WorksheetsThe Gift of the Magi: Theme & Literary Devices
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 20mins
What is the most prominent theme illustrated by Della and Jim's sacrifices?
The importance of money.
The true value of love and selfless giving over material possessions.
The danger of making rash decisions.
The beauty of physical objects.
Directions: Choose the best answer or complete the sentence to identify the central theme(s) of the story. The author implies that the greatest gift is:
Della's hair.
Jim's watch.
The combs and watch chain.
The spirit of sacrifice and devotion between the couple.
Which of the following proverbs best captures a theme of the story?
A. "A penny saved is a penny earned."
B. "It is better to give than to receive."
C. "Look before you leap."
D. "All that glitters is not gold."
A secondary theme of the story relates to poverty. How does the story suggest the couple's material poverty affects their life?
It causes them to resent each other.
It is a temporary obstacle that highlights the strength of their relationship.
It suggests they are failures.
It makes them overly concerned with appearances.
Directions: Choose the best answer or complete the sentence to identify the central theme(s) of the story. 5. The theme of the story is that ___ (Fill in the blank)
True wealth is found in love and not in material things.
Success is measured only by financial gain.
Happiness comes from owning expensive possessions.
Material things are more important than relationships.
Directions: Choose the best answer to identify one of the central messages or themes of "The Gift of the Magi."
True love is shown through selfless sacrifice.
Wealth brings happiness and fulfillment.
Material possessions are more important than relationships.
Wisdom comes from making selfish choices.
What does Della's beautiful, long hair primarily symbolize before she sells it?
Her carelessness.
Her pride and feminine beauty/material wealth that she cherishes.
Her family history.
Her future financial success.
What does Jim's gold watch primarily symbolize?
His desire for a new job.
His frustration with Della.
His family heritage and his greatest material possession/pride.
His punctuality.
When Della is described as looking at her reflection "with a rapid, side-long glance," what does the word "side-long" suggest about her mood?
Confidence.
Relief.
Secretiveness, uncertainty, or hesitation about the drastic plan she's forming.
Joy.
The author refers to the couple's apartment as a "poverty post-office box." This imagery emphasizes the family's:
Large amount of mail.
Importance in the community.
Cramped and inexpensive living conditions.
Interest in stamps.
O. Henry uses the imagery of Della counting her money—"one dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all"—to create a mood of
desperation and sadness
joy and excitement
anger and frustration
hopefulness and optimism
The final gifts they buy—the combs for Della and the watch chain for Jim—are examples of irony because...
each gift is useless to its recipient due to the sacrifice made to buy it.
they are both very expensive and luxurious.
the gifts are exactly what each person wanted.
they were both bought at the same store.
"chagrin" in this context is:
Excitement.
Confusion.
Distress, disappointment, or humiliation.
Anger.
The fact that the story takes place on Christmas Eve adds to the theme of
love, sacrifice, giving
fear, suspense, mystery
anger, revenge, jealousy
confusion, chaos, disorder
When Jim sees Della's short hair, he simply stares with an expression she cannot read. His brief dialogue right after is, "You've cut off your hair?" This suggests:
He is furious.
He is relieved.
He is shocked and perhaps struggling to comprehend the depth of her sacrifice.
He thinks she looks better.
What is the overall tone of the couple's dialogue and interaction after the gifts are revealed?
Hostile and argumentative.
Cold and distant.
Tender, reassuring, and deeply loving.
Nervous and awkward.
Della tells Jim, "I sold it because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present." This dialogue reveals that Della's motive for selling her hair was:
To spite Jim.
Driven by the intense emotion of her selfless love for him.
To get money for herself.
To test his love.
When an author shows what characters think and feel (like Della’s planning), this is called ?
internal conflict/monologue/thought
external conflict
dialogue
setting
In the final paragraph, the narrator calls Della and Jim the "Magi." Who were the original Magi?
Wise men who brought gifts to baby Jesus
Kings who ruled ancient Persia
Prophets from the Old Testament
Disciples of Jesus
The author refers to Della and Jim as the Magi because, like the original wise men, they demonstrated:
Great wealth.
The greatest wisdom through their selfless gifts of love.
Political power.
Excellent negotiation skills.
What is the true value conveyed by the sacrifices of Della and Jim in "The Gift of the Magi"?
Material possessions are most important.
The true value of love and selfless giving over material possessions.
Wealth brings happiness.
Gifts should be expensive.
What is the ultimate, non-material gift that Della and Jim give each other in "The Gift of the Magi"?
Expensive presents.
Jewelry.
Money.
The spirit of sacrifice and devotion between the couple.
Which statement best summarizes the theme of the story? The entire plot revolves around their intense desire to give a gift.
"It is better to receive than to give."
"It is better to give than to receive."
"Wealth is more important than love."
"Sacrifice is meaningless."
What does their poverty represent in the story?
It is a permanent barrier to happiness.
It is a temporary obstacle that highlights the strength of their relationship.
It is a punishment for their choices.
It is irrelevant to the plot.
What are the two main themes of the story? Fill in the blanks: ________ and ________
wealth and love
friendship and betrayal
courage and fear
power and revenge
State the enduring theme of the story.
Selfless love and the willingness to sacrifice for another are far more valuable than any material possession.
Material wealth is the only measure of happiness.
Success is achieved through competition and rivalry.
Power and control are the keys to a fulfilling life.
What does the character cherish most?
Her pride and feminine beauty
Her intelligence
Her family
Her career
Fill in the blank: The watch represents his inheritance and his material status.
His family heritage and his greatest material possession/pride.
His future ambitions and dreams.
His friendship and loyalty.
His education and knowledge.
Fill in the blank: The 'side-long' glance suggests she is hiding something or feels shame/doubt.
Secretiveness, uncertainty, or hesitation about the drastic plan she's forming.
Confidence and pride in her decision.
Excitement about sharing her plan with others.
Indifference to the situation.
Fill in the blank: The imagery of a "box" emphasizes how tiny and poor the space is.
Cramped and inexpensive living conditions.
Spacious and luxurious environment.
Outdoor and natural surroundings.
Modern and technologically advanced area.
Fill in the blank: The tiny amount of money leads to a feeling of hopelessness and necessity for change.
Desperation and sadness.
Excitement and joy.
Confidence and pride.
Relief and satisfaction.
Fill in the blank: ...the gifts are now useless since they sold the very possessions (hair and watch) the gifts were meant for. This is the central situational irony of the story.
...the gifts are now useless since they sold the very possessions (hair and watch) the gifts were meant for.
...the gifts are now useless since they forgot to buy any presents at all.
...the gifts are now useless since they gave away the gifts to strangers.
...the gifts are now useless since they lost the gifts on their way home.
Fill in the blank: She feels a profound letdown that her gift is wasted.
Distress, disappointment, or humiliation.
Excitement, joy, or pride.
Confusion, uncertainty, or doubt.
Relief, satisfaction, or contentment.
Christmas is traditionally associated with which concepts, heightening the theme?
love/sacrifice/giving
anger/greed/taking
fear/jealousy/withholding
conflict/selfishness/receiving
His short, simple question shows his disbelief and quiet emotional reaction. What is his reaction?
He is angry and resentful.
He is indifferent.
He is shocked and perhaps struggling to comprehend the depth of her sacrifice.
He is overjoyed and excited.
They reassure each other that their love is more important than the lost items. How is their tone best described?
Sarcastic and dismissive.
Indifferent and cold.
Tender, reassuring, and deeply loving.
Angry and bitter.
Her dialogue proves her motivation was purely to express her love through a worthy gift. What drives her actions?
Desire for material gain.
Driven by the intense emotion of her selfless love for him.
Fear of rejection.
Social pressure.
This describes the mental process of a character. What is the term for this?
internal conflict/monologue/thought
external dialogue
physical action
setting description
Fill in the blank: The three wise men (or kings) who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus are famous for being the first to give ______ gifts.
meaningful
expensive
colorful
rare
Fill in the blank: The greatest wisdom through their selfless gifts of love was shown when the original Magi were considered wise; Della and Jim's wise action was prioritizing ______.
love
wealth
fame
power
