The Gift of the Magi. By O. Henry

Question

Please answer the following questions and complete sentences make the sentences look like they were written by a ninth grader.

1. What evidence has provided in the text to support the inference that Della and Jim do not have a lot of money?

2. By the end of paragraph the reader has met the two main characters, Della and Jim and has a sense of their relationship to understanding their relationship. Underscore the stories central idea? What is the central idea?

3. O. Henry Chooses specific words and phrases to point to the stories historical setting reread paragraphs 19-20. Which phrases give a sense of the stories time and place.

4. From what point of view is the story told? Reread paragraph 45. What do you notice about the stories point of view in this paragraph?

5. How does the authors use of language contribute to the narrators voice in the story?

6. Briefly described one example of verbal irony, you have read or seen in the story.

7. Briefly describe one example of situational irony, you have read or seen in the story.

8. Briefly describe one example of dramatic irony, you have read or seen in the story.

9. Illusions references, an author makes to other works of literature, historical events, or other common, cultural knowledge, many illusions referred to people, places and events that take place in the Bible and classified mythology authors create illusions when they draw or transform source material such as the Bible and bringing significance to specific parts of their stories how does understanding the illusion to the magi, help with understanding O. Henry’s Purpose in writing this story?

Answer 1

Sure! Here are the answers to your questions about "The Gift of the Magi" written in the style of a ninth grader:

1. In the text, there are several pieces of evidence that show Della and Jim don’t have much money. For example, Della only has a dollar and eighty-seven cents saved up to buy a gift for Jim, which isn’t a lot at all. Plus, it's mentioned that they live in a small, modest apartment, which suggests they are struggling financially.

2. The central idea of the story is the theme of selfless love and sacrifice. Della and Jim are willing to give up their most prized possessions just to make each other happy. This shows how deep their love is and highlights the idea that the true value of a gift comes from the love behind it, not its price.

3. In paragraphs 19-20, specific phrases like "the streets were full of people" and "the light of the gas lamps" help to establish the story's time and place. These phrases show that the setting is in a busy city, possibly in the early 1900s, which gives a historical context to Della and Jim’s lives.

4. The story is told from a third-person omniscient point of view. In paragraph 45, the narrator knows what both Della and Jim are thinking and feeling, which helps the reader understand their emotions and the sacrifices they make for one another.

5. The author's use of language, such as descriptive imagery and emotional phrases, adds to the narrator's voice in the story. The way O. Henry uses heartfelt and poetic language makes the reader feel connected to Della and Jim's love story, emphasizing the depth of their sacrifices.

6. One example of verbal irony in the story is when Della says, “You won’t mind a gift that’s no good?” when she gives Jim his gift. She thinks she’s giving him something useless because of her sacrifice, but it’s actually the thought and love behind the gift that matter.

7. An example of situational irony is when Della sells her beautiful long hair to buy a platinum chain for Jim's watch, only to find out that Jim sold his watch to buy her a set of combs for her hair. Neither of them can use their gifts because they both sacrificed what made them special.

8. An example of dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows that Della sold her hair and Jim sold his watch, but each character is unaware of the other's sacrifice until the end. This creates a deeper emotional impact because the audience feels sad realizing how their sacrifices cancel each other out.

9. Understanding the allusion to the Magi helps us see O. Henry's purpose in writing this story. The Magi were wise men who brought valuable gifts to the Christ Child. In the story, Della and Jim are likened to the Magi because they give up their greatest treasures out of love for each other, showing that the true gift is not material wealth but the sacrifice made for love. This allusion emphasizes the theme that true wisdom lies in selflessness.

I hope these answers help you understand the story better!