| {{course.flashcardSetCount}} The gift of the magi is a short story composed by O. Henry, an American short story author. THE GIFT OF MAGI SUMARRY – Here is the Summary of O. Henry’s 1905 Christmas Tale.. What does Della sell to be able to buy a gift for her husband in O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi? and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. Find out what Bert and Ernie gave up in order to give each other a special Christmas present. Written by Polly Barbour, Fadıl Güvercin and other people who wish to remain anonymous Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers. The story begins with Della Dillingham Young who only had $1.87 to buy a present for her husband, Jim. She flops down on their shabby couch and cries, while the narrator goes on to introduce the young couple, Della and Jim Dillingham Young. Della and Jim, a poor couple, struggle to buy Christmas gifts for each other. Which type of conflict does Della face in O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi"? However, they've given each other a greater gift in showing how much they love each other. To show their true love and devotion to one another, right before Christmas, Della and her husband Jim set out separately to purchase Christmas presents. She had been hoping to save enough to buy her husband Jim a worthy Christmas present. Consider how the story would change if Jim and Della were wealthy. The major theme of the story is the difference between wisdom and foolishness, and the meaningful giving of gifts as an act of love rather than a merely practical gesture. The Gift of the Magi by O’ Henri is a great story in itself; slightly painful and yet engaging and pleasant. O. Henry's story is a classic example of literary irony, the contrast between an expectation of what will occur and what actually takes place. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Two Friends by Guy de Maupassant: Summary & Analysis, The Romance of a Busy Broker: Summary & Analysis, A Service of Love by O. Henry: Summary & Analysis, The Soldier by Rupert Brooke: Summary & Analysis, The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde: Summary & Analysis, The Lady, or the Tiger? Without this act of love and selflessness, the story wouldn't have had the impact that it does. O. Henry makes a somewhat humorous though a meaningful comparison between the Magi in the Bible and Jim and Della at the end of the story: The Magi, as you know, were wise men -- wonderfully wise men -- who brought gifts to the newborn babe in the manger. How Long is the School Day in Homeschool Programs? When a life itself seems to be unbearable, when both heart and mind are full of doubts and disappointments, take this story and reread it. When Jim comes home from work, he stares at Della, trying to figure out what's different about her. Hiding her tears, she jumps up and holds out her gift for Jim: the watch chain. What is the narrator's opinion of the characters and their actions in the story "Gift of the Magi" by O' Henry? Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the wisest. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. flashcard set, {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | Jim and Della, on the other hand, despite their apparent foolishness, are wise in another sense; that is, in their ability to appreciate the sentimental meaning behind gift-giving that goes deeper than a gift's material worth. Here, O. Henry again emphasizes the thematic difference between wisdom and foolishness in relation to the value of self-giving love. Major Inciting Conflict. After paying all of the bills, all Della has left is $1.87 to put toward Jim's Christmas present. They invented the art of giving Christmas gifts. We'll make guides for February's winners by March 31st—guaranteed. 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From an entirely practical perspective, this doesn't make much sense because they can't enjoy the gifts that are supposed to make them happy. Log in here for access. This story made its initial appearance in The New York Sunday world in 1905, on the 5th of December. In this case, Jim and Della sacrifice their most treasured possessions so that the other can fully enjoy his or her gift. After a sudden inspiration, she rushes out again and has her hair cut to sell. With Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson, Jesse Plemons, Jean Smart. This is an especially sentimental message during the Christmas season when the rush to buy presents and get all of the shopping done sometimes makes us forget this simple truth. “The Gift of the Magi” is told from the third-person omniscient point of view. Her sacrifice and generosity make him value her. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Instant downloads of all 1413 LitChart PDFs If they were wealthy, they wouldn't have needed to sell their most prized possessions to be able to afford to buy each other a Christmas gift. Most of the action is in the cheap apartment of Della and her husband Jim. The story begins on Christmas Eve, with Della lamenting the fact that she’s only saved $1.87, despite months of pinching pennies at the grocer, butcher, and vegetable man. She wants to buy Jim a chain for his pocket watch, but they're all out of her price range. An error occurred trying to load this video. The last gift of the magi, myrrh, is the most solemn, but no less prophetic. Create your account. The story ends with a comparison of Jim and Della's gifts to the gifts that the Magi, or three wise men, gave to Baby Jesus in the manger in the biblical story of Christmas. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. 19 chapters | The story opens with $1.87. imaginable degree, area of The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men—who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. However, they still have the same sentimental value, coming from Jim. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Being poor, they can't afford to waste money on things they can't use. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons 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. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Struggling with distance learning? Teachers and parents! Inside, Della finds a pair of costly decorative hair combs that she'd long admired, but are now completely useless since she's cut off her hair. Get unlimited access to over 83,000 lessons. "A Gift of the Magi" has become a Christmas classic because it shows how the gift of love is more important than any material gift a person can give. The narrator concludes that Jim and Della are far wiser than the Magi because their gifts are gifts of love, and those who give out of love and self-sacrifice are truly wise because they know the value of self-giving love. It was written by O'Henry and has been adapted here by Stories to Grow by. Francesca M. Marinaro has a PhD in English from the University of Florida and has been teaching English composition and Literature since 2007. “The Gift of the Magi” is a well-knit story which produces an effect where pathos is mixed with humour. The Gift Of The Magi Summary. Between them, they have only two possessions that they consider their treasures: Jim's gold pocket watch that belonged to his father and his grandfather, and Della's lustrous, long hair that falls almost to her knees. The author tells us the story that happened the next day after Christmas, also called a Boxing Day. Della decides to sell her hair for money so she can purchase a gift worthy of Jim. The Gift of the Magi Summary. Finally, include specific text evidence in your answers whenever possible to enhance the quality of your response and support your ideas. Anyone can earn What is the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program? And the next day is Christmas. The couple has very little money and lives in a modest apartment. Both Jim and Della behave impulsively, sacrificing their greatest treasures without thinking about the consequences and focusing instead on making one another happy. The Gift of the Magi Story ~ A Christmas Story for Kids. (including. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 83,000 LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. It takes place at Christmas time 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. Everywhere they are the wisest. In "The Gift of the Magi," both Jim and Della make a sacrifice to buy each other a Christmas gift. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Both Jim and Della express their love for each other—Jim says that Della’s external changes wouldn’t budge his love for her. - Terms, Time Periods and Styles, History of Drama: Dramatic Movements and Time Periods, Elements of Drama: Characters, Plot, Setting & Symbolism, Dramatic Farce: History, Examples and Playwrights, Elements of Melodrama: From Early Theater to the Modern Soap Opera, Futurism, Dada, Surrealism & Expressionism, Analyzing Dramatic Works: Theme, Character Development & Staging, Diary of Anne Frank by Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich: Summary & Characters, Hedda Gabler: Summary, Characters, Themes & Analysis, The Piano Lesson by August Wilson: Summary, Quotes & Themes, Biological and Biomedical What is the moral of "The Gift of the Magi?". He has written his literary works under the pen name of O’ Henry. The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories Summary These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. It's been retold and repackaged in countless stories, magazine columns, TV … "The Gift of the Magi," by O. Henry, is a short story about a poor young couple who teaches us all the definition of irony. The irony here works both on a practical and on a deeper, more sentimental level. Della counted the money she had saved. Explain your opinion. The summary has been given here in heading-wise means each paragraph has an appropriate heading. Della has saved only $1.87 after months of effort, and the apartment they live in is shabby and broken—there is nothing beautiful in their life at first glance. This is the story of The Gift of the Magi, A Christmas Story. Upon finishing this lesson on The Gift of the Magi, you could: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. This story has been retold many times over the years and will be around for many more. Jim and Della each buy presents for one another, hoping to make each other happy. The Gift of the Magi is a short story by the American writer O. Henry, written and published in 1905. study Jim sells his watch to buy Della a pair of decorative combs for her hair, and Della sells her hair to buy Jim a chain for his watch. Della and Jim were married just a year. "The Gift of the Magi" is meant to ward off blues and loneliness. The Gift of the Magi Summary. Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Discuss the major themes of the story represented in the actions of the characters, Highlight the sense of literary irony in the story and understand the lesson that the characters ultimately learn. They never expect their actions will have an entirely different outcome: that their gifts are essentially unusable. To them it is worth so much more than that. - Summary & Analysis, A Municipal Report by O. Henry: Summary & Theme, A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns: Summary & Analysis, The Last Leaf by O. Henry: Summary & Analysis, The Emperor of Ice-Cream by Wallace Stevens: Summary & Analysis, Two Friends by Maupassant: Characters & Themes, Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen: Summary & Theme, The Fly by Katherine Mansfield: Summary & Analysis, Alice Munro: Biography, Quotes & Nobel Prize, Smarter Balanced Assessments - ELA Grade 11: Test Prep & Practice, 12th Grade English: Homework Help Resource, 11th Grade English: Homework Help Resource, 9th Grade English: Homework Help Resource. Directed by Jeffrey Reiner. Jim and Della are thinking about the present moment and the material possessions that give us pleasure. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. Jim and Della's financial situation is a major factor in the overall plot of the story. An embalming oil, Myrrh symbolized the Christ’s mortality as a man. For each question, write at least 2-3 complete sentences. The story first appeared in The New York Sunday World on December 10, 1905 and was later published in O. Henry's collection The Four Million on April 10, 1906. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”. "The Gift of the Magi" has been made more appealing to children with the quirky humor of these Sesame Street characters. What is the tone of The Gift of the Magi? It is based on a special incident in the life of Jim and Della, a couple with deep love and care for each other. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. The Gift of the Magi Questions-Answers has also been provided here.There are lots of questions for your practice. Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. Analysis. The narrator’s paragraph on the magi suggests that the true spirit of giving involves sacrifice and generosity and that the intent counts more than the external value of the gift—which is why, he says, Della and Jim are the wisest gift givers. It was all total one dollar and eighty-seven cents. A Quick Synopsis of "The Gift of the Magi" "The Gift of the Magi" is a touching Christmas tale about how far a husband and wife will go for one another, despite their poverty. Already registered? Before she can give it to him, however, Jim casually pulls a package out of his overcoat pocket and hands it to her. Jim sells his pocket watch to buy Della's combs, and Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim's pocket watch. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Jenna received her BA in English from Iowa State University in 2015, and she has taught at the secondary level for three years. In this case, Jim and Della sacrifice their most treasured possessions so that the other can fully enjoy his or her gift. The Gift of the Magi is a short story written by the noted American author … © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. This first section of the story focuses on how little the Dillingham Youngs have of external or material value. THE GIFT OF THE MAGI Summary of the Story: The Gift of the Magi begins at the small and meager flat of James (Jim) and Della Dillingham Young on the day before Christmas. Neither expects the other to have made that sacrifice. "The Gift of the Magi" Plot Diagram Example Exposition. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The comical reference to their gifts being exchangeable in case of duplication relates to the pragmatic side of thoughtfulness in gift giving: spending money wisely and choosing a gift that someone doesn't already have and might use. "The Gift of the Magi" as told in Sesame Street - O. Henry's Christmas tale repackaged and retold for big and little kids. Visit the 9th Grade English: Help and Review page to learn more. Plot Summary The Gift of the Magi is a well-known short story by American short story writer O. Henry, the pen name of William Sydney Porter. ” (Last Paragraph, lines 9 – 11) Theme 2: Sacrifice Sacrifice is an important theme of the story “the Gift of the Magi”. Also note that Della’s hair here represents her own external beauty and youth. The story is about a young couple who do not have enough funds to buy each other the best gift. Rushing home, Della pulls down her beautiful hair and stands in front of the mirror, admiring it and thinking. We'll cover the story's plot, analyze some of its major themes, and finish with a brief quiz. Jim, on the other hand, has a rare gold watch. Which sacrifice is greater? The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. Floyd takes action and Charlie tries to prove himself; Peggy and Ed disagree about what to do next; Lou finds himself sidelined during Ronald Reagan's campaign tour. ‘The Gift of The Magi’ Summary ‘The Gift of the Magi’ is a short story written by O. Henry, an American short story author. Della has just finished paying the bills and finds that all she has left to spend on a … Della’s beautiful long hair is a precious possession for her. However, what they get is something they don't expect: a more intangible gift that reminds them how much they love each other and are willing to sacrifice to make each other happy. Della has only $1.87 to buy her husband a gift, which is not enough. | 1 " The Gift of the Magi " is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal The magi were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Baby Jesus. The moral of the story, then, is that the meaning behind gift giving isn't the material gift itself, but the act of love and thoughtfulness that motivates the gift. Della demonstrates her love for Jim by sacrificing her own most prized possession—and external beauty—without a second thought. The watch’s substance is more important to Della than its lack of ornamentation—just as Jim’s inner worth means more than his salary or quiet manner. Desdemona from Othello: Character Analysis & Overview, Quiz & Worksheet - Gift of the Magi by O. Henry Synopsis & Analysis, {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, What is Drama? You can test out of the It narrates the story of a young couple Della Dillingham and Jim, also known as James. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Sociology 110: Cultural Studies & Diversity in the U.S. Overview of Blood & the Cardiovascular System, Electrolyte, Water & pH Balance in the Body, Sexual Reproduction & the Reproductive System. Create an account to start this course today. It’s revealed that Jim made his own similar sacrifice in order to buy the combs for Della. Explain. 's' : ''}}. Our. The Gift of the Magi is a well-known short story by American short story writer O. Henry, the pen name of William Sydney Porter. The combs are beautiful and expensive on the outside—but with Della’s hair gone, their external value is diminished. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Della receives $20.00 for selling her hair, just enough to buy the platinum chain she saw in a shop window for $21.00. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. The Gift of the Magi is a story about acts of love. The Gift of the Magi Summary. How do these sacrifices compare to each other? This lesson covers O. Henry's famous short story, ''The Gift of the Magi.'' The short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry likely takes place just before Christmas in the early 1900's. Both Della and Jim buy each other a gift that ultimately seems financially foolish. How does the couple's financial situation impact the plot of the story? What they foolishly don't realize, however, is that they've given each other a greater gift: their sacrificial love. Its major theme is the difference between wisdom and foolishness, or having or not having, a sense of judgment and understanding. This story was first published in 1905. Later on, it got published in The Four Million, O. Henry’s collection on the 10th of April 1906. This quiz/worksheet combo will test your understanding of this literary work. Services. This story recounts the endless love between the couple, the way they sacrificed their prized possessions for each other. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. Think about combs and chains. Della sells her hair to buy Jim a chain for his watch. “Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs.
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