1. The Gift of the Magi
By O. Henry

7. Who was “O. Henry”?
“O. Henry” was the pen name (or pseudonym) of William Sydney Porter
Lived 1862 – 1910
American
Had many jobs, including pharmacist, artist, banker and journalist

8. Who was “O. Henry”?
Was arrested for embezzlement and served time in prison
Wrote hundreds of stories and is famous for his “twist endings”
The plot of “Gift of the Magi” has been repeated hundreds of times in literature and movies

9. Inference
Meanings that the author does NOT tell us directly – we must guess, or figure them out
To infer something is to guess something is true

10. Foreshadowing
The author gives a hint or a clue about what WILL HAPPEN

11. Irony Related to sarcasm
Something is said or something happens that is the OPPOSITE of the writer’s meaning or mood

12. Tone
The mood or feeling a writer creates

13. Characterization
The way a writer shows personality of the characters

14. Figurative Language
Simile or metaphor

15. The story begins …
Notice that the narrator speaks directly to the readers
The tone is very formal and difficult
It is SO difficult that it seems like a joke – it IS a joke
The formal tone contrasts with the shabby, poor apartment

16. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. 1
Paraphrase:
All year she has tried to save every penny possible by arguing with salespeople. She has felt embarrassed about it.

17. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. 2
Human life has three parts: crying, sniffling, and smiling. Most of life is sniffling (in between crying and smiling).

18. In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. 3

19. In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. 3
Inference:
The apartment is cheap and poorly built; the couple is poor

20. The “Dillingham” had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, the letters of “Dillingham” looked blurred, as though they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. 4
The young couple used a more formal name when they made more money, but now they make less. The formal name seems too fancy now.

21. Tone
She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard.
Notice the repeated word “grey.” What mood does this create?

22. Inference: Della loves and admires Jim very much
… just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim.
Inference: Della loves and admires Jim very much

23. There was a pier-glass …

24. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks. 6
You can look at pieces of your reflection and figure out what you look like – but you can’t see yourself all at once.

25. She has an idea, but is frightened or disturbed
Her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds.
She has an idea, but is frightened or disturbed

26. The Queen of Sheba … King Solomon
O. Henry refers to ancient (maybe imaginary) and very wealthy people to show how proud Della and Jim feel – though they are poor

27. (Why does O. Henry emphasize how beautiful her hair is?)
So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her, rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters.
Foreshadowing
(Why does O. Henry emphasize how beautiful her hair is?)

28. Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.6
Inference:
She almost changes her mind; she feels very sad

29. Characterization
Della’s movements are rapid and she cries a little (for the second time in the story). What personality does this young woman have?

30. Della “clutters out” (moves quickly) and goes to a shop called “Hair Goods.” She runs upstairs to the shop. Notice that her movements are described as being rapid, hurried, quick.

31. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the “Sofronie.”
“Sofronie” was considered an exotic, luxurious name
Inference: The shopkeeper looks the OPPOSITE of exotic and luxurious

32. Characterization “Give it to me quick,” said Della.
Why does Della want to do this “quick”? What personality does this show?

33. Figurative Language Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Metaphor: The hours passed like pink butterflies

34. Characterization
What does it show about Della that she enjoys shopping for Jim so much?

35. The chain shows its high value by its simplicity.
It was a platinum fob chain simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretricious ornamentation – as all good things should do.
The chain shows its high value by its simplicity.
The best things don’t need decoration.

36. Grand as the watch was, he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of a chain.
Even though his watch is so valuable and he feels proud of it, he doesn’t want others to see that he can’t afford a real chain, so he hides the watch.

37. Characterization Adjectives that describe Jim: Proud -? Ashamed -?
Confident -?

38. When Della reached home her intoxication gave way a little to prudence and reason.
Della calmed down when she got home. She began thinking logically again.

39. “Please, God, make him think I am still pretty.”2
Inference:
Jim’s opinion is VERY important to her

40. When Jim comes home, he stares at her without expression
When Jim comes home, he stares at her without expression. He is shocked, but not angry or sad.

41. “You say your hair is gone?” he said, with an air almost of idiocy.
Jim’s brain seems to be broken

42. “You say your hair is gone?” he said, with an air almost of idiocy.
Foreshadowing:
Why is this so hard for him to believe?

43. Characterization What does Jim’s reaction show about his character?
Forgiving -?
Flexible -?
Generous -?

44. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them.
We need to understand that “the magi” in the Christian story brought the most valuable gifts ever. Being correct is NOT the most valuable gift.

45. … necessitating the immediate employment of all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat.
Della is crying, which means Jim must make her feel better

46. … but the tresses which should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone.
The hair which should have made the jewelry even more beautiful is gone.
(Why is the word “adornment” repeated?)

47. Figurative Language And then Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, “Oh, oh!” Simile: Della moves like a cat that was burned – in other words, FAST!

48. Charaterization Jim … put his hands under the back of his head and smiled. “… And now suppose you put the chops on.” What do we learn about Jim’s personality from this reaction?

49. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle …
In a clumsy way, I have told you the boring story …

50. … of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house.
… of two foolish young people who gave up the things they loved the most for each other.

51. But, he says, Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts.

52. Irony
The ending is perfectly ironic: the circumstances have given each character exactly the wrong thing. Unlike the Saki story, however, the characters themselves have created the situation.

53. 🙂