Tesoro, Shenna
The Gift of Magi by O. Henry
Study Questions
Recalling
1. Mention three details that the author uses to illustrate the poverty of the couple’s
apartment.
Answer: Shabby couch, broken doorbell, worn red carpet
2. What do Della and Jim give up for each other?
Answer: Her hair and his watch
What gifts do they buy for each other.
Answer: Watch chain and hair combs
3. Describe Jim’s reaction when he enters the flat and sees Della.
Interpreting
4. Della compares the watch chain to Jim: “Quietness and value-the description
applied to both.” What evidence do we see, once he enters, that the description fits
Jim?
Answer: Jim is quiet and sweet and calm
5. From what she says and does, give three examples of Della’s “bright and ardent
spirit.”
Answer: She’s described as young, affectionate, selfless, and somewhat hysterical
6. Who were the Magi? Why does the author compare Della and Jim tot them?
Answer: Wise men, The Magi were the three wise men, (kings), that delivered
presents to Jesus' on his birthday (Christmas).
Viewpoint
About “The Gift of Magi” one critic has noted: O. Henry builds up his surprise twist
very artfully, and with deft
touches he elicits the reader’s admiration and sympathy for the young couple. --
[Link], American Short Story
7. What details about Della and Jim cause us to feel admiration and sympathy for
them?
Literary Focus
Stated Theme
Tesoro, Shenna
The theme of a story, or its main idea, can usually be expressed as a general
statement about life. An author writes a story because of a desire to communicate
that general statement. Some stories have a stated theme, a theme that is directly
announced in the text, usually at the end of the story. A stated theme can be
expressed by the author or by the character in the story.
8. What is the theme of “The Tell-Tale Heart”?
9. Explain how the title directs us to the theme?
Composition
Writing a Speech
10. Imagine that you have been requested to give a short speech to an audience of
ninth graders. Write a short speech that presents one of the following opinions: “It is
better to give than to receive” or “It is better to receive.”
Contact with others is valuable because of what we contribute, not because of
what we receive from those interactions. Giving makes me far happier than receiving
since it makes you feel good. You are aware of the joy you have brought someone
else once you have given them something. I believe that the greatest joy is bringing
joy to others through presents. Giving gifts, in my opinion, brings the greatest delight
since it shows my loved ones that I am thinking of them and that I value them
greatly. Giving them such joy is the most lovely thing I can imagine doing.
Tesoro, Shenna
The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
Study Questions
Recalling
1. Summarize three specific things that Madame Loisel dreams about at the
beginning of the story.
Answer: She thought of the silent antechambers hung with Oriental tapestry, lit by
tall bronze candelabra, and of the two great footmen in knee breeches who sleep in
the big armchairs, made drowsy by the heavy warmth of the hot-air stove. She
thought of the long salons fatted up with ancient silk, of the delicate furniture carrying
priceless curiosities, and of the coquettish perfumed boudoirs made for talks at five
o'clock with intimate friends, with men famous and sought after, whom all women
envy and whose attention they all desire.
2. Why is Madame Loisel still unhappy after buying a dress? What does her husband
suggest?
Answer: Madame Loisel, whose first name is Mathilde, is the main character of "The Necklace," a
short story written by Guy de Maupassant. Madame Loisel, who is ungrateful for what she has and
apparently spends the majority of her time pining away after luxuries she and her husband cannot
afford, is unhappy when she and her husband receive an invitation to a party that will be attended by
many wealthy people. Although Mr. Loisel sacrifices the money he had saved to buy a rifle so that
Madame Loisel may buy a dress, Madame Loisel is not satisfied; she believes that she must wear
jewels in order to look presentable. Mr. Loisel suggests that his wife buy and wear some flowers,
since it's inexpensive and considered trendy. However, his wife feels that doing so would make her
look like she was "poverty-stricken among a lot of rich women." At that point, Mr. Loisel realizes he
has the perfect solution. Madame Loisel is thrilled by the suggestion and does follow her husband's
advice. Unfortunately, doing so results in a great deal of trouble.
3. Describe Madame Loisel’s success at the party.
Answer: SHE WAS VERRY HAPPY AT THAT TIME. SHE WAS IMAGINING HOW
ALL ARE FEELING FOR HER.
Explanation: On the day of the ball, Mme Lisle was a great success. Mme Loisel was
the centre of attention at the ball. Her beauty, her grace, her joy and the gorgeous
smile captivated all.. She looked the prettiest of all elegant, gracious, smiling and full
of joy. All the men noticed her, asked her name and wanted to be presented. She
danced with enthusiasm intoxicated with pleasure, thinking of nothing but all this
admiration.
4. What happens to the necklace? In what ways do the Loisels react?
Answer: As soon as they realised that the necklace had been lost, their short-lived
happiness degenerated into a shock of the worst nightmare. Matilda uttered a cry.
Loisel, already half undressed, arose in dismay and went
immediately on foot in search of the necklace.
Ad
Tesoro, Shenna
5. Briefly describe Madame Loisel’s encounter with Madame Forestier at the end of
the story. What information does Madame Forestier give to Madame Loisel?
Answer: Mathilde Loisel is the protagonist in Guy de Maupassant's "The Necklace." Though she is
both "pretty and charming," she does not have the wealth nor the lifestyle that she desires. Upon
receiving an invitation to an important social affair, Mathilde spends money on a dress because she
feels she has nothing worthy. Since she cannot afford to purchase a necklace, she borrows one from
her friend, Mme. Forestier. Mathilde finds, "in a black satin case, a superb diamond necklace," which
her friend easily agrees to loan her. When Mathilde and her husband return home from the social
affair, she realizes she has lost the necklace. She decides not to tell her friend but instead decides to
purchase a similar necklace to give to Mme. Forestier as the original. Mathilde and her husband
borrow a large sum of money, thirty-six thousand francs, to purchase a new necklace. It takes ten
years to repay the debt. After repaying the debt, Mathilde sees her friend, Mme. Forestier, and tells
her the truth about the necklace. She informs Mme. Forestier that she and her husband spent ten
years paying for the diamond necklace. Mme. Forestier is surprised, telling her, "But mine was
imitation. It was worth at the very most five hundred francs!" Mathilde learns that she and her husband
spent thirty-six thousand francs when the necklace was only worth a fraction of that amount.
Interpreting
6. When she found herself in debt, Madame Loisel “played the part…with sudden
heroism.” What did she do that could be called heroic? Why might those actions
seem surprising?
7. An old worn Madame Loisel meets the still beautiful Madame Forestier and tells
her about the lost necklace.
Why does Madame Loisel decide to tell the truth?
Extending
8. When might dreams for a better life be beneficial to the dreamer, and when might
they be harmful?
Viewpoint
Like “The Necklace”, a number of Maupassant’s other stories have titles that are the
names of objects-for
example “The Piece of String” and “The Mask.” One writer describe the center of
these stores as a single object…
dominating the lives of the people concerned… it is an object which is to mold the
live of the people and can even decide
their fate.-J.R. Dugan
9. To what extent is Madame Loisel’s life molded by the necklace? Who what extent
is her fate the result of her
own personality?
Tesoro, Shenna
Literary Focus
The Elements of the Short Story the five major elements of a short story are [Link]
[Link], [Link], [Link] of view,
5. Theme. Although in a particular story one of these elements may dominate, all of
the elements will usually be present
and important if the story is a good one. “The Necklace” is a good example of a story
in which each of these elements is
significant.
Think About the Elements of the Short Story
10. Plot: What is the climax of “The Necklace”?
11. Character: In what way has Madame Loisel’s appearance influenced her
personality?
12. Setting: Compare the scene at the Loisels’ dinner table to Madame Loisel’s dram
dinner.
13. Point of view: In what way would the story be different if the storyteller were
Madame Loisel herself?
14. Theme: Prove from the story that the author wants readers to disagree with
madame Loisel and her attitude
toward appearances. What is the theme of the story?
Irony -> is a broad term used to talk about a contrast between reality and what
seems to be real. Situational irony exists
when what actually happens in a particular situation is the opposite of what we
expect to happen. An author may use
irony to give a story a surprise ending. For example, the ending of O. Henry’s “Gist of
a Magi” is ironic. We are surprised
to learn that Jim has sold his watch to buy combs for Della, who sold her hair to buy
Jim a watch chain.
15. In what way is the ending of “The Necklace” ironic?
Composition
Writing a Magazine Article
16. In “The Necklace” Maupassant tells a story of a couple whose live changes
drastically because they believe that a
piece of jewelry is valuable when it actually is not. Write a brief magazine article
about a poor couple who find
Tesoro, Shenna
out the reverse-that something they own and consider worthless is actually very
valuable. First tell what the
object is and where they got it. Then describe their lives before this discovery,
immediately afterward, abd five
years later.