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【Abstract】Horace， in his Art of Poetry， proposes that poems should either delight， or instruct， or if possible accomplish both ends at once. His criteria for good literature is not only limited within poems， but also applicable in other genres like novels. This thesis analyzes an English short story The Cop and the Anthem written by O. Henry from Horace’s criteria. This short story has fully achieved both the functions to delight and instruct proposed by Horace.
【Key words】Horace; delight and instruction; The Cop and the Anthem
【作者簡介】段薇，云南大学外国语学院。
Horace， an excellent poet in the Augustus era of early Roman empire， proposes in his Art of Poetry that poems should either delight， or instruct， or if possible accomplish both ends at once. Instruction is the purpose， which can be realized through the means of delight （Duan 2008）. This paper analyzes The Cop and the Anthem from Horace’s criteria. Based on his thoughts， this short story has fully achieved the effect of delight and instruction.
1. Delight Reflected in The Cop and the Anthem
The Cop and the Anthem is a story with black humor. Black humor deals with tragical scenes absurdly， juxtaposes sufferings and jokes， and puts characters who are originally in the effect of tragedy into a laughing situation （Wu 2014）. Black humor can be understood from the use of rhetorical devices. In The Cop and the Anthem， O. Henry uses a lot of rhetoric devices such as personification， metonymy， metaphor and irony to make people feel relaxed， funny， witty and poignant.
Here are some examples of black humor.
“A dead leaf fell on Soapy’s leg. That was Jack Frost’s card. Jack is kind to the regular people of Madison Square， and gives fair warning of his annual call. At the corners of four streets he hands his card to the North Wind， the male servant of All Outdoors， so that the people there may get ready.” （The Cop and the Anthem， 58）
Henry refers to the falling leaves as Jack Frost’s card. This a personification of “frost” in English with a tone of helpless self-deprecation. He call vagrants “All Outdoors”. North wind is viewed as the male servant of vagrants. This jocular atmosphere makes the wintry chill of bitter surroundings no longer dreary.
“Three months on the Island was what he longed for. Three months of assured food and bed and agreeable company， safe from the north wind and cop， seemed to Soapy the best he could dream of.” （The Cop and the Anthem， 58）
【Key words】Horace; delight and instruction; The Cop and the Anthem
【作者簡介】段薇，云南大学外国语学院。
Horace， an excellent poet in the Augustus era of early Roman empire， proposes in his Art of Poetry that poems should either delight， or instruct， or if possible accomplish both ends at once. Instruction is the purpose， which can be realized through the means of delight （Duan 2008）. This paper analyzes The Cop and the Anthem from Horace’s criteria. Based on his thoughts， this short story has fully achieved the effect of delight and instruction.
1. Delight Reflected in The Cop and the Anthem
The Cop and the Anthem is a story with black humor. Black humor deals with tragical scenes absurdly， juxtaposes sufferings and jokes， and puts characters who are originally in the effect of tragedy into a laughing situation （Wu 2014）. Black humor can be understood from the use of rhetorical devices. In The Cop and the Anthem， O. Henry uses a lot of rhetoric devices such as personification， metonymy， metaphor and irony to make people feel relaxed， funny， witty and poignant.
Here are some examples of black humor.
“A dead leaf fell on Soapy’s leg. That was Jack Frost’s card. Jack is kind to the regular people of Madison Square， and gives fair warning of his annual call. At the corners of four streets he hands his card to the North Wind， the male servant of All Outdoors， so that the people there may get ready.” （The Cop and the Anthem， 58）
Henry refers to the falling leaves as Jack Frost’s card. This a personification of “frost” in English with a tone of helpless self-deprecation. He call vagrants “All Outdoors”. North wind is viewed as the male servant of vagrants. This jocular atmosphere makes the wintry chill of bitter surroundings no longer dreary.
“Three months on the Island was what he longed for. Three months of assured food and bed and agreeable company， safe from the north wind and cop， seemed to Soapy the best he could dream of.” （The Cop and the Anthem， 58）