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The Gift of the Magi Questions and Answers - Discover the eNotes.com community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on The Gift of the Magi.
- Describe Jim and Della’s apartment. Answer: Jim and Della lived in a cheap furnished flat at 8 dollars per week. It required some renovation.
- What kind of present did Della wish to buy for Jim? Answer: Della wished to buy something nice, fine and rare and sterling – something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honour of being owned by Jim.
- Why did Della falter for a minute before she left home? Answer: Della faltered for a minute before she left home because she had to think for a while.
- What did Della finally find for Jim? Answer: Della found a platinum fob chain for Jim.
- Who are the Magi? Magi is the plural form of magus means wise men. According to the Bible magi (Gasper, Malchoir and Balthaza) were members of priest-hood of ancient Persia.
- What according to the author was not there among the gifts of the Magi? O’ Henry opined that there was no mutual love and spirit of sacrifice among the gifts of the Magi.
- What difference do you find among the gifts of Magi and that of Jim and Della? Love and Sacrifice prompted Jim and Della to sell the greatest possessions of their life.
- Explain the irony in the title of the story, ‘The Gift of the Magi.’ The story “The gift of the Magi” allusively unfolds an undercurrent relationship between the Magi and that of Jim and Della.
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In this story, Della's hair is spectacular: "Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts." Meanwhile, Jim as a prized gold watch that is described as follows: "Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasure...
What is important about the title? Does it suggest that the story has a religious lesson, or just that Christmaswill figure into the plot somehow?What are some central ideas or themes of the story?What are some conflicts in the story? Are they internal or external?List a metaphor or comparison in the story. Explain it.Describe a time when you picked out the perfect gift for someone or someone picked out the perfect gift for you. Why was it perfect?Describe a time when a gift didn't work out. What could have made the situation different? How was the situation handled?Describe an ironic incident in your own life. What was expected to happen, and why was the actual event ironic?- Esther Lombardi
The Gift of the Magi By O. Henry Directions: Read the short story and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text to check your answers when appropriate. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the
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The Magi were the three wise men, (kings), that delivered presents to Jesus' on his birthday, (Christmas). 6) The story begins on Christmas Eve. Why is this aspect of setting so important to the story? This aspect of setting is important because it shows how little time they have to get each other a gift. 7) What do Della's and Jim's sacrifices ...
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Overview. Published in 1906 as part of the short story collection The Four Million, “The Gift of the Magi” is O. Henry ’s most well-known short story. Set contemporaneously to its publication date, the story depicts a poor young couple’s struggle to give each other a valuable gift on Christmas Eve. It is known for its ironic ending and ...
