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“The Gift of the Magi” page 524. O. Henry. The Magi. The 3 Wisemen who brought gifts to the infant, Jesus. About the Author… O. Henry. Lived 1862-1910 Greensboro, North Carolina O. Henry is his pen-name (William Sydney Porter) See brief bio on page 530. Questions.
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“The Gift of the Magi”page 524 O. Henry
The Magi • The 3 Wisemen who brought gifts to the infant, Jesus
About the Author… O. Henry • Lived 1862-1910 • Greensboro, North Carolina • O. Henry is his pen-name (William Sydney Porter) • See brief bio on page 530
Questions • What did Della want to buy for her husband for Christmas? How much money did she have to start with? • Something very special “worthy of being owned by him” (Henry 525) $1.87 • What did Della sell to get the $20.00 she needed to buy her husband’s present? Where did this occur? • Della sold her hair to get the money she needed to buy the present. This happened at Mme. Sofronie’s “Hair Goods of All Kinds” (526) • What did Jim buy for his wife for Christmas? • Jim bought Della hair combs. (529)
Questions (CONT) • How much money did Jim make a week at his job? • Jim made $20.00 per week (525). • How old is Jim? • Jim is 22 years old (527). • What do we learn about the relationship between Della and Jim? Do they love each other even at the end of the story? • Della and Jim love each other. They are affectionate and generous. Yes, they do love each other even at the end of the story (530). • What are the Magi? • The Magi are the Wisemen. • How is the title significant to the meaning of the story? • Della and Jim are “the Magi” because they are the wisest gift givers– gifts out of love & sacrifice (530).
Questions (CONT) • What experience in giving can you relate to that makes this short story famous? • What is Christmas to you after reading “The Gift of the Magi”?
EXPOSITION • Characters • MAIN - Della Young (main character – protagonist) • MINOR - Jim Young (Mr. James Dillingham Young) • Madame Sofronie • Setting • Early 1900’s • Christmas Eve • New York City apartment (flat) • Basic Situation • Poor • Della’s love for her husband • Prize Possessions
Conflict • Central Conflict • Della has only a $1.87 to buy her husband, Jim, a Christmas gift. • EXTERNAL: Della vs. poverty (society)
Rising Action • Della decides to cut her hair (Henry 526). • Minor Conflict – INTERNAL • She cries as she stands looking at her hair in the mirror • Della sells her hair for $20.00 (Henry 526). • Shopping and Buys the Fob Chain for Jim (Henry 526). • Curls her short hair and waits for Jim (Henry 527). • Jim is surprised and Della tells him what she has done (Henry 527). • Jim gives Della her Christmas gift (Henry 529).
Climax • Della opens the gift from Jim and sees the hair combs that she has longed for (Henry 529).
Falling Action • Della reacts to the combs– begins to cry (Henry 529) • They embrace (Henry 529) • Della gives Jim the chain for his watch (Henry 530)
Resolution • Jim tells Della that he sold his watch to buy the combs (Henry 530)
Theme • Some things in life are more important than money or coveted gifts. • Love, Generosity, Kindness – spiritual gifts are more valuable than material gifts