The Gift of The Magi

By Walter Victor, Lauren Willey, Ryan Franzen, and Sam Rutcosky

CharactersDella – The poor young women

who doesn’t have enough money for her husbands present for Christmas.

Jim – The poor young man who sells his watch to buy Della’s present for Christmas.

Madame Sofronie – The lady who buys Della’s hair.

ConflictMan vs. Man (Della vs. Jim) They bought

each other gifts that were useless for them. Jim had sold his watch and Della had cut off her hair.

Man vs. Self (Della vs. Herself). She is struggling with the fact that she can’t buy Jim a present.

Man vs. Nature (Jim vs. Weather). When he comes home Della reveals that he needs a new coat and gloves because it’s cold outside.

Quotes The following are quotes from “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry that portray the theme of the story.“Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag.” She was upset about what she was going to do but nothing would stop her because she wanted to make her husband happy.

“She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.” She was sullen because she was about to get rid of her most precious asset. Everything she looked at was melancholy because she was.

Quotes Cont.“She got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went t work repairing ravages made by generosity added to love.” She is trying to make herself presentable for Jim (it’s after she cut her hair). The end of the quote depicts how loving and caring she was.

ThemeThe theme of “The Gift of

the Magi” is love. They both sold their prized

possessions for a gift for the other person. Another theme could be devotion

because they were always there for each other.

SettingI’d say it was set in New York. The time is the early 20th century

around the 1940’s.The painting that is shown in the

book says it was made in 1940.

Point of viewThe point of view is Third PersonYou can tell because the narrator

uses words like “he” and “she”

MoodThe mood starts at sad because she

has little money to pay for Jims gift.Then towards the end the mood is

happy because she gets money and buys him a fob chain. Also Jim isn’t upset that she cut her hair and he also sold his watch for her present. Showing that he cared a lot.

Figurative LanguageMetaphor – “Oh, and the next two hours

tripped by on rosy wings.” Pg. 154Irony – “For there lay The Combs-the

set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshiped for long in a Broadway window.” (Ironic because Jim got a gift for that has to do with her hair but she had just cut it off). Pg. 157

Irony – “I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs.” Pg. 157

Symbolic Pictures Cont.

Here is where Jim returns home from a long day at work. Della’s afraid that her husband will not believe she is beautiful anymore because she lost her best facet, which was her hair. He knew the irony of the situation because she was rid of the object of his gift.

Symbolic Pictures Cont.Here are the 3 Wise Men. They are used in a metaphor comparing both Della and Jim. They gifted each other with not only materialistic things, but also with love, as did the wise men with the baby Jesus.

This is one of the covers of the short story. It shows Della and her husband Jim in a tight embrace. Their love overpowers all gifts or money that could have been given or spent to or for each other.

Groups Opinion/ReflectionFranzen – I didn’t like it that much.Lauren – I liked it and thought it

was sweet.Sam – I thought it was nice, but

not my forte.Walter – It should’ve had more

action, it would’ve been more interesting.