1. The Gift of the Magi by: O. Henry

2. What are some strange gifts you have received?
Have you ever received or given a gift that ended up being ironic?
 i.e. Sesame Street Christmas

3. O. Henry Pseudonym of William Sydney Porter
O. Henry was born William Sydney Porter in Greensboro, North Carolina
Web English.com

4. A master of surprise endings, who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City; a lot of his stories had an ironic twist at the end
Left school at the age of 15 to work in a drugstore, but was an avid reader
Webenglish.com

5. In 1897 he was convicted of embezzling money, although there has been much debate over his actual guilt. He was put in a penitentiary in 1898 and this is where he began writing.
Webenglish.com

6. Henry's best known work is “The Ransom of Red Chief”
Other popular works:
 HEART OF THE WEST, 1907
 WHIRLIGIGS, 1910
Webenglish.com

7. Vocabulary Instigates Meretricious Depreciate Ravages Cascade Discreet
Page 523
Instigates Meretricious
Depreciate Ravages
Cascade Discreet
Chaste

8. Literary Analysis Plot is the sequence of events that make up a story.
Plot is divided into 5 sections: Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

10. Exposition – The scene is set and background information is provided
Rising Action – The central conflict is introduced
Climax – The high point of conflict
Falling action – The conflict lessens
Resolution – The conflict concludes and loose ends tie up

11. Where is the story set?
- New York, Christmas 1905
What point of view is the story told from?
- Third person; we know this because the word “I” isn’t used and we don’t know the inner thoughts of any of the characters
Who are the main characters?
- Della Young
- Jim Young

12. Summarize the exposition
It’s Christmas Eve
Della only has $1.87 for her husband’s gift

13. What conflict is introduced?
The conflict is between Della’s poverty and her desire to buy something special for Jim.
Another small conflict is that Della wants to save money but at the same time does not want to seem stingy.

14. What does Della buy for Jim?
 A watch chain
How can Della afford this watch chain?
 She sells her beautiful, long hair
How much does the watch chain cost?
 $21.00

15. Why does Della buy Jim a watch chain when he needs a new coat and a pair of gloves?
A coat and gloves are everyday things. Della wanted her gift to be something special that would show Jim how much she loved him.

16. Where can one find the climax of the story?
The climax of the story is when Jim receives his watch chain and the reader and Della are waiting for his reaction.
It could be said that when Jim gives Della the combs is the climax.
Which one do you think it is and why?

17. What is the ironic twist of this O. Henry story?
Jim’s and Della’s gifts are now useless because each person sold their most prized possession to get the other one their gift.
The hair combs are no good without hair and the watch chain is no good without a watch.

18. Activities Review and Assess (page 530)
Worksheet (
Essays (pages 5 and 6)