This is the lesson to accompany the story "The Last Leaf" by O.Henry and may include extra excerpts from songs and poems as comprehension questions and language development. The actual story in not included here; this lesson is for after reading the story. Created by Coleman’s Classroom.

1. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
The Last Leaf
O. Henry

2. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Pneumonia
The Influenza Pneumonia
Pandemic of 1918 killed 600,000
people in the United States and
more than 25 million people
worldwide.

3. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Pneumonia
In the midst of the epidemic the
acting Surgeon General of the
Army noted the unusual character
of this epidemic: whereas influenza
normally was a mild disease that
killed only the very young and the
very old, this influenza was most
dangerous to people 21 to 29 years
of age. This influenza took the
strong and spared the weak.

4. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Literary Terms
Personification
Giving human attributes to a
nonhuman or nonliving thing
Surprise Ending
An ending to the story which is
totally unexpected

5. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Literary Terms
Things we personify?
animals
boats
cars
other machines
other?????

6. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Literary Terms
Surprise Ending
Who did you expect to die?
Who died?
How did that make you feel?
Do you like surprises?

7. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Still Used Idioms
fair game
something easy to conquer
joining the competition in some
way
make up mind
decide
negative- indecisive

8. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Vocabulary
Traverse
Quaint
Prowl
Walk Across
Charming,
Old-fashioned
Wander, Roam

9. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Vocabulary
Congenial
Ravage
Smite
Chivalry
Sociable, Friendly
Destroy Violently
Attack, Strike
Gentlemanly
Behavior

10. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Vocabulary
Idiomatic Expression
Chivalry is dead.

11. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Vocabulary
Swagger
Solicitous
Morbid
Walk in boastful
manner, Strut
Concerned
Gloomy,
Depressing

12. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Vocabulary
Idiomatic Expression
“The road to hell is paved
with good intentions.”

13. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Comprehension Questions
Where do the girls live?
Why is where the girls live
important to the story?
What relationship does Mr.
Behrman have with the girls?
How do the girls make a living?
What do they want to do with their
lives?

14. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Comprehension Questions
Why does the doctor think Johnsy
might not make it?
How does Sudie respond to the
news?
What kind of person is Behrman?

15. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Comprehension Questions
Why does Mr. Behrman help the
girls?
Why does Mr. Behrman get sick?
Why is the last leaf Berhman’s
masterpiece?

16. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Surprise Ending
What is the surprise?
Were you surprised? Why or why
not?
How did it make you feel?

17. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Personification
Ln 32-36 The unseen stranger,
Pneumonia stalked about…
touching one here and there with
his icy fingers…
Ln 122 The cold breath of autumn had
stricken the leaves…
Ln 277-281 It was the last on the vine …
it hung bravely from a branch…

18. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Some Themes
Winter, Sickness,
and Death
Self-sacrifice
Friendship
Hard Work
A Day’s Wait
Thank You Ma’m
The Corn Planting
The Quickening
A Winter’s Day
The Corn Planting

19. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Characters
Joanna (Johnsy)
Sue (Sudie)
Old Behrman

20. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Dialogue / Dialect
Ln 75 Doctor’s Voice
Ln229 Behrman’s accent

21. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Sensory Impressions
Ln 177 … lying white and still as a
fallen statue …
Ln 214 … smelling strongly of juniper
berries in his dimly lighted den
below…

22. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
For More Information
Email Mrs. C
ccoleman@clmn.net
Visit Coleman’s Classroom
www.clmn.net