Name: _______________________________________________Hour: _______________

“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry (244 & 246-251)

This Study Guide is worth 25 points and Due on Quiz day _____________
LEARNING TARGET: Determine theme (RL9.1); Analyze how characters develop (RL9.2);
Analyze author’s choices (RL9.5)

Pre-reading: Literary Analysis (page 244) = 5 points

Irony:___________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Situational Irony: _________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

A Surprise Ending: _________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Reading Skill: An __________________________ is a logical assumption that you make

based on details in a text. In addition to what the author tells you, you can also
_______________________________________________________________________

Meet the Author (page 245) O. Henry life span (____________ -_____________)
Write 3 facts about the author:
1. __________________________2. _____________________________3. ______________________________

Pre-Reading: Thinking about the Title: Please record three thoughtful ideas/predictions about
the story based on the title and author information.

1. __________________________2. _____________________________3. _____________________________

Reading: Study Guide Questions Answer questions (246-251) = 15 points

1. When and where does the story take
place?
2. What does O. Henry mean when he
says that “life is made up of sobs,
sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles
predominating” (247)?
3. What was written on the card in the
mailbox addressed to Mr. James
Dillingham Young?
4. What is Della’s problem in the story?
5. How much money does Della start off
with to buy a Christmas present for her
husband?
 6. “Della finished her cry … and looked 12. When Jim first sees Della’s haircut,
out dully at a gray cat walking a gray why does he have a “peculiar expression”
fence in a gray backyard.” The repetition on his face? (250).
of the word “gray” reinforces what
mood? (247) 13. What does Jim say about Della’s
haircut? (251)
7. Jim’s gold watch, his finest
possession, is a family heirloom, inherited
from his _______. 14. How does Della react when she opens
her present rom Jim? (251)
8. Della’s finest possession is her hair:
“Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the
15. Why does O. Henry call Della and Jim
airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the
window … just to depreciate Her Majesty’s jewels and “wise”?
This biblical reference alludes to
gifts.”

a monarch known for her wealth and
beauty. What is the purpose of this
comparison?
9. Della decides to go to Madame
Sofronie, the owner of a hair and wig
shop. How much does she sell her hair
for _____?
16. Why does Jim say they should put
their Christmas presents away? (251)
17. Who were the Magi and what did they
invent?
18. Why are Jim and Della “unwise”?

19. What is the overall theme of the

10. According to Della, why doesn’t story?
Madame Sofronie look “Sofronie”
(soft)? 20. According to “The Gift of the Magi”,
what is the greatest gift?
11. Why is Della worried Jim will say she
looks like a “Coney Island chorus girl”?
(249).
While your reading: Fill-in Plot Diagram = 5 points