1. A Sacrifice for Love
by O Henry
Designer: Xu Pingbo

2. O. Henry

3. Sep 11, 1862
North Carolina
William Sydney Porter
a bank clerk
1887, marry, a daughter, a son
1897, accused of
in prison
be released, 1901
change name
Jun 5, 1910, an alcoholic, die penniless

4. 10 600 master of short stories and tales fast writer
1904, 1st collection
2nd “The Four Million” 10
600
the O Henry Memorial Awards

5. a poor couple, Christmas, only possessions, sell, buy a gift
About the story
a poor couple,
Christmas,
only possessions,
sell, buy a gift

6. Scanning
Group A: search for expressions about their poor life
Group B: search for expressions about Della’s feelings and thoughts

7. Expressions about their poor life:
Sixty cents of it was in pennies.
bargaining until one’s cheeks burnt.
A grey cat walking along a grey fence in a grey backyard.
The place was shabby.
a mailbox in which no letter would go
an electric bell that did not work
There were two possessions in which they both took pride in.
the worn red carpet
$1.87
She put on her old brown jacket and her old brown hat.

8. Expressions about Della's feelings and thoughts:
Della wept.
Della finished crying and attended to her cheeks.
Her eyes were shining, but her face had lost its color within 20 seconds.
She hesitated for a minute and stood still while a tear or two fell on the carpet.
She looked at herself in the mirror for a long time.

9. What is her feeling when Della decides to sell her beautiful hair
Discussion
What is her feeling when Della decides to sell her beautiful hair
hesitating
sad
eager
worried

10. inside out
run
search
quick
shining
hurry

11. Prediction
Can you predict how Jim might react when he sees Della?
Will Jim buy Della a ? If any, what might it be?

12. How does Della expect Jim to react when he sees her?
Skim the text fast and check whether your prediction is right or not?
How does Della expect Jim to react when he sees her?
What is Jim’s reaction when he sees her hair gone?
What is Jim’s gift for Della? How can he afford it?
She expects Jim to think she is still pretty.
He wears an expression on his face that Della can’t
understand that she has been prepared for.
The gift Jim has bought for her is the set of combs that Della has long been dreaming of. He sold his watch to get the money.

13. …… Twisting feelings: Before Jim’s return Worry / pray
When Jim stares at her
Fear
When Della opens her gift
A scream of joy
After a moment
Break out in tears
When she holds out the gift for Jim
Bright spirit ……
Learning the watch is sold?

14. What impression does the ending leave you?

15. Characters of ordinary people Realistic detail A twist of plot
O. Henry’s writing style:
Characters of ordinary people
Realistic detail
A twist of plot
Surprising ending

16. The ending of The Cop and the Anthem
Soapy felt a hand laid on his arm. He looked quickly round into the broad face of a policeman.
“What are you doing here?” asked the policeman.
“Nothing,” said Soapy.
“Then come along,” said the policeman. “Thinking of robbing the church, eh?”
“Three months’ imprisonment,” said the judge in the police court the next morning.

17. Recommended works by O. Henry:
The Cop and the Anthem
The Last Leaf
The Ransom of Red Chief

18. Other recommended American short stories:
Mark Twain: The Million Pound Note
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Huckleberry Finn
Ernest Hemingway: The Old Man and the Sea
Nathaniel Hawthorne: Scarlet Letter

19. Bring books to life and help young readers appreciate literature
Bring books to life and help young readers appreciate literature. Hopefully, you'll inspire them to be readers for a lifetime.
--- O. Henry

22. A Sacrifice for Love
Both Della and Jim give up their most precious possessions for the love of each other.
What is your understanding of the title?

23.  Gift Of The Magi
Jim: my heart is sad, my soul is weary Though Christmas day is fast appear I have no silver i have no gold To buy my wife a gift this year To see her sad on Christmas morning Is a thing i cannot bear I'll pawn the watch my father gave me To buy a comb for her hair Della: Oh mother, mother what shall i do? Though Christmas day is fast appear I have no silver i have no gold To buy my love a gift this year For i am poor and i'm a beggar Not a cent have i, no dime i claim I'll trade the golden hair that is our pleasure Buy for your watch a golden chain

24. Jim: Darling, darling today is Christmas What has become of your golden hair For i've traded our only treasure These silver combs for you to wear Della: Darling, darling we've lost our treasure My gift to you is a golden chain Though we've pawned away our only pleasures These gifts we give are not in vain All: The wise men came on Christmas morning Their gifts of love they came to bear From that day on always remembered Our own true love forever share

25. sea in the moonlight
Love is……

26. Enjoy loving and being loved.