The Gift of Magi

1. By O’ Henry

2. What are you willing to
SACRIFICE?

3. O’ Henry
A Life Like His Fiction Using
the pen name O. Henry, William
Sydney Porter wrote hundreds of
short stories. In some ways, his
own life reflected the twists and turns of his stories.
Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and raised by his
grandmother and aunt after his mother’s death, Porter
left school at age 15 to work in a drugstore. At age 20,
he moved to Texas and worked on a ranch. After he
married and had a child, he went to work as a bank
clerk. Then, after leaving this position, he was accused
of having embezzled bank funds. Porter fled to Central
America to avoid trial. When he returned to visit his
dying wife, he was arrested, convicted, and imprisoned
for three years. He always maintained his innocence.

4. From Prison to Fame
Porter refined his short
story style while serving time
in prison. By the time of his
release, he was already selling
stories to magazines. Today the most
renowned annual collection of new American
short stories bears his pen name—the O. Henry
Awards.

5. Who are the Magi ?
According to Christian tradition, the Magi were
three wise men or kings who travelled to
Bethlehem, guided by a miraculous star, to present
gifts of gold to the infant Jesus. These gifts were
prized possessions, having monetary, remedial,
and ceremonial value.

6. Brief Summary
The Gift of the Magi is a short
story written and published in 1905.
It takes place on Christmas Eve and
tells the story of Jim and Della
Dillingham—a poor, young married couple who don't
have enough money to buy each other Christmas gifts.
Between the couple, Jim's gold pocket watch that once
belonged to his father and his grandfather, and Della's
lustrous, long hair that falls below her knees are the
only two possessions that they consider their treasures.

9. Text Analysis : Irony

10. Reading Strategy: Predict
Making predictions is a strategy in which readers use
information from a text (including titles, headings,
pictures, and diagrams) and their own personal
experiences to anticipate what they are about to read
(or what comes next). ...

12. 1. instigate v. to stir up; provoke
The protesters instigate a rebellion to overthrow the king.
2. vestibule n. a small entryway within a building
I found a huge package left in front of the vestibule.
3. agile adj. able to move quickly and easily
His body is as agile as a gymnast.
4. falter v. to hesitate from lack of courage or confidence
The dancer faltered & turned red as she rose up to the stage.
5. ransack v. to search or examine vigorously
I ransack the entire mall searching for a gift for my friend’s birthday.
6. prudence n. the use of good judgment and common sense
Della showed prudence in her judgment about the gift that she had
got from Jim.
7. ravage n. serious damage
The house was in a horrible ravage after the earthquake.
8. assertion n. a statement
Her assertion can’t be proved as it lacks an evidence.
9. coveted adj. greedily desired or wished for covet v.
I coveted & yearned for the BMW that my friend bought two weeks
ago.
10. chronicle n. a record of events
A chronicle of the year’s events was saved in the public library.
Vocabulary

13. A. You might expect someone named Mr. James Dillingham Young to
be rich. Is he?
No, he is not. Although Mr. James Dillingham Young is a
distinguished-sounding name, Jim and Della live in a simple
apartment that has a broken letterbox and doorbell (lines 14–16).
Jim’s salary has also just been reduced from $30 per week to $20.
B. What events might occur involving these prized possessions?
Because Della wants to buy Jim a gift, it is possible that she will
sell her hair to raise money.
C. What will Jim say about Della’s hair?
He will express his confusion, but he will not criticize Della,
because of his deep love for her.

14. D. What do you predict Jim’s gift will be? Explain.
Jim’s gift will have some- thing to do with Della’s hair.
E. What is ironic about the resolution of the plot?
The gifts for which Jim and Della made such sacrifices are now
useless because Jim has sold his watch and Della has sold her hair.