1、The Gift of the Magi O.Henry Born in 1862 in Greensboro,North Carolina.Went to Texas at 18.Found guilty of embezzlement in 1898 and prisoned for five years.Died in 1910 in New York.“Father of the modern American short story.”Best known short stories include“The Gift of Magi,”“The Last Leaf,”and“Afte
2、r Twenty Years.”Famous for providing suspense and the surprise turn at the end.A young couple,Della and Jim,have been living in poorer conditions for some time.Christmas is approaching but there is little money left.Della is worried that she couldnt get her husband Jim a proper present.When she stri
3、kes on the idea of selling her long hair,her world seems to brighten up.With her hair cut and sold,she buys a most decent chain for Jims watch.Yet when Jim comes back home,he too has a present for Della,a set of beautiful combs for Dellas hair.The combs are bought at the cost of selling Jims watch,f
4、or which Della has brought the watch chain.Symbolism in the aspect of plot:1)Della cuts her hair to buy a chain for Jim and Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della:Both actions become“useless”as they have not achieved their purpse.2)Yet the story of double sacrifices is a psalm to the selfless lo
5、ve represented by Jim and Della.Symbolism in the aspect of characters:Dellas hair:Dellas pride.Jims watch:Jims treasure.The chain:Dellas love for Jim.The combs:Jims love for Della.Symbolism in the aspect of theme:The story of the gift giving between Della and Jim indicates that love is sacrifice.One
6、 can give up everything he has,even his treasure,for love.Setting:Time:Christmas Eve.Place:Della and Jims flat.The atmosphere created by the setting:nervous,gloomy,sympathetic “One dollar and eighty-seven cents.And the next day would be Christmas”“a pier-glass in an$8 flat”;“a letter-box.no letter w
7、ould go,and an electric button.no mortal finger could coax a ring.”;“shabby little couch”;“.a grey fence in a grey backyard.”Function of setting in the story:1)the stage for the story:a family of poor condition.2)as a contrast with the their profound love for each other.Della:respects and loves Jim.
8、1)“But whenever Mr.James Dillingham Young came home.he was called“Jim”and greatly hugged byMrs.James Dillingham Young,”2)“planning for something nice for him.Something fine and rare.worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim.”Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim.Jim:respects and loves Della.1)
9、“I dont think theres anything.that could make me like my girl any less.”2)He sells the watch to get the money to buy Dellas combs.Love is sacrifice and giving up the most treasured in ones life.The characters in the story gives up the most important they have for love.Keys to the Questions1.In the t
10、hird paragraph,there It means that Della and Jim live in poor condition.mendicancysquad:police who arrested beggars and homeless people.It suggests their condition is too poor to look decent on the outside.The full name and the blurred“Dillingham”symbolizes the familys change of fortune.Though the f
11、amilys prosprity changes,the couples love remains the same.This part helps to portray the characters of Della and Jim.Third person limited point of view.The effect of the story would be changed.In the story,the narrator focuses on Della and doesnt describe the feelings or thought of Jim.If the story
12、 was in third person omniscient point of view,the narrator would have access to all characters,including Jim.The story would not have the surprise turn at the end.Dellas hair:Dellas pride.Jims watch:Jims treasure.The blurred“Dillingham”:the worsening of familys financial circumstance.Della cuts her hair to buy a chain for Jim and Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della:For love,Della and Jim sacrifice their own pride.Love means willing to give up the most treasured for each other,at times the sacrifice may seem a bit unwise.The End
