| About the Author | |
| O. Henry (1862–1910)
· Birth & Background: Born William Sydney Porter on September 11, 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina. · Early Life: Worked various jobs including pharmacist, draftsman, bank teller, and journalist before turning to full-time writing. · Legal Trouble & Imprisonment: Accused of embezzlement while employed as a teller and bookkeeper at the First National Bank of Austin. o Fled to Honduras but returned to the U.S. when his wife fell ill. o Imprisoned in Ohio (1898–1901), where he began writing short stories. Literary Career · Prolific Writing Period (1902–1910): o Moved to New York City and wrote 381 short stories in under a decade. · Pen Names: o Used several pseudonyms including “O. Henry,” “Olivier Henry,” “S.H. Peters,” “James L. Bliss,” “T.B. Dowd,” and “Howard Clark”. o The name “O. Henry” became his exclusive pen name by 1902. Writing Style & Themes · Twist Endings: Famous for unexpected, ironic conclusions in his stories. · Realistic Urban Settings: Captured New York life, often depicting ordinary people in everyday struggles. · Humor & Wit: Used lighthearted, witty storytelling while exploring deeper human emotions. Notable Works · The Gift of the Magi (1905) – A timeless story of selfless love and irony. · The Ransom of Red Chief (1910) – A humorous kidnap-gone-wrong tale. · The Cop and the Anthem – A story of a homeless man seeking arrest for shelter. · The Last Leaf – A touching story of hope and sacrifice. |
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| On the Text | |
| · This story was originally published on Dec 10, 1905 in The New York Sunday World as “Gifts of the Magi.”
· It was subsequently published as The Gift of the Magi in O. Henry’s 1906 short story collection The Four Million. · Raincoat (2004), a Hindi film directed by Rituparno Ghosh is an adaptation of the story. · “The Gift of the Magi” is a parable · The narrator of “Gift of the Magi” is not a character, but he’s certainly not a neutral observer either. He is a refined and wise narrator. · The narrator uses “And” or “Which” ungrammatically. This also has the effect of making one sentence hinge on the sentence before. Thus, O. Henry makes it conversational. · Christopher Booker is a scholar who wrote that every story falls into one of seven basic plot structures: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth. The plot of the short story can be said to fulfill the criteria. · The Gift of the Magi is a classic example of irony in literature. · METAPHOR = direct comparison of two things (unlike things that share similar qualities): They are the real magi. |
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| MCQs | |
| 1. What is the meaning of ‘parsimony’?
A. the quality of being careful with money or resources B. miserliness C. as miserly as the church mouse D. Allegation |
2. What is the meaning of ‘Imputation’
A. Charge B. Allegation C. Attribution D. Label
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| 3. What is referred to as the “mendicancy squad”?
A. US police squad that arrested beggars and homeless people B. A charity organization serving the poor C. A group of mendicants D. US Moral Police Force |
4. What was the reason of the family’s fall to adversity?
A. The income went down from $30 to $20 per week B. Jim’s income went down from $30 to $20 per month C. Jim’s income went down from $30 to $10 per month because of the war D. Jim’s income went down from $30 to $20 per week because of depression |
| 5. “But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above, he was called ‘Jim’ and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young.” What do you gather from the line?
A. The couple had a great attachment to each other B. They were a happy couple C. They loved each other very much D. They were a fond couple |
6. “She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard.” What literary purpose does this description serve?
A. Grey is the colour of despair and it is echoed from Della’s mind B. They lived in a very dull surrounding C. Della had no fascination for cats. D. Della was planning something horrible |
| 7. “She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard.” What is the figure of speech?
A. Alliteration B. Epistrophe C. Euphemism D. Metonymy |
8. “Something fine and rare and sterling-something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honour of being owned by Jim.” ‘Sterling’ means here?
A. Of excellent quality B. Precious C. As beautiful as a star D. NOTA |
| 9. “Her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its colour within twenty seconds.” Why did it happen?
A. Della was nervous of her failure B. Della made the decision to sacrifice her greatest possession C. She was anticipating Jim’s arrival D. She was ashamed of her savings |
10. “Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out of the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty’s jewels and gifts.” How would you describe the comparison?
A. Simile B. Allusion C. Hyperbole D. Anticlimax |
| 11. “Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.” Why did she falter?
A. She knew Jim loved her locks B. She was pained to lose her possession C. She was frustrated D. She was nervous to make a decision |
12. “On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat.” Why did the author repeat the colour?
A. To emphasize her movement B. To convey her poverty C. To convey her decision D. To emphasize the determination |
| 13. What does “Madame Sofronie’s shop” refer to on the sociological level?
A. In the early 1900s, wealthy women liked to wear hairpieces and so poor women with big hair would sell their hair to such shops. B. It refers to contemporary poverty when even locks would be sold C. It refers to a cruel American practice D. Nota |
14. Why was the name “Mme. Sofronie” taken?
A. A French name taken to seem more cultured. B. Shop of a French woman C. Actual name taken D. NOTA |
| 15. What literary purpose does Madame Sofronie serve?
A. She is a sharp contrast to Della in that she weighs the locks in terms of money B. She stands as a physical contrast to Della C. She introduces the business mechanism in the story D. She fulfills the role of villain in the story |
16. “Quietness and value – the description applied to both.” What does the author mean by ‘both’:
A. The fob chain and Jim B. The quality of Jim and the Watch C. The watch and the fob chain D. NOTA |
| 17. How much money did Della return home with?
A. One dollar and eighty-seven cents B. 78 cents C. One dollar D. Two dollar and eighty-seven cents |
18. “…her intoxication gave way a little to prudence and reason.” What is this?
A. Her practical sense came back and she tried to manage the situation B. She became anxious of the loss C. She was afraid of Jim D. She started her domestic work |
| 19. “…ravages made by generosity added to love.” What is meant by ‘generosity’ here?
A. A heightened mental state that can inspire a person to sacrifice something valuable B. An emotional state created by the intense feeling of love C. A desire to sacrifice something for the loved one D. To come out of early consideration and sacrifice something |
20. “I look like a Coney Island chorus girl.” Coney Island refers to
A. A peninsula with an amusement park and boardwalk. B. An island in Hawaii C. An island on the west coast D. An island in the Caribbeans |
| 21. How old was Jim?
A. Twenty-five yrs B. Twenty-three yrs C. Twenty-two yrs D. Twenty-four yrs |
22. “wriggled off” means
A. To move with writhing motion. B. To move swiftly C. To run hastily D. To pounce on somebody with affection |
| 23. “This dark assertion will be illuminated later on.” What is the illumination?
A. Both sacrificed their precious possessions for gifts that become materially useless B. They are compared with the Magi C. Both acted foolishly as the Magi D. NOTA
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24. What do the Watch and the locks symbolize in the story?
A. Love and sacrifice B. Time and bodily beauty C. Most precious possessions D. Nota |
O. Henry: The Gift of the Magi
