The Gift of the Magi

Gift of the Magi

Do you know this characters?

Read this example now.

When my parents bought new dresses for my sisters but didn't buy me anything, I felt like Cinderella.

What is Allusion in literature?

Allusion, in literature, an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text. Most allusions are based on the assumption that there is a body of knowledge that is shared by the author and the reader and that therefore the reader will understand the author's referent.

Examples of Allusions

1. For example, a woman might say to her husband, “Thanks, Romeo,” 
2. Chocolate was her Achilles' heel.
3. “Hey! Guess who the new Newton of our school is?” – “Newton”, means a genius student, alludes to a famous scientist Isaac Newton.

Multiple Choice

An example of dramatic irony is

• when Della weeps because she has no money to buy Jim a gift.

• When readers know that Della sells her hair before Jim

• When readers know that Jim sold his hair to buy Della a gift.

Multiple Choice

How would allusion be defined?

• a reference to a famous person, place, or event

• words that involve one of the five senses

• two lines working as a unit

• a form or wordplay with similar sounding sounds

Multiple Choice

What is the main type of irony used in this story?

• Situational Irony

• Dramatic Irony

• Verbal Irony

Multiple Choice

What character best fits the following quote? "There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and cry" (Henry 1).

• Della
• Jim

Multiple Choice

Which quote from O. Henry's story "The Gift of the Magi" best describes the THEME of his story? 

• "Please God, make him think I'm still pretty" (Henry 4).
• "Because it was so plain and simple, you knew it was very valuable" (Henry 3).
• "I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me love my girl any less" (Henry 4)
• "If a queen had lived in the rooms near theirs, Della would have washed and dried her hair where the queen could see it" (Henry 2).

Multiple Choice

Name the conflict: Della is conflicted because she knows she could get good money for her hair. 

• Man vs. Society
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Self

Multiple Choice

What is the full name of the couple? 

• Mr. & Mrs. Jim Young
• Mr. & Mrs. Young
• Mr. & Mrs. Della Young
• Mr. & Mrs. James Dillingham Young

Multiple Choice

What is a clear theme of the story? 

• It's always good to outdo each other when gift giving.
• Unconditional love is the best kind of gift giving.
• Money buys love.
• You need to save up to buy gifts.

Multiple Choice

What is the irony in Jim's gift to Della?

• He buys her hair combs and she does not like them. 
• He buys her hair combs and she has cut off her hair. 
• He does not have enough money in the end to buy her anything.
• He writes a poem about her beautiful hair.

Multiple Choice

How does the setting impact the story?

• Christmas time informs the reader that giving is an important element of the story
• Winter time informs the reader that the actions of the characters will be similarly cold
• Being set a long time ago, it helps us understand why they are poor
• Being set in London, we can't relate to the foreign characters

Multiple Choice

When we can predict that Jim has sold his watch to buy the combs, this is called _____.

• a flashback
• foreshadowing
• theme
• setting

Multiple Choice

The exchange of gifts between Jim and Della is the ______.

• exposition
• rising action
• climax
• resolution

Multiple Choice

O. Henry references the Magi in both the title and the story itself. What kind of literary device is this?

• Foreshadowing
• Allusion
• Metaphor
• Personification

Multiple Choice

When Jim and Della realize the full extent of what they have done, they:

• refuse to believe it
• try to make the best of it
• look for someone else to blame
• make plans to undo what they have done

Multiple Choice

When Della opens her gift, she is overcome with mixed feelings that include all of the following EXCEPT:

• guilt
• despair
• delight
• disbelief

Multiple Choice

Della chooses the gift she gets for Jim because it:

• costs just the right amount
• seems to be made for him.
• will make his old watch look like new.
• is surely nicer than what he has bought her

Multiple Choice

Della's hair and Jim's watch have always made them feel:

• proud
• nervous
• worthy of each other
• ashamed of their other possessions

Multiple Choice

At the beginning of the story, which of the following is most upsetting to Della?

• the thought of parting with her hair
• The thought that short hair may be unattractive
• The idea of not having a present good enough for Jim
• The possibility that Jim would not be able to buy her a gift

Multiple Choice

What is Della’s concern as she waits for Jim to come home?

• She worries that Jim won’t like the present.

• She is concerned that he won’t like the chops that she is making for dinner.

• She is concerned because Jim is arriving home later than usual.

• She is concerned that he will no longer think she is pretty.

Multiple Choice

What did Della buy Jim for Christmas?

• A silver chain for his watch

• A new briefcase for work.

• A new coat

• A new watch

Multiple Choice

Why does Jim react so strangely when he comes home and sees Della with short hair? 

• He is mad because she cut her hair.
• He doesn’t recognize her. 
•  He is upset that he had to sell his watch. 
• He is confused because he bought Della combs to use in her long hair. 

Multiple Choice

What did Jim sell in order to buy Della a gift?

• His watch chain
• His hair
• His walking cane
• His pocket watch