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What are the questions about The Gift of the Magi?
‘The Gift of the Magi’ Discussion Questions
- What is important about the title?
- What are some central ideas or themes of the story?
- What are some conflicts in the story?
- List a metaphor or comparison in the story.
What is The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry about?
“The Gift of the Magi” is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money.
What are some central ideas or themes of the story The Gift of the Magi?
The theme of the story is that the greatest gift of all is unconditional love. Through the sacrifices Della and Jim make for one another, they prove love is more important than material possessions. As the narrator says: “Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest.”
What message you get from the text The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry?
The main idea of “The Gift of the Magi” is that the value of a gift is in the giver, rather than the gift itself. Jim and Della, out of their love for each other, purchased a gift that required them to sacrifice something that was precious to them.
Why did Della count thrice?
Della counted her money three times to make sure that her savings were too small. She had expected that she could save more but when she found her savings was only $1.87, she counted it again and again.
Why was Della sobbing and sniffing?
Expert-verified answer Della sat down and cried because she wanted to buy a Christmas present for her husband Jim but did not have enough money to do so.
Do you agree that love and sacrifice is the theme of the story why?
Yes, I agree that love and sacrifice is the theme of the story, The Gift of the Magi by O Henry because it is the love that they had for each other made them sacrifice for each other also.
Why is Della sad Christmas Eve?
Della is unhappy because she has been saving money all year to buy her husband Jim a nice Christmas present and has only been able to save one dollar and eighty-seven cents. This is what motivates her to sell her long, beautiful hair, an action from which the remainder of the story unfolds.
Why did Della think of selling her hair?
Della is most proud of her beautiful long hair. But she really wants to buy that gold chain for Jim’s watch. Too bad she only has $1.87. So, she decides to sell her hair to a woman who makes wigs and other hair articles.
What is the irony at the end of the Gift of Magi?
At the end of the story Della cuts and sells her hair to buy Jim a chain for his watch, and Jim sells his watch to buy Della combs for her hair. Here we have a classic case of irony. The determination to find the perfect gift leads each character to make a sacrifice; that sacrifice makes each gift useless.
Why did Della save pennies?
Answer: Della has been trying to save money for Jim’s Christmas present by haggling with the merchants she traded with: ONE DOLLAR AND eighty-seven cents. About her only way of saving money was by haggling with the merchants when she went shopping.
Why did Della count her money three times?
What message is O. Henry trying to convey about wealth in The Gift of the Magi?
By O. The main characters are very poor – this is repeatedly emphasized – and yet the story suggests that their love for each other makes them very rich. It is that love, which motivates them to give up the only things of monetary (or personal) value they have to buy presents for each other.
Why can Della and Jim not use the gift they give to each other?
Jim and Della sacrificed their precious things to buy each other a fitting gift. The gifts turned out to be of no use for both of them. Della could not use the set of combs that Jim bought for her as her hair was gone. Jim could not use the fob chain as he had sold his watch to pay for her combs.
Why was Della proud of her hair?
Solution. Dell’s hair beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters, which she was proud of.
What is the real gift referred to in the title?
What is the real “gift” referred to in the title? The real “gift”referred to in the title is gift of their love. The gift of them being together. An ironic situation is one that turns out to be just the opposite of what we–or the characters in the story expect.
What is the theme of the gift of the Magi?
The theme, a main idea or message of a story, is an important literary element. These questions will assess student’s knowledge identifying themes in ”The Gift of the Magi.” Explain the meaning of the short story title, ”The Gift of the Magi.” Young love is a strong theme present in ”The Gift of the Magi.”
How is the gift of the Magi different from Jim’s gift?
But the gift of Magi could be regarded as duplicate one in comparison with Jim and Della for the Magi collected their gifts merely against money. Explain the irony in the title of the story, ‘The Gift of the Magi.’ The story “ The gift of the Magi ” allusively unfolds an undercurrent relationship between the Magi and that of Jim and Della.
Why are they called the Magi and what do they do?
They are the magi because like the Magi who made gifts to Jesus, their dearest person, they made gift to their dearest persons but of love for each other.
What kind of narrator is in the gift of the Magi?
The narrator maintains a wise, yet casual and colloquial, presence throughout “The Gift of the Magi.” Hardly the “objective observer” associated with most conventional third-person omniscient narrators, the narrator often digresses from the story’s action to share their insights on characters or to communicate grand ruminations on love or life.