The gift of the maji

It symbolizes how Della can only see part of the world, the poor part because the pier glass is very thin so you can only see out a little part.

Describe the "pier-glass" in the apartment. Now that you know the twist at the end of the tail, examine how this object symbolically relates to Della.

"She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard." Della is in this mood because she does not have enough money to buy her husband a Christmas present.

Early in the story, you will find a line in which the author uses imagery and repetition to make the setting reflect Della's mood. Give the quote and explain why Della is in this mood.

The title of the story is "the gift of the Magi" because the couple gave up what they treasure for the person they love. In the last paragraph, the writer says, "of all who give gifts these two were the wisest." He is relating how, in the Christmas story, the magi gave wise gifts out of love. Now the couple is giving each other love. This makes them the magi.

Explain the reference of the title.

she was nervous so she talked a lot and really fast when James came home

How did Della act when James came home?

The story said, "Dear Jim"

How do we know that Della loved Jim at the beginning of the story?

$21

How much did Della spend on the chain?

Eight dollars per week

How much did the couple pay in rent for their apartment

$20 per week. It was $30 per week

How much does the husband get paid? How much was he paid before?

$1.87

How much money did Della have at the beginning of the story

$20

How much was Della paid for her hair?

The poor couple does not receive any mail, and their bell was so rusty, it would not work. They have no money, so no one visits them.

In the fourth paragraph, the narrator tells us that the young couple's apartment had "A letter box into which no letter would go and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring." What does the narrator mean?

"Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating." "She went on with sudden serious sweetness."

The author uses to notable sentences featuring alliteration. Write both of those sentences and underline the parts that are alliterative.

Love can cause damage. Even though I don't look at her hair out of love, it still damaged her.

The narrator says, "she got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love. Which is always a tremendous task, dear friends - a mammoth task." Explain what the narrator means. How is this passage an element of foreshadowing?

The chain is pure, solid, and strong. It cannot be broken and it last forever, just like the couple's love.

The platinum chain is a symbol of the story, holding a much deeper meaning than the reader might notice at first. Symbolically analyze the chain and explained the deeper meaning this item holds

Christmas eve

What day is the story set

Allusion

What is the literary element of this: "Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had king Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy."

The gold watch and Della's hair

What were the two prized possessions?

Mme. Sofronie.

Where did Della her haircut?

Della, Mr. James Dillingham, Madame Sofronie

Who are the main characters?

O. Henry

Who is the gift of the Magi by

Writers used pseudonyms because others did not like writers because they talked about what they don't like especially about the government. People would kill writers.

Why does the author go by the name O. Henry

he apologized for acting weird

what did James say when Della asked told him to say something