The Gift of Magi

What is the best theme for the story?

• to give gifts out of sacrificial love

• to tell people what you are getting them for Christmas so mistakes won't happen

• to give gifts because they gave you a gift

• to save money so when Christmas comes you will have money

When Jim and Della realize the full extent of what they have done, they try to make the ____________ of it.

• Best

• Worst

• Nothing

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

• proud

• nervous

• worthy of each other

• ashamed of their other possessions

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

• guilt

• despair

• delight

• disbelief

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

• exposition

• rising action

• climax

• resolution

When we as readers are called upon to think about the sacrifices that Jim and Della make for each other, this is the ______.

• falling action

• climax

• resolution

• point of view

What does the narrator mean when they say after Della sold her hair, “Two hours ‘tripped by on rosy wings?”

• She was worried

• She felt very unhappy

• She had ups and downs

• She was not thinking clearly

O. Henry’s biblical allusion to the Magi elevates a poor couple’s dilemma about buying Christmas gifts for each other to the level of the New Testament story of the Wise Men. This short story is about two young lovers who sacrifice their most prized possessions; it is a classic example of ________.

• Irony

• Flashback

• Understatement

• Juxtapositioning

The theme of this story is that Jim and Della’s love for each other is much more valuable than any _______.

• Material Gift

• Expensive Dinner

• Person's Opinion

• Verbal Expressions of Love

What do the actions of both character’s reveal about them?

• They wish they were rich.

• They value extravagant gifts.

• They do not think ordinary gifts are good enough.

• They want to give a gift as valuable as they think their spouse is.