The Last Leaf

The Last Leaf

How is heroism and irony conveyed through this short story?

BUT FIRST...

a quick vocabulary review of Lesson 5 stems and words! 😉

Multiple Choice

She added a postscript to the letter.

• bad

• after

• away

• half

• around

Multiple Choice

Mrs. Marshall drew an equilateral triangle.

• between

• not

• away

• half

• equal

Multiple Choice

Following the car accident, the posterior area of her brain was damaged.

• fair, impartial

• got around

• near the front

• at the back

• clumsy

Multiple Choice

The billionaire's anteroom was larger than our whole house.

• fair, impartial

• got around

• near the front

• at the back

• clumsy

Multiple Choice

The clown was not malicious.

• bad

• after

• away

• half

• around

Multiple Choice

Amelia attempted to circumnavigate the globe.

• bad

• after

• away

• half

• around

Discuss: What is irony?

What is the purpose of irony?

Discuss: What is heroism?

What are some character traits associated with heroism? (Think back to Christopher Reeve.)

Multiple Choice

Which one is not a type of irony?

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• steamy irony

• verbal irony

Multiple Choice

Where does the story take place?

• Greenwich Village

• Green Village

• Green Street

• Greenwich street

Multiple Choice

What kind of people live in Greenwich Village?

• artists

• doctors

• teachers

• police officers

Multiple Choice

Though pneumonia is an illness, O. Henry personifies it in the story, calling it "Mr. Pnemonia" and compares the illness to an invisible stranger who stalks about the streets "touching one here and there with his icy fingers."

This is also an example of which literary device?

• a metaphor

• a simile

• irony

Open Ended

What else do you know about the setting of the story?

Think: When and where does the story take place?

Multiple Choice

What did Johnsy wish to paint?

• A romantic sunset

• The Last Leaf

• The Mediterranean

• The Bay of Naples

If you will get her to ask one

Multiple Select

Who are the two main characters so far?

• Sara

• Sue

• Mr. Pneumonia

• Johnsy

Open Ended

After the doctor had gone Sue went into the workroom and cried a Japanese napkin to a pulp.

What does the phrase "cried a Japanese napkin to a pulp" mean?

Multiple Choice

When Sue and the reader knows the doctor's honest opinion of Johnsy's chances while Johnsy does not, it is an example of which type of irony?

• verbal

• dramatic

• situational

Multiple Choice

There were a few leaves on the vine outside the window because...

• the wind was blowing the leaves away.

• people were picking the leaves.

• their neighbor was using the leaves in a painting.

• vines only have a few leaves.

Multiple Choice

O. Henry uses a literary device to describe the setting in this section of the story.

The cold breath of autumn had stricken its leaves from the vine until its skeleton branches clung, almost bare, to the crumbling bricks.

What is this called?

• metaphor

• simile

• personification

• alliteration

Compare the two main characters in this section.

Think about the characters ' actions, thoughts and feelings.

Multiple Choice

What does Johnsy think will happen to her when the last leaf falls?

• She will get better.

• She will leave for an art show.

• She will turn into a pumpkin.

• She will die.

Open Ended

Write one word to describe Sue based on this section of the story.

Open Ended

Now describe Johnsy in one word.

What does she do, think and say that helps you choose this word?

New character alert!👀

As you read, think about what can we learn about Mr. Behrman from this section of the story.

Multiple Choice

Mr. Behrman's character is more like which animal?

• a lion

• a mouse

Multiple Choice

What was Mr. Behrman's dream?

• to get married

• to go on a long vacation

• to buy a new car

• to paint a masterpiece

Multiple Choice

Which part of the plot is this section of text?

• exposition

• rising action

• climax

• falling action

• resolution

Poll

What do you think will happen next?

• Johnsy will die.

• The last leaf will fly through the window and attack Sue and Johnsy.

• The last leaf will be gone but Johnsy will still live.

• The last leaf will still be there.

Multiple Choice

What did Joanna realize when she looked at the last leaf for a long time?

• She was wrong.

• She was foolish.

• She wanted to live.

• All of the above.

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

What happened to Mr. Behrman?

• He married Sue.

• He moved out of the apartment.

• He died of pneumonia.

Multiple Choice

Which type of irony is shown in the story's ending?

Behrman contracted pneumonia during the night he painted the ivy leaf on the brick wall to fool Johnsy. The situation is ironic, because Behrman sacrifices his own life in order to save Johnsy's life.

• situational

• verbal

• dramatic

Multiple Choice

TRUE OR FALSE?

This is an example of situational irony.

Behrman dies while Johnsy lives.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

TRUE OR FALSE?

This is an example of situational irony.

At the end of the story Sue states that the last leaf was painted by Behrman. She says the painted leaf is his "masterpiece"—the great work of art that he always talked about making but never did.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Who are the story's protagonists?

• JOHNSY AND THE DOCTOR

• JOHNSY AND SUE

• BEHRMAN AND THE DOCTOR

• SUE AND BEHRMAN

Multiple Choice

What can we learn from the story?

• Never lose hope even when all leaves fall

• A friend in need is a friend indeed

• Be selfless and sacrifice for others

• All of the above