his own reformation when he told the truth.

• Jimmy had changed so much that Ben Price did not recognize him.

• Ben Price retrieves Jimmy's reformation for him.

• Ben price takes Jimmy back to prison to retrieve his reformation.