Characterization, Theme, and Irony in "The Gift of the Magi"

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops. Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit of saying a little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things. In this excerpt, the Dillingham Youngs are described as a couple that .

-Della does not have much money to spend on Jim's gift. -Della loves her husband, Jim, very much. -Della wants to buy Jim a really nice gift.

In "The Gift of the Magi," when Jim buys combs for Della, the irony is that Della had bought Jim a more expensive gift. Della's hair held more jewels than a queen. Della had cut off her hair to buy Jim's gift. Della's hair is too long and thick for combs.

Della had cut off her hair to buy Jim's gift.

Which could best serve as the theme of a story? time with friends Friends are often warmer than family. Friends are made at school or the workplace. friends

Friends are often warmer than family.

Read this sentence about Della from "The Gift of the Magi." Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet. What theme do Della's actions in this sentence best suggest? Sacrifice is more important than true love. Sacrifice for a loved one is not always easy. Sacrifice is part of a life lived to the very fullest. Sacrifice for a loved one does not always pay off.

Sacrifice for a loved one is not always easy.

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." Where she stopped the sign read: "Mme. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the "Sofronie." "Will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it." Down rippled the brown cascade. "Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand. Madame Sofronie's character is most developed through direct characterization, using her words and feelings. indirect characterization, using her thoughts and action. direct characterization, describing her physical appearance. indirect characterization, describing her personality.

direct characterization, describing her physical appearance.

Irony is a ________ between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

disconnect

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops. Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit of saying a little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things. In this excerpt, the Dillingham Youngs are described as a couple that______________.

follows daily routines.

In "The Gift of the Magi," O. Henry most likely uses the irony of the couple's gifts to express the theme that expensive gifts are sometimes a mistake. love and sacrifice for others is the highest virtue. material goods usually increase in value over time. it is best to retain one's most prized possessions.

love and sacrifice for others is the highest virtue.

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." "Don't make any mistake, Dell," [Jim] said, "about me. 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" Jim's quote expresses the theme that ________.

love outweighs physical attraction.

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. The theme expressed in this paragraph is that even wise people do foolish things at times. those who sacrifice for others are great people. sacrificing one's most prized possessions is foolish. wise people are often those with the fewest possessions.

those who sacrifice for others are great people.