“The Gift of the Magi” Review On Christmas Eve, Della Young is counting money she has saved penny-pinching. She upset because she has very little cash and no Christmas gift for her husband, Jim. She decides to sell her hair, the only thing of value she has, to buy Jim a chain that seems to be made for him to go with his watch. Meanwhile, Jim sells his watch to buy Della hair combs she had been admiring.

“The Gift of the Magi” Review They each sacrifice the things they are most proud of for the person they love. Della waits with anxiety and anticipation for Jim to come home. When Jim arrives and sees Della’s hair, he is shocked and reacts with astonishment because he has bought a gift for her that is no longer usable.

“The Gift of the Magi” Review Jim and Della soon discover that each has sold his or her most prized possession to give the other a gift that would enhance the now-gone possession. They are called the true Magi because they gave selflessly for the one they love. When they realize the full extent of what they have done, they try to make the best of it.

“The Most Dangerous Game” Review Sanger Rainsford, a famous hunter, falls overboard from a yacht in the Caribbean. He swims to an island and comes upon a mansion where he is greeted by General Zaroff. Zaroff explains that he, too, is a hunter and uses his island home to hunt ship-wrecked sailors. Zaroff says they will play a game: if Zaroff cannot find Rainsford in three days, he will help him off the island. Rainsford sets off but cannot outwit Zaroff.

“The Most Dangerous Game” Review Finally, Rainsford jumps into the sea to escape from Zaroff. Zaroff appears defeated. Rainsford appears, having swum to the chateau from the other side of the island. The two duel; Rainsford is the victor.

“The Cask of Amontillado” Review The narrator, Montresor, vows to get revenge on Fortunato for an unspecified insult; after all, his family’s motto promises revenge to any enemies. During carnival season, Montresor sees Fortunato, who has been drinking, and both men are friendly to one another. He flatters Fortunato and persuades him to inspect a barrel of Amontillado. Montresor leads Fortunato to his palazzo and down into his vaults acting as if his main concern is Fortunato’s health.

“The Cask of Amontillado” Review When the men reach a niche in the cellar wall, Montresor chains Fortunato to the wall and encloses the niche with bricks and mortar. At first Fortunato is in shocked disbelief. Then, Fortunato begins to rattle his chains, and Montresor stops working because he gets pleasure from listening to the struggle. When only a small opening remains, Montresor throws a torch into the niche and installs the final stone. At the story’s end, he states that the crime has gone undetected for fifty years.