born: in Greensboro, North Carolina, The United States September 11, 1862 died: June 05, 1910
About this author
William Sydney Porter lends the pen name "O. Henry" to surprise endings signed officially as Sydney Porter. His biography shows where he found inspiration for his characters. Their voices and his language were products of his era.
He was born 1862 Greensboro, North Carolina. When he was three years old, his mother died from tuberculosis. He left school at fifteen, worked five years in uncle's drugstore, then for two years at a Texas sheep ranch.
In 1884 he went to Austin where he worked in a real estate office, a church choir, and spent four years as a draftsman in the General Land Office. His wife and firstborn died, but daughter Margaret survived him.
After he failed to establish a small humorous weekly, he worked in poorly-run bank. When its accounts did not balance, he was blamed for it, and fired.
In Houston, he worked for a few years until — ordered to stand trial for embezzlement — he fled to New Orleans and thence, to Honduras.
Two years later, he returned on account of his wife's illness. Apprehended, Porter served a few months more than three years in a Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. During his incarceration, he composed ten short stories, including "A Blackjack Bargainer", "The Enchanted Kiss", and "The Duplicity of Hargraves".
In 1899, McClure's published "Whistling Dick's Christmas Story" and "Georgia's Ruling."
While in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he sent manuscripts to New York editors. In the spring of 1902, Ainslee's Magazine offered him a regular income if he moved to New York.
In less than eight years, he became a bestselling author of collections of short stories. "Cabbages and Kings" came first, in 1904; followed by "The Four Million"; "The Trimmed Lamp" and "Heart of the West" in 1907; "The Voice of the City" in 1908; Roads of Destiny" and "Options" in 1909, "Strictly Business" and "Whirligigs" in 1910. Posthumously published collections include "The Gentle Grafter" about the swindler, Jeff Peters; "Rolling Stones" and "Waifs and Strays"; and in 1936, unsigned stories.
“The Gift of the Magi” (1906) remains one of the most recognizable and frequently anthologized stories in American literature. In its time the tale was extremely popular, both commercially and critically, and O. Henry was called the “Yankee Maupaussant.” Today the story is considered juvenilia and has not garnered much serious critical attention. “The Gift of the Magi” initially appeared in one of O. Henry's best-known collection of stories, The Four Million, which was published in 1906.
Plot and Major Characters
On Christmas Eve, a young married woman named Della has cut and sold her long, beautiful hair to earn the rest of the money she needs for her husband's Christmas present: a platinum chain for his treasured watch. When her husband, Jim, returns to their apartment, he is shocked to see her hair gone; he has sold his watch to buy her a pair of tortoise-shell combs for her long hair. Touched by his thoughtfulness, Della assures him that her hair will grow back and she gives him the watch chain. When he sees the gift, he lovingly tells her that he has sold his cherished watch to buy her the combs for her hair. The story concludes with an omniscient narrator praising the sacrifice and love of the young couple.
3. A couple / Yes, they loved each other after the event.
4. It is a suggestion that some presents are more appropriate then others. That the Magi were perceptive "gift givers".
5. A gift or a present is an object given without the expectation of payment. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. The value of gift was determined by someone's intention, not the actual money amount.
The introduction of Author:
ReplyDeleteO. Henry
born: in Greensboro, North Carolina, The United
States September 11, 1862
died: June 05, 1910
About this author
William Sydney Porter lends the pen name "O. Henry" to surprise endings signed officially as Sydney Porter. His biography shows where he found inspiration for his characters. Their voices and his language were products of his era.
He was born 1862 Greensboro, North Carolina. When he was three years old, his mother died from tuberculosis. He left school at fifteen, worked five years in uncle's drugstore, then for two years at a Texas sheep ranch.
In 1884 he went to Austin where he worked in a real estate office, a church choir, and spent four years as a draftsman in the General Land Office. His wife and firstborn died, but daughter Margaret survived him.
After he failed to establish a small humorous weekly, he worked in poorly-run bank. When its accounts did not balance, he was blamed for it, and fired.
In Houston, he worked for a few years until — ordered to stand trial for embezzlement — he fled to New Orleans and thence, to Honduras.
Two years later, he returned on account of his wife's illness. Apprehended, Porter served a few months more than three years in a Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. During his incarceration, he composed ten short stories, including "A Blackjack Bargainer", "The Enchanted Kiss", and "The Duplicity of Hargraves".
In 1899, McClure's published "Whistling Dick's Christmas Story" and "Georgia's Ruling."
While in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he sent manuscripts to New York editors. In the spring of 1902, Ainslee's Magazine offered him a regular income if he moved to New York.
In less than eight years, he became a bestselling author of collections of short stories. "Cabbages and Kings" came first, in 1904; followed by "The Four Million"; "The Trimmed Lamp" and "Heart of the West" in 1907; "The Voice of the City" in 1908; Roads of Destiny" and "Options" in 1909, "Strictly Business" and "Whirligigs" in 1910. Posthumously published collections include "The Gentle Grafter" about the swindler, Jeff Peters; "Rolling Stones" and "Waifs and Strays"; and in 1936, unsigned stories.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIntroduction of this story.
ReplyDelete“The Gift of the Magi” (1906) remains one of the most recognizable and frequently anthologized stories in American literature. In its time the tale was extremely popular, both commercially and critically, and O. Henry was called the “Yankee Maupaussant.” Today the story is considered juvenilia and has not garnered much serious critical attention. “The Gift of the Magi” initially appeared in one of O. Henry's best-known collection of stories, The Four Million, which was published in 1906.
Plot and Major Characters
On Christmas Eve, a young married woman named Della has cut and sold her long, beautiful hair to earn the rest of the money she needs for her husband's Christmas present: a platinum chain for his treasured watch. When her husband, Jim, returns to their apartment, he is shocked to see her hair gone; he has sold his watch to buy her a pair of tortoise-shell combs for her long hair. Touched by his thoughtfulness, Della assures him that her hair will grow back and she gives him the watch chain. When he sees the gift, he lovingly tells her that he has sold his cherished watch to buy her the combs for her hair. The story concludes with an omniscient narrator praising the sacrifice and love of the young couple.
Please see the questions as below:
ReplyDelete1. How much money did Jim make a week at his job?
2. What is the setting in The gift of Magi?
3. What do we learn about the relationship between Della and Jim? Do they love each other still after the events of the story?
4.What are magi?
5.What is the real meaning of "gift"?
Dear All, please refer to the answers as below:
ReplyDelete1. $20
2. A cheap flat.
3. A couple / Yes, they loved each other after the event.
4. It is a suggestion that some presents are more appropriate
then others. That the Magi were perceptive "gift givers".
5. A gift or a present is an object given without the expectation
of payment. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation
of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. The value of gift
was determined by someone's intention, not the actual money
amount.