The Roads We Take Flashcards
by O. Henry — tap or click to flip
Flashcard Review
Flashcards: The Roads We Take
Where does the Sunset Express stop when the robbery begins?
The train stops at a water tank twenty miles west of Tucson to take on water.
How much money do the robbers steal from the express car safe?
They steal $30,000 in gold and currency after blowing open the safe with dynamite.
How does John Big Dog die during the robbery?
The express messenger shoots him with a Winchester rifle, hitting him exactly between the shoulder blades as he sits on the coal tender.
What problem do Shark Dodson and Bob Tidball face after escaping into the gorge?
Bob Tidball's horse slips on a mossy boulder and breaks a foreleg, leaving them with only one horse (Bolivar) for two riders.
What does Shark Dodson do to Bob Tidball in the gorge?
He shoots and kills Bob with his .45 revolver so that Bolivar only has to carry one rider and one share of the loot.
What is Dodson's real-world identity when he wakes from the dream?
He is Dodson of Dodson & Decker, a Wall Street stockbroker who fell asleep at his desk.
What decision does the Wall Street Dodson make about Mr. Williams's stock deal?
He forces Williams to settle at the market price of 185, even though Williams bought at 98, which will ruin Williams financially and take his home.
What role does Shark Dodson play in the train robbery?
He is the leader of the gang who plans the heist, orders the dynamiting of the safe, and ultimately betrays his partner Bob Tidball.
How does Bob Tidball react when Dodson points a gun at him?
He first thinks Dodson is joking, then appeals to their three years of partnership, and finally dares him to shoot, calling him a "blackhearted son of a tarantula."
Who is Peabody, and what does he try to do?
Peabody is Dodson's confidential clerk on Wall Street. He tries to persuade Dodson to show mercy to Williams, an old friend caught short in the stock market.
What is John Big Dog's background, and what happens to him?
He is a quarter-bred Creek Indian who guards the engineer and fireman during the robbery. He is shot and killed by the express messenger.
How does Bob Tidball describe Shark Dodson's origin?
Bob finds it funny that an Easterner like Dodson can outdo Western fellows at the desperado business, suggesting Dodson's ruthlessness transcends geography.
What does the story suggest about whether environment or character determines a person's fate?
The story argues that inner character is decisive. Whether as a Western outlaw or a Wall Street broker, Dodson's greed and willingness to betray remain the same.
How does the story illustrate the theme of greed overcoming loyalty?
In both the dream and reality, Dodson destroys a companion or friend for financial gain, choosing money over human bonds each time.
What does Bob Tidball's philosophy -- "it ain't the roads we take; it's what's inside of us" -- mean in context?
It means that external circumstances or life paths don't shape a person's core nature. Dodson's predatory character would emerge regardless of what career he chose.
How does the dream-within-reality structure reinforce the theme of moral determinism?
By showing Dodson act identically in two completely different settings, the story proves his ruthlessness is innate rather than a product of his environment.
What literary technique does O. Henry use by repeating the exact sentence about Dodson's expression in both the dream and reality?
He uses a repeated motif or verbal echo. The identical sentence -- describing cold ferocity and inexorable cupidity -- links the outlaw and the broker as the same person at heart.
What is the function of the simile "like an evil face in the window of a reputable house"?
It reveals that Dodson's true nature hides behind a respectable exterior, briefly surfacing in moments of cruelty before being concealed again.
How does O. Henry use dramatic irony through the figure of Bob Tidball?
Bob unknowingly speaks the story's central truth -- that inner character matters more than circumstances -- to the very man who is about to prove it by killing him.
What is the effect of the final line, "Bolivar cannot carry double"?
It serves as a callback that collapses the dream and reality together. In both worlds, Dodson uses the same justification to destroy someone for personal profit.
What does "inexorable cupidity" mean as used to describe Dodson's expression?
It means relentless, unstoppable greed. "Inexorable" means impossible to prevent, and "cupidity" means intense desire for wealth.
What does "sanguine" mean when Bob Tidball is described as "the sanguine Bob"?
It means optimistic and cheerful. Bob remains upbeat about their situation despite losing his horse.
What does "pensively" mean when Dodson looks at his tired horse?
It means in a deeply thoughtful or reflective manner, often with a tinge of sadness. Here it hints that Dodson is already calculating that the horse cannot carry both men.
Who says "It ain't the roads we take; it's what's inside of us that makes us turn out the way we do"?
Bob Tidball says this to Shark Dodson after hearing about the fork in the road that led Dodson west, unwittingly stating the story's central theme.
In what two different contexts does Dodson say "Bolivar cannot carry double"?
First as an outlaw justifying killing Bob because the horse cannot carry two riders, and then as a broker refusing mercy to Williams because his greed cannot accommodate generosity.
What is Dodson really expressing when he says "I'd a good deal rather that sorrel of yourn hadn't hurt himself, Bob"?
He is expressing false sympathy. Rather than genuine regret, this repeated statement is Dodson building his justification for the betrayal he has already decided to commit.