By O. Henry The Gift of the Magi

Setting The action takes place in New York City in a very modest apartment and in a hair shop down the street from the apartment. Although the author does not mention New York by name, he does refer to Coney Island, the city's most famous amusement park, located in the borough of Brooklyn. O. Henry lived in New York when he wrote and published the "The Gift of the Magi."

Characters Della Young: Pretty young woman who cuts off her beautiful long hair and sells it to buy a Christmas gift for her husband. James Dillingham Young: Husband of Della. He sells his gold watch to buy a gift for Della. Madame Sofronie: Shop owner who buys Della's hair..

Figures of Speech in the Story  ALLUSION = a figure of speech that makes a reference to something or someone from literature, history, works or art, etc.  The Magi = the three wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus  Queen Sheba = the queen of the land (Sheba) who was awed by King Solomon’s wisdom that she gave him gifts – spices, gold and jewels  King Solomon = the king who was known for his great wisdom and wealth

Figures of Speech in the Story  IRONY = it is a form of contrasts/ opposites (in general)  VERBAL = What is said is different than what is meant  SITUATIONAL = When something unexpected happens  DRAMATIC = When audience/readers know something that characters do not What are some examples of Irony in our story?

Figures of Speech in the Story  HYPERBOLE = truth is exaggerated for effect (sometimes humorous) * Queen Sheba and King Solomon would be jealous of Della’s hair and Jim’s watch.  PERSONIFICATION = giving human-like qualities to inanimate objects * “her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession”

Figures of Speech in the Story  METAPHOR = direct comparison of two things (unlike things that share similar qualities)  They are the real magi.  SIMILE = comparison of two things using “like” or “as…as”  “rippling and shining like the cascade of waters…” (what is compared to the cascade of waters?)

Literary Terms/Devices in the Story  ALLITERATION = the repetition of the initial consonant sound (effect)  “Life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles.”  “sudden serious sweetness”  SUSPENSE = excitement or tension that readers feel as they read the story  When Jim is about to enter the house  When they were about to exchange gifts

Three: A Magic Number The story has three characters: Della, Jim, and Madame Sophronie. Della counts her money three times (Paragraph 1). The narrator says that "Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles (Paragraph 2). The story refers three times to the Youngs' supper entree: chops. The story mentions the Queen of Sheba, who gave three types of gifts to King Solomon: spices, gold, and jewels.

Three: A Magic Number… A sentence in Paragraph 5 says, "She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard.” Jim tells Della, I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less. The narrator alliteratively describes Della as speaking with "sudden serious sweetness."

Three: A Magic Number… There were three magi: Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar. The magi offered three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. According to tradition, the magi were kings of Arabia, Persia, and India. The story centers on three valuables: Jim's gold watch, Della's hair, and the love Jim and Della share.

Theme: Love 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 with 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 each other.

Climax The highest points of interest in the story is when Della and Jim open their gifts. – Here is where the turning point of the story is. – The last intense moment is the climax  Jim opening his gift

 a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true The ‘PARADOX’ in the story Della and Jim are both poor, but, they are considered the richest.