1. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Focus: Situational Irony
Reading Skills: Making Predictions

2. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

3. The Gift of the Magi Introducing the Story
On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat

4. The Gift of the Magi Introducing the Story
This classic short story tells a tale of selfless love between a husband and wife. Like many O. Henry stories, “The Gift of the Magi” is famous for its surprise ending.
Della and Jim are short on money but not on love. On Christmas Eve, Della resorts to selling her hair—her most cherished possession—in order to buy a special gift for her beloved husband.
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5. The Gift of the Magi Literary Focus: Situational Irony
Has a story ever surprised you? Have characters ever done something you didn’t expect? Has a plot ever taken a surprising twist or turn? If so, you’ve experienced situational irony.
Situational irony occurs when what happens is different from what we expect.
This type of irony reminds us that life is full of surprise and uncertainty.

6. The Gift of the Magi Literary Focus: Situational Irony
“The Gift of the Magi” contains a classic example of a particular type of situational irony: the surprise ending.
Whether you find the ending of “The Gift of the Magi” to be happy, sad, or bittersweet, you will probably find it satisfying.
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7. The Gift of the Magi Reading Skills: Making Predictions
We read because we are curious. A writer sets up an intriguing situation, and we read on because we want to know what happens.
As we read, we make guesses, or predictions, about what will happen.
Predictions
our understanding of how stories work
our own experience of life
clues in the text

8. The Gift of the Magi Reading Skills: Making Predictions
As you read “The Gift of the Magi,” keep a record of your predictions.
Read the first paragraph and ask yourself, “What will happen next?” Write down your prediction.
Stop at least two more times to write down predictions.
Ask yourself, “Is the writer keeping me in suspense? Is he succeeding in surprising me?”
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