Download - Gift of the Magi Study Guide
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The Gift Of the Magi
About A.C.T. For YouthAbout A.C.T. For YouthAbout A.C.T. For YouthAbout A.C.T. For Youth
Since, 1999 the Atlantic Coast Theatre For Youth has been enlightening audiences across the United States with its entertaining and educational live theatre productions and workshop programs. The Atlantic Coast Theatre For Youth is a professional touring theatre company,
based in Orlando, FL.
Check out our website to discover more!
O. HENRY
(1862-1910)
William Sydney Porter was born in Greens-
boro, NC. His first book was published under the pen name O. Henry in 1904.
Although his fame grew, he died in poverty. Since his death, O. Henry’s stories have
been read and cherished all over the world.
The Gift Of The Magi is one of his most famous and beloved stories.
This treasured holiday tale of love, the
spirit of giving, and sacrifice has been the subject of many movies, books, television specials, and even cartoons. Perhaps its huge popularity comes from the fact that the story touches the heart of all people– we can all relate in some way to the char-
acters. Each of us may celebrate our holidays in different ways and with different traditions, but we can all understand that the greatest ‘gift’ we can give anyone is the love and kindness within ourselves.
In A.C.T. For Youth’s production, which is set
in New York City in the year 1906, Jim and
Della are Irish Immigrants. This means that
they traveled from their home in Ireland to
build a new life in America.
A devastating thing happened in Ireland
in1845…the Potato Blight- A fungus that killed
most of the crops of potatoes in Ireland and
caused starvation and ruin for a great many
people who lived there. A huge number of Irish
families had no choice but to move from their
homeland to find a new life in the United
States. Between the years 1820 and 1860, over
one-third of all of the immigrants in America
were Irish. Life was very hard for the Irish
Immigrants when they got to America. Many
people had to take low paying jobs and live in
poor neighborhoods. Because of the Irish
Immigrants’ hard work and influence in our
nation– later generations of Irish–Americans
were able to do great things—-including
becoming President of the United States
(John F. Kennedy)!
In the play,
you will hear
the actors use
Irish accents.
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VOCABULARY WORDS HERE ARE A FEW WORDS YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE FAMILIAR WITH
Wassail– A heated drink made from apples, spices, and sugar often served in England Financial Prosperity- To become successful with money Head Man- A supervisor of a workplace Adversary- An enemy or foe Splurge- To spend a large amount of money on buying a luxury good Depreciate- To lose value over time Flat- Another term for an apartment
WHAT ARE THE ABOVE ITEMS? WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?
GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF MODERN ITEMS
THAT SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE.
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Before The Show Activities 1. You will be seeing a live play. Discuss the differences between plays and television or movies. How should audience members behave at a play?
2. This play is set at the turn-of-the century in America. How were people’s lives different back then? How did their clothes look compared to our modern clothing today?
3. Our main characters, Jim and Della are Irish Immigrants. Discuss how difficult life was for immigrants who came to America. Explore your own family tree. Where are your ancestors from?
4. As a class compare and contrast your holiday traditions with each other. Talk about gift-giving for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. Recall times in your own life where you have been excited to give a special present to someone you care about. Do you think it is better to get presents or give them? Why?
After The Show Activities
1. Caroling, sometimes called “Wassailing”, is a fun way to celebrate the holidays. Go as a class to other classrooms or to the office, and spread some holiday cheer by singing holiday songs!
2. Jim and Della have had some money problems, but they still try to make the holidays nice. Write about a holiday where you and your family had to make a problem better.
3. Before there was television, radio, video games, and computers, people found other ways to entertain themselves. Jim and Della sing and read to each other. Discuss your favorite stories or books. Actively read the story– like Jim did with The Three Musketeers. Also, think about other activities people could have done for fun at the turn of the century.
4. Read O. Henry’s short story, The Gift Of The Magi. The play you saw was an adaptation of the story. The playwright used the story as a foundation to help his imagination create the rest of the play. What things were the same in both the play and the story? What things were different? Try reading some of your favorite stories and writing an adaptation for the stage.
5. When Della gets her hair cut she is very sad, but she is also happy that she will have the money to buy Jim a chain for his pocket watch. Sometimes life is like that. You can be sad and happy at the same time. Write a poem or draw a picture about a time where you were both happy and sad.
6. Jim and Della sell the greatest possessions that they own so that they can buy a gift for each other. What is your most prized possession? Why do you treasure that item so much? Who do you love so dearly that you would give up that special thing for?
7. The actors love to receive letters from the audience– students and teachers. Tell us what you liked! Draw us pictures. How did the play make you feel? You can send your letters and pictures to us at: Atlantic Coast Theatre For Youth
8297 Champions Gate Blvd. #188 Champions Gate, FL 33896
www.atlantic-coast-theatre.com
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The Gift Of The Magi
National Standards: Kindergarten – 4th Grade (By participating in the Study Guide activities, watching the performance, and encouraging classroom
discussion of the play, your students can meet aspects of several National Education Standards)
NA-T.K-4.6
COMPARING AND CONNECTING ART FORMS BY DESCRIBING THEATRE, DRAMATIC
MEDIA, AND OTHER ART FORMS
• Students describe visual, aural, oral, and kinetic elements in theatre, dramatic media, dance,
music, and visual arts
• Students compare how ideas and emotions are expressed in theatre, dramatic media, dance,
music, and visual arts
NA-T.K-4.7
ANALYZING AND EXPLAINING PERSONAL PREFERENCES AND CONSTRUCTING
MEANINGS FROM CLASSROOM DRAMATIZATIONS AND FROM THEATRE, FILM,
TELEVISION, AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA PRODUCTIONS
• Students explain how the wants and needs of characters are similar to and different from their
own
• Students articulate emotional responses to and explain personal preferences about the whole as
well as the parts of dramatic performances
NA-T.K-4.8
UNDERSTANDING CONTEXT BY RECOGNIZING THE ROLE OF THEATRE, FILM, TELE-
VISION, AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN DAILY LIFE
• Students identify and compare similar characters and situations in stories and dramas from and
about various cultures, illustrate with classroom dramatizations, and discuss how theatre
reflects life
• Students identify and compare the various settings and reasons for creating dramas and
attending theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions
NA-M.K-4.9
UNDERSTANDING MUSIC IN RELATION TO HISTORY AND CULTURE
• Students demonstrate audience behavior appropriate for the context and style of music
performed
NSS-USH.K-4.1
LIVING AND WORKING TOGETHER IN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITITES, NOW AND
LONG AGO
• Understands family life now and in the past, and family life in various places long ago
NSS-USH.K-4.4
THE HISTORY OF PEOPLES OF MANY CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD
• Era 7: The Emergence Of Modern America
NL-ENG.K-12.2
UNDERSTANDING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an
understanding of the many dimensions of human experience
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The Gift Of The Magi
National Standards: 5th – 8th Grades (By participating in the Study Guide activities, watching the performance, and encouraging classroom
discussion of the play your students can meet aspects of several National Education Standards)
NA-T.5-8.6
COMPARING AND CONNECTING ART FORMS BY DESCRIBING THEATRE,
DRAMATIC MEDIA, AND OTHER ART FORMS
• Students describe characteristics and compare the presentation of characters,
environments, and actions in theatre, musical theatre, dramatic media, dance,
and visual arts
• Students express and compare personal reactions to several art forms
• Students describe and compare the functions and interaction of performing and visual
artists and audience members in theatre, dramatic media, musical theatre, dance,
music, and visual arts
NA-T.5-8.7
ANAYZING AND EXPLAINING PERSONAL PREFERENCES AND
CONSTRUCTING MEANINGS FROM CLASSROOM DRAMATIZATIONS AND
FROM THEATRE, FILM, TELEVISION, AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA
PRODUCTIONS
• Students describe and analyze the effect for publicity, study guides, programs, and
physical environments on audience response and appreciation of dramatic
performances
NA-T.5-8.8
UNDERSTANDING CONTEXT BY RECOGNIZING THE ROLE OF THEATRE,
FILM, TELEVISION, AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN DAILY LIFE
• Students describe and compare universal characters and situations in dramas from and
about various cultures and historical periods, illustrate in improvised and scripted
scenes, and discuss how theatre reflects a culture
NSS-WH.5-12.7
ERA 7: AN AGE OF REVOLUTIONS (1830-1914)
NSS-USH.5-12.7
ERA 6: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL UNITED STATES
• Understands massive immigration after 1870 and how new social patterns, conflicts,
and ideas of national unity developed amid growing cultural diversity
NL-ENG.K-12.2
UNDERSTANDING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an
understanding of the many dimensions of human experience
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ATLANTIC COAST THEATRE FOR YOUTH– The Gift Of The Magi
Florida Sunshine State Standards: Pre-K-2nd Grades (By participating in the Study Guide activities, watching the performance, and encouraging classroom discussion of the play, your students can meet aspects of several standards)
THEATRE
TH.A.1.1
The student acts by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisation and formal
or informal productions
Creates imagined characters, relationships, and environments using basic acting skills
Creates individually and in groups, animate and inanimate objects through the movement of the human body
TH.C.1.1
The student understands context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media in
the past and present
Expresses remembered ideas, feelings, and concepts of daily activities through dramatic play
Understands how we learn about ourselves, our relationships, and our environment through forms of theatre
Understands characters, situations, and dramatic media from the stories and dramas of various cultures
TH.D.1.1
The student analyzes, criticizes, and constructs meaning from formal and informal theatre, film, televi-
sion, and electronic media
Portrays imaginary sensory experiences through dramatic play
Gives reasons for personal preferences for formal and informal performances
Understands appropriate audience responses to dramatic presentations
Understands how theater communicates events of everyday life
Understands the similarities and differences between play acting, pretending, and real life
TH.E.1.1
The student understands applications of the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media in eve-
ryday life
Understands the similarities and differences among how emotions are expressed in theatre, dramatic media,
music, dance, and visual art
Cooperates with others to create formal and informal theatrical works and to solve the problems inherent in
simple scenes
MUSIC
MU.D.1.1
The students listens to, analyzes, and describes music
Understands how music can communicate ideas suggesting events, feelings, moods, or images
MU.E.2.1
The student understands the relationship between music and the world beyond the school setting
Knows appropriate audience behavior in a given music setting
LANGUAGE ARTS
LA.C.1.1
The student uses listening strategies effectively
Listens for a variety of informational purposes, including curiosity, pleasure, getting directions, performing
tasks, solving problems, and following rules
Recognizes personal preferences in listening to literature and other material
Retells specific details of information heard, including sequence of events
LA.E.1.1
The student understands the common features of a variety of literary forms
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ATLANTIC COAST THEATRE FOR YOUTH– The Gift Of The Magi
Florida Sunshine State Standards: 3rd-5th Grades
(By participating in the Study Guide activities, watching the performance, and encouraging classroom
discussion of the play, your students can meet aspects of several standards)
THEATRE
TH.A.1.2
The student acts by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisation and
formal or informal productions
Creates imagined characters, relationships, and environments using basic acting skills
TH.C.1.2
The student understands context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic
media in the past and present
Understands how theatre is an interpretation of actual events in history and everyday life
Understands how theatre reflects culture through universal characters and dramas from various cul-
tures and historical time periods
TH.D.1.2
The student analyzes, criticizes, and constructs meaning from formal and informal theatre, film,
television, and electronic media
Knows how theatre uses visual elements (e.g. set design and costuming), sound (e.g. sound effects
and vocal inflection), and movement (e.g. staging and character portrayal) to communicate
Understands the similarities and differences between real life and the theatre’s representation of life
(e.g. the meaning of the concept, “willing suspension of disbelief”)
Articulates emotional responses to the whole, as well as parts of, dramatic performances
TH.E.1.2
The student understands applications of the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media
in everyday life
Understands theatre as a social function and theatre etiquette as the responsibility of the audience
Collaborates in the construction of formal and informal productions
MUSIC
MU.E.2.2
The student understands the relationship between music and the world beyond the school setting
Knows and applies appropriate audience behavior in various musical settings
LANGUAGE ARTS
LA.C.1.2
The student uses listening strategies effectively
Listens and responds to a variety of oral presentations, such as stories, poems, skits, songs, personal
accounts, and informational speeches
Identifies specific personal listening preferences regarding fiction, drama, literary nonfiction, and
informational presentations
LA.E.1.2
The student understands the common features of a variety of literary forms
Identifies the distinguishing features among fiction, drama, and poetry and identifies the major
characteristics of nonfiction
Understands the development of plot and how conflicts are resolved in a story
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ATLANTIC COAST THEATRE FOR YOUTH– The Gift Of The Magi
Florida Sunshine State Standards: 6th-8th Grades
(By participating in the Study Guide activities, watching the performance, and encouraging classroom
discussion of the play, your students can meet aspects of several standards)
THEATRE
TH.C.1.3
The student understands context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic
media in the past and present
Understands how social and universal concepts in various cultures and historical periods are ex-
pressed through universal themes in theatre
Understands the social impact of historical and cultural events on the theatre (e.g., art imitates life,
life imitates art)
TH.D.1.3
The student analyzes, criticizes, and constructs meaning from formal and informal theatre, film,
television, and electronic media
Understands a character in a play through exploration of internal characterization (e.g., emotions and
motivations) and external characterization (e.g., background, posture, mannerisms, and dress)
Understands the relationship of plot, conflict, and theme in a play
Develops criteria for the evaluation of dramatic texts and performances
Understands that theatre experiences involve empathy (e.g., vicarious identification with characters
and actions) and aesthetic distance (e.g., recognition that the play is not real life)
TH.E.1.3
The student understands applications of the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media
in everyday life
Understands the reasons for personal reactions and audience reactions to various media and multiple
art forms (e.g., staging environment, past experiences, culture)
MUSIC
MU.E.2.3
The student understands the relationship between music and the world beyond the school setting
Understands the uniqueness of music and its importance in society
LANGUAGE ARTS
LA.C.1.3
The student uses listening strategies effectively
Listens and uses information gained for a variety of purposes
Acknowledges the feelings and messages sent in a conversation
LA.C.2.3
The student uses viewing strategies effectively
Determines main concept, supporting details, stereotypes, bias, and persuasion techniques in a non-
print message
LA.E.1.3
The student understands the common features of a variety of literary forms
Recognizes complex elements of plot, including setting, character development, conflicts, and reso-
lutions