“The Gift of Magi”

1. “The Gift of Magi” By: Collin Miller, Jacky Zheng, Holly Walsh and Sheryl Coe

2. Exposition The story “The Gift of The Magi” takes place in Della and Jim’s apartment. Della was contemplating what to get Jim for Christmas with only a dollar and eighty seven cents to her name. She decided to go to a place where she could sell her long, wavy hair. She went to Mme Sofronie’s house to sell her hair. The characters are Della, Jim and Mme Sofronie.

3. Rising action Della only had a dollar and eighty seven cents to get her husband Jim a Christmas present Della cut off her hair off to sell to Mme Sofronie. Jim (Della’s husband) Sold his watch to get Della combs she saw in a store that she loved.

4. Climax Della bought a chain for Jim’s watch. With the twenty dollars she got from Mme Sofronie. Then she waits in the apartment nervously. Jim finally arrives home from work a little later then expected. Della was nervous because her long wavy hair was all gone and she had no idea what to expect of Jim’s reaction. She was also anxious to see her husband and give him his gift.

5. Falling Action Jim came in, also nervous and stared at Della. He was astonished to see her hair short and not as long as before. She told him not to worry about her hair and to stop looking at her with his empty face. Then Jim said, "Grab the package and see why my face is so”. Jim got Della combs. Not any combs, the combs she had worshipped from a Broadway store, but she had no hair to use them with. Jim felt terrible because his gift was no use to Della, and Della felt compassion for Jim but forgot to give him his gift.

6. Resoloution Jim came in, also nervous and stared at Della. He was astonished to see her hair short and not as long as before. She told him not to worry about her hair and to stop looking at her with his empty face. Then Jim said, "Grab the package and see why my face is so”. She thought it might cheer him up. Jim opened his gift and then the same face appeared as before. She said, “ I sold my hair to get you this chain for your watch, do you like it”? Jim sighed and said, “ I love it Dell, but I sold my watch to get you the combs”.

7. Theme Love and sacrifice are the themes of “The Gift of the Magi”. A poor husband and wife sell the only valuable things they own to give the other a special Christmas gift. • Della said to her husband, “I had my hair cut off and sold it because I couldn’t have lived through Christmas without giving you a present.” • A couple lines later, Della said, “but no one could ever count on my love for you.” • “Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling –something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim.”

8. Point of View The point of view in “The Gift of the Magi” is third person omniscient.

9. Main Characters • Della and Jim are the main characters • Della is a round and static character • Della is slender and has beautiful brown hair • She is caring, desperate, hopeful, generous, and sensitive • Jim is very thin and he’s 22 years old • He is serious, caring, generous, and wise

10. Conflict • Man vs. Man- Della against Jim and their ironic gifts • Man vs. Self- Della worrying about getting Jim a gift and then finally selling her treasured hair to buy him a gift and Jim selling his treasured watch to get Della a gift. They had to overcome their emotions and their selfishness

11. Mood The mood of The Gift of the Magi is cheerful, heartwarming, and loving. Ex: Della and Jim give each other the best of all possible gifts, love. It does not matter that Jim no longer has the gold watch to display on the elegant chain that Della gave him. Nor does it matter that Della no longer has long, luxurious hair to comb with the gift Jim gave her. What matters is that they have is each other.

12. Figurative Language and/or Plot Devices • Allusion- Magi, King Solomon, and Queen of Sheba are all biblical references • Metaphor- “Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings • Simile- “So now Della’s beautiful hair fell about her, rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters” • Irony- Della sold her hair to get Jim a pocket chain for his watch and Jim sold his watch to get Della lavish combs for her hair

14. Group Reflection • Holly and Sheryl thought the story was adorable because the husband and wife both gave up there most prized possessions for there spouse. • Collin and Jacky thought this short story was a waste of time.