The Gift of the Magi

What did Della want to buy for her husband for Christmas?

A gold watch chain, which will go with his gold watch.

What is Christmas to you after reading the Gift of the Magi?

After reading this I will now focus on love instead of presents. I will not get upset if I don't get what I want. Instead, I will try to put my focus more on Jesus, and not my presents because this is about Jesus' birthday and not me.

How much saved money did Della have to spend on a Christmas present for her husband?

Della saved a dollar and eighty seven cents.

A contradiction occurs when two statements or situations have opposite meanings. In the last paragraph of the story, the narrator first described Della and Jim as "foolish children" who "unwisely sacrificed" their treasures for each other. The narrator then said they are "the wisest" of all who gives and receives gifts. How can you explain the contradiction in the narrator's description of the characters?

I can explain the contradiction of the characters because they are unwise for giving up their own treasures, but they are also the wisest by realizing that they don't need anything for them to have a good Christmas.

What did Jim buy for his wife for Christmas?

Jim bought combs with jewels on them, which he got from selling his watch.

How much money did Jim make a week at his job?

Jim makes twenty dollars a week, he used to make thirty dollars a week.

Who is the Author?

O. Henry

Where did Della work? Give the reference from in the story.

She didn't work, I know this because it says she gets her money from saving some money from when she buys meat and other food.

What did Della sell to get the $20.00 she needed to buy her husband's present?

She sold her hair

Why do you think Della "flopped down on the couch and howled"?

She wanted to buy Jim something good for Christmas, but couldn't since she didn't have enough money.

What point was the narrator trying to emphasize by alluding to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, legendary rulers from biblical times, renown for their wealth?

Solomon is one of the richest men in the Bible and Della and Jim are poor, but Della's hair would be the envy of Queen Sheba and Jim's watch would be the envy of Solomon.

Find and explain two examples of literary devices the author used in the story.

Some examples of literary elements used in the story are imagery, similes, metaphors, and irony. *Simile- And then Della leaped up like a little singed cat & Metaphor- Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings*.

Why was it so ironic that the card on the letter box bore the name, "Mr. James Dillingham Young"?

The card on the outside door is written like rich people live there instead of the young's. Della and Jim are poor.

Who are magi?

The magi were wise men who brought gifts to the newborn child Jesus.

How do the magi and their significance relate to the meaning of the story?

The magi's significance relates to the meaning of the story because all of them showed affection towards others beside themselves.

What was the real gift referred to in the title?

The real gift was the fact that they realized they both deeply love each other by sacrificing for each other.

What was the theme of the story?

The theme of the story is love and sacrifice. In the story, each character shows love towards one another by sacrificing what they had for each other. This shows that the best gift is not an item, but true love.

What was the narrator's tone in this story?

The tone of the story is love. Each character wants to show love by buying a gift for each other, but can't without giving up what they have.

Della says to herself, "If Jim doesn't kill me before he takes a look at me..." What was she talking about? How did this create an ironic situation?

This creates an ironic situation because she is afraid that Jim will judge her and not love her anymore.

What did we learn about the relationship between Della and Jim? Did they love each other still after the events of the story?

We learn that they still do love each other, even after the event because they both showed love by giving up their most prized things for each other.