illustration of two people, a woman and a man, looking at one another in profile with an ornate hair comb between them

The Gift of the Magi

by O. Henry

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The Gift of the Magi

Examples of figurative language in "The Gift of the Magi" include similes, such as comparing Della's hair to a "cascade of brown waters," and metaphors, like referring to the couple's prized...

7 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi," the name "Sofronie" is used by a character to present herself as foreign and aristocratic, but her speech and demeanor suggest she is likely of Irish descent and not very...

2 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry follows a classic plot structure with exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The exposition introduces Jim and Della, a poor couple...

10 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi," Jim's reaction to Della's haircut is initially one of disbelief and confusion, which terrifies Della. He doesn't express anger or disappointment, but rather a peculiar...

7 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, there are two sentences featuring alliteration. The first instance is "So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs,...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

The irony in Jim and Della's exchanged gifts lies in their sacrifices. Della sells her hair to buy Jim a chain for his watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy Della combs for her hair. Their gifts...

14 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The primary literary device used in "The Gift of the Magi" is irony. The story features situational irony, where both main characters, Jim and Della, sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy...

5 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Personal reflections on "The Gift of the Magi" often highlight the story's emotional impact and its themes of love and sacrifice. Readers typically enjoy the touching narrative of Jim and Della's...

5 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Jim and Della exhibit both foolishness and wisdom in "The Gift of the Magi" by sacrificing their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other, which ultimately renders the gifts useless. Their...

15 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi," the phrase "tripped by on rosy wings" metaphorically describes how quickly and delightfully the next two hours pass for Della, once she gets the money needed to buy a...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

The main conflict in O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" centers on the poverty of the protagonists, Jim and Della, who wish to buy meaningful Christmas gifts for each other despite their financial...

9 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi," the "wrong answer" would be to say that a million dollars is worth far more than eight. The right answer is that the love Della and Jim share is worth far more than any...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Della Young, the protagonist in O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," is portrayed as a deeply loving, selfless, and generous character. Despite her poverty, she is determined to buy a meaningful...

9 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi," Della's comparison to the Queen of Sheba highlights the value she places on her long hair. O. Henry uses hyperbole to suggest that Della's hair would outshine the Queen's...

2 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The conflicts in "The Gift of the Magi" include man vs. himself and man vs. man. Della experiences internal conflict (man vs. himself) as she struggles with her decision to cut her cherished hair to...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The purpose of paragraph 5's discussion of the name "Dillingham" is to highlight the contrast between social status and personal affection. It illustrates how Jim and Della's previous financial...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

The surprise ending in "The Gift of the Magi" is crucial as it highlights the themes of love and sacrifice. Both Della and Jim sell their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other, only to...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Possible alternate endings for "The Gift of the Magi" could explore different outcomes based on the couple's selfless acts. One version might have Jim and Della discovering their gifts before...

5 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The quote from "The Gift of the Magi" illustrates Madame Sofronie's lack of sophistication and impersonality. When Della offers to sell her hair, Madame Sofronie responds bluntly, reflecting her...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi," O. Henry references King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba to highlight the immense value of Jim and Della's sacrifices for each other. These biblical figures symbolize wealth...

2 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Della's slenderness aids her in "The Gift of the Magi" by allowing her to see her reflection in the narrow pier-glass mirror. Living in a cheap apartment with a low-quality mirror, Della's thin frame...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

The "hashed metaphor" in the quote from "The Gift of the Magi" is "the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings." By "hashed," O. Henry means the metaphor is trite, overused, and not very good, as...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

Foreshadowing in "The Gift of the Magi" appears through subtle hints about the couple's sacrifices for each other. For example, Della's concern about her hair hints at its future sale, and Jim's...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The main characters in "The Gift of the Magi" are Jim and Della Young, a poor married couple who each sacrifice their most prized possession to buy a Christmas gift for the other. Della sells her...

8 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The line means that the magi’s gifts were wise, valuable, and practical, with the possibility of exchange if duplicated. O. Henry contrasts this with Jim and Della’s gifts, which seem unwise as they...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

Direct characterization in "The Gift of the Magi" includes explicit descriptions, such as Della's long, beautiful hair and Jim's prized watch. Indirect characterization is shown through their actions...

6 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Jim in O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" is a loving, kind, and self-sacrificing husband. Despite financial hardships, he sells his prized gold watch to buy his wife a gift, demonstrating his deep...

7 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," Jim and Della's most valued possessions are Jim's gold watch, a family heirloom, and Della's long hair. They each sacrifice these prized items to buy Christmas...

9 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," Jim and Della Dillingham Young are depicted as "foolish children" who sacrifice their most valued possessions—Della's hair and Jim's watch—to buy gifts for each...

7 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi", the resolution occurs when Jim and Della discover they've sold their prized possessions to buy gifts for each other, rendering the new gifts useless. Despite this...

2 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The number three in "The Gift of the Magi" holds significance through its recurrence, symbolizing the three wise men and their gifts. This allusion underlines the theme of selfless giving, mirroring...

4 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Della saves money through frugality and sacrifice. She scrimps on groceries, negotiates with merchants, and saves every penny she can, even resorting to haggling. Despite her best efforts, she only...

5 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," Della and Jim, a financially struggling couple, each sacrifice their most treasured possession to buy a Christmas gift for the other, highlighting their deep...

9 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The significance of the Magi in "The Gift of the Magi" lies in their embodiment of wisdom and selflessness. The main characters, Jim and Della, mirror these qualities through their self-sacrificial...

4 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The passages from "The Gift of the Magi" highlight Della's embarrassment over appearing stingy when bargaining with familiar shopkeepers and describe her and Jim's modest living conditions....

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi," the external conflict arises from Jim and Della's financial struggles, which hinder their ability to buy meaningful Christmas gifts for each other. The resolution occurs...

5 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Madame Sofronie is a minor character in "The Gift of the Magi." She is the owner of a hair goods shop where Della sells her long hair to buy a Christmas gift for her husband, Jim. Sofronie is...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," Jim and Della, a financially struggling couple, each sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other. Della sells her long hair to purchase a...

10 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Jim and Della take pride in Jim's gold watch and Della's long, beautiful hair. These possessions are significant to them as they symbolize personal and sentimental value, which ultimately leads them...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Della's hair in "The Gift of the Magi" symbolizes her love and selflessness. By cutting and selling her long, beautiful hair to buy a gift for her husband, Jim, she demonstrates the depth of her...

5 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The genre of "The Gift of the Magi" is a short story, specifically in the subcategory of "Seasonal" due to its Christmas theme. The structure follows typical short story elements with a focus on...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

The pier glass symbolizes Della's relationship with her hair and reflects her willingness to sacrifice it for love. Literally, it prompts her idea to sell her hair for a gift. Metaphorically, it...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Jim is described as being twenty-two years old. He has a thin, serious appearance, with a worn look that suggests he has faced many hardships in life despite his young age.

6 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Della first tells Jim that her hair grows fast in order to reassure him that she will soon look like her old self again, as she did before she cut off all her hair and sold it. Della next tells Jim...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The sentence about the gray cat in O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" accentuates Della and Jim's bleak financial situation. The repetition of "gray" emphasizes the dreariness and lack of color in...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

The italicized sections highlight the contrast between past prosperity and current poverty faced by the Youngs. The broken mailbox and non-functional electric button symbolize their deteriorated...

2 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

If I were in Jim or Della's situation, I would focus on creativity and personal connection rather than material gifts. Many people recall times when financial constraints led to more meaningful,...

3 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

Della's cheeks burn with the silent imputation of parsimony because she feels embarrassed by the appearance of being stingy. In O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," she scrupulously saves pennies by...

2 educator answers

The Gift of the Magi

In "The Gift of the Magi," Della feels embarrassed as she bargains hard with shopkeepers to save every penny, which makes her cheeks burn with the silent accusation of being miserly, or "parsimony."...

1 educator answer

The Gift of the Magi

A sequel to "The Gift of the Magi" could explore the next generation, with Jim and Della's children facing similar dilemmas between material possessions and love. Another idea involves Jim and Della...

6 educator answers