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The Gift of the Magi | Introduction

"The Gift of the Magi" is one of O. Henry's most famous stories. Included in The Four Million, his first collection of short stories, in 1906, it has been anthologized many times since then. The story contains many of the elements for which O. Henry is widely known, including poor, working-class characters, a humorous tone, realistic detail, and a surprise ending. A major reason given for its enduring appeal is its affirmation of unselfish love. Such love, the story and its title suggest, is like the gifts given by the wise men, called magi, who brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn Jesus.

The Gift of the Magi Summary

Delia and Jim Young, the main characters in "The Gift of the Magi,'' are a young married couple with very little money. Jim has suffered a thirty-percent pay cut, and the two must scrimp for everything. On the day before Christmas, Delia counts the money she has painstakingly saved for months. She is dismayed to find she has less than two dollars, hardly enough to buy anything at all. After a good long cry, Delia determines to find a way to buy Jim the present he deserves. As she looks into a mirror, an idea comes to her.

Jim and Delia have two possessions of which they are both proud. One is Jim's gold watch, which has been handed down from his grandfather. The other is Delia's hair, lustrous, shining, and falling past... » Complete The Gift of the Magi Summary

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1. The Gift of the Magi: Introduction
2. The Gift of the Magi: Summary
3. The Gift of the Magi: O. Henry Biography
4. The Gift of the Magi: Themes
5. The Gift of the Magi: Style
6. The Gift of the Magi: Historical Context
7. The Gift of the Magi: Critical Overview
8. The Gift of the Magi: Character Analysis
   1. Delia Young
   2. James Dillingham Young
   3. Other Characters
9. The Gift of the Magi: Essays and Criticism
   1. Varying Critical Opinions About O. Henry's Work
   2. Cheap Rooms and Restless Hearts
   3. The Idea for O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi"
10. The Gift of the Magi: Compare and Contrast
11. The Gift of the Magi: Topics for Further Study
12. The Gift of the Magi: Media Adaptations
13. The Gift of the Magi: What Do I Read Next?
14. The Gift of the Magi: Bibliography and Further Reading
15. The Gift of the Magi: Pictures
16. Copyright

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