1. The Gift of the Magi Introducing the Short Story
Short Story by O. Henry
Introducing the Short Story
with
Literary Analysis: Irony
Reading Strategy: Predict
Vocabulary in Context
VIDEO TRAILER

2. What are you willing to SACRIFICE?
INTRODUCING THE SHORT STORY
What are you willing to SACRIFICE?
Have you ever made a sacrifice in order to help others or make someone happy?
In “The Gift of the Magi,” a young couple have to decide what each is willing to do to show love for the other. 2

3. What are you willing to SACRIFICE?
INTRODUCING THE SHORT STORY
What are you willing to SACRIFICE?
DISCUSS
With a small group, list examples of sacrifices that people make for those they love.
Consider examples in real life as well as those in books, movies, and television shows.
Sacrifices 1.
Spending a week’s allowance to buy a gift. 2.
Giving my little brother my ticket to the game. 3.
Taking time to help with the chores. 4. 5. 3

4. What are you willing to SACRIFICE?
INTRODUCING THE SHORT STORY
What are you willing to SACRIFICE?
Do all the sacrifices involve material items?
Which are the hardest ones to make?
Which sacrifice shows the greatest love?

5. There are three types of irony commonly used in literary works.
Irony is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs.
There are three types of irony commonly used in literary works. 5

6. Situational irony: when a character or the reader expects one
thing to happen but something else happens instead
Verbal irony: when what is said is the opposite of what is meant
Dramatic irony: when what a
character knows contrasts with
what the audience knows 6

7. Irony
O. Henry is well-known for writing stories in which situational irony results in surprising plot twists. As you read “The Gift of the Magi,” be ready for the unexpected. 7

8. Predict
If a story is well written, it will keep you wondering what happens next.
You may ask yourself questions and find yourself predicting possible answers. 8

9. ? The Gift of the Magi Predict
In this story, for example, what can you predict from the title?
The Gift of the Magi
As you read “The Gift of the Magi,” jot down two or three predictions. ?
--Della will lose Jim’s gift
Then see whether you were right—or whether O. Henry managed to surprise you.
--Jim will get mad when he sees what Della did 9

10. agile adj. able to move quickly and easily
assertion n. a statement
chronicle n. a record of events
coveted adj. greedily desired or wished for
falter v. to hesitate from lack of courage or confidence

11. instigate v. to stir up; provoke
prudence n. the use of good judgment and common sense
ransack v. to search or examine vigorously
ravage n. serious damage
vestibule n. a small entryway within a building

12. 2. a package in the vestibule [lobby]
The following words are key to understanding this story of love and sacrifice. To see how many words you already know, substitute a different word or phrase for each boldfaced term. Then, in your Reader/Writer Notebook, write a brief definition of each word you’re familiar with. Sample answers appear in brackets.
agile
assertion
chronicle
coveted
falter
instigate
prudence
ransack
ravage
vestibule
1. instigate a rebellion
[start]
2. a package in the vestibule
[lobby]
3. as agile as a gymnast
[nimble]
4. falter in his determination
[hesitate] 12

13. 5. ransack the entire house agile assertion chronicle coveted falter
instigate
prudence
ransack
ravage
vestibule
[search]
6. show prudence in her decisions
[caution]
7. a face marked by the ravage of time
[ruin]
8. an assertion that can’t be proved
[declaration]
9. win the coveted prize
[desirable]
10. a chronicle of the year’s events
[record] 13

14. Click on the title to play the trailer.
The Gift of the Magi 14