The Gift of the The Gift of the MagiMagi

O HenryO Henry

Connect to your LifeConnect to your Life

• self-sacrifice and unselfishnessself-sacrifice and unselfishness– two concepts that can often be alien for two concepts that can often be alien for

middle school aged young people. middle school aged young people. – Share your thoughts Share your thoughts – What is wisdom?What is wisdom?

Connect to your lifeConnect to your life

• Think about the things that matter Think about the things that matter most to you. Make a list of the top most to you. Make a list of the top five most important things in your five most important things in your life. life.

• Is the item on your list a physical Is the item on your list a physical possessions or more abstract ?possessions or more abstract ?

• What things do you value, and do you What things do you value, and do you value possessions or people more. value possessions or people more.

BackgroundBackground• The Magi were the so-called three wise men from the The Magi were the so-called three wise men from the

east who traveled to Bethlehem, following a bright east who traveled to Bethlehem, following a bright star, to present gifts to the infant Jesus. The term star, to present gifts to the infant Jesus. The term magi (singular, magus) comes from the Greek word magi (singular, magus) comes from the Greek word magoi, a rendering of a Persian word for members of magoi, a rendering of a Persian word for members of a priestly caste. The Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 2, a priestly caste. The Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 2, Verse 11) says:  "And entering into the house, they Verse 11) says:  "And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts–gold, frankincense, and they offered him gifts–gold, frankincense, and myrrh." These offerings, though valuable, were not myrrh." These offerings, though valuable, were not as important as the recognition, respect, and love as important as the recognition, respect, and love they gave the Christ child. Frankincense was used as they gave the Christ child. Frankincense was used as a treatment for illness and as an fragrant additive to a treatment for illness and as an fragrant additive to incense. incense.

Background ContinuedBackground Continued

• Myrrh was also added to incense, as Myrrh was also added to incense, as well as perfume, and found well as perfume, and found additional use as an ointment. The additional use as an ointment. The three wise men have been identified three wise men have been identified in western tradition as Balthasar, in western tradition as Balthasar, king of Arabia; Melchior, king of king of Arabia; Melchior, king of Persia; and Gaspar, king of India.  Persia; and Gaspar, king of India. 

SETTINGSETTING

• New York CityNew York City• Shabby ApartmentShabby Apartment• Christmas SeasonChristmas Season

CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

• Della YoungDella Young:: Pretty young woman Pretty young woman who cuts off her beautiful long hair who cuts off her beautiful long hair and sells it to buy a Christmas gift and sells it to buy a Christmas gift for her husband. for her husband. James Dillingham YoungJames Dillingham Young: : Husband of Della. He sells his gold Husband of Della. He sells his gold watch to buy a gift for Della.    watch to buy a gift for Della.    

• Both are the protagonists Both are the protagonists

Key VocabularyKey Vocabulary

• Key Vocabulary Define and find the Key Vocabulary Define and find the sentence used in the storysentence used in the story

• 1. Imputation –1. Imputation –• 2. Parsimony – 2. Parsimony – • 3. Scrutiny – 3. Scrutiny – • 4. Inconsequential – 4. Inconsequential –

Read “ The Gift of the Read “ The Gift of the Magi”Magi”

Answer the following Answer the following questionsquestions

• 1. How much money does Della have 1. How much money does Della have to spend for Christmas?to spend for Christmas?

• 2. How did she manage to save even 2. How did she manage to save even this little amount? this little amount?

• 3. Explain why the “Dillingham” on 3. Explain why the “Dillingham” on the mailbox seems inappropriate now. the mailbox seems inappropriate now.

• 4. What are Della and Jim’s most 4. What are Della and Jim’s most prized possessions? prized possessions?

Outline ActivityOutline Activity

• Outline events in Outline events in “”The Gift of the “”The Gift of the Magi"Magi" that form the rising action, that form the rising action, the climax, and the falling action. the climax, and the falling action. (PLOT CHART)(PLOT CHART)

SummarySummary

• Della has $1.87 and it's near Christmas. I'm Della has $1.87 and it's near Christmas. I'm not sure how much Jim has, but it's not not sure how much Jim has, but it's not much. Jim and Della love each other. They much. Jim and Della love each other. They want to buy each other really nice gifts, but want to buy each other really nice gifts, but as you know, it's hard to buy really nice as you know, it's hard to buy really nice gifts for a $1.87 or less. Jim has this really gifts for a $1.87 or less. Jim has this really nice watch that Della thinks would look nice watch that Della thinks would look really good on a brand new chain. Della has really good on a brand new chain. Della has really nice hair that Jim thinks would look really nice hair that Jim thinks would look great adorned with brand new combs.great adorned with brand new combs.

Summary ContinuedSummary Continued

• They're broke. Jim sells his watch to They're broke. Jim sells his watch to buy Della the combs. Della sells her buy Della the combs. Della sells her hair to buy Jim's watch chain. And hair to buy Jim's watch chain. And you thought you were surprised you thought you were surprised when Santa brought you a bike?when Santa brought you a bike?

POINT OF VIEWPOINT OF VIEW::

• 33rdrd person limited person limited

CONFLICT CONFLICT

• Internal--- Jim and Della Internal--- Jim and Della struggle with the decision to struggle with the decision to sacrifice the things that mean sacrifice the things that mean the most to them personally the most to them personally

• External– they struggle External– they struggle financiallyfinancially

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS

• watch and hair = the love that Jim watch and hair = the love that Jim and Della had for each other. Even and Della had for each other. Even though they loved their possessions, though they loved their possessions, they were willing to sacrifice those they were willing to sacrifice those possessions for each other.possessions for each other.

IRONYIRONY

• The situational irony in this story is The situational irony in this story is that Jim and Della are unable to use that Jim and Della are unable to use the gifts they received because they the gifts they received because they sold their precious possessions to sold their precious possessions to purchase gifts for one another. purchase gifts for one another.

THEMETHEME

• Della and Jim give each other the Della and Jim give each other the best of all possible gifts, love. It does best of all possible gifts, love. It does not matter that Jim no longer has the not matter that Jim no longer has the gold watch to display on the elegant gold watch to display on the elegant chain that Della gave him. Nor does chain that Della gave him. Nor does it matter that Della no longer has it matter that Della no longer has long, luxurious hair to comb with the long, luxurious hair to comb with the gift Jim gave her. What matters is gift Jim gave her. What matters is that they have is each other. that they have is each other.

OTHER LITERARY OTHER LITERARY ELEMENTSELEMENTS

• Suspense- Suspense- Wait to see what they get each Wait to see what they get each other….the entire story is about that one thingother….the entire story is about that one thing

• Allusion- Allusion- The main allusion is in the title. The The main allusion is in the title. The gifts that the three kings brought to Christ were gifts that the three kings brought to Christ were precious and significant. Eventually, Christ precious and significant. Eventually, Christ himself gave a very important gift to his himself gave a very important gift to his believers as well when He sacrificed Himself for believers as well when He sacrificed Himself for them. them.

Three: A Magic NumberThree: A Magic Number

• In "The Gift of the Magi," the number three figures In "The Gift of the Magi," the number three figures prominently. Consider the following: prominently. Consider the following:

• Della counts her money three times (Paragraph 1). Della counts her money three times (Paragraph 1). • The narrator says that "Life is made up of The narrator says that "Life is made up of sobssobs, , snifflessniffles, ,

and and smilessmiles (Paragraph 2). (Paragraph 2). • The story refers three times to the Youngs' supper entree: The story refers three times to the Youngs' supper entree:

chops. chops. • The story mentions the Queen of Sheba, who gave three The story mentions the Queen of Sheba, who gave three

types of gifts to King Solomon: spices, gold, and jewels. types of gifts to King Solomon: spices, gold, and jewels. • A sentence in Paragraph 5 says, "She stood by the window A sentence in Paragraph 5 says, "She stood by the window

and looked out dully at a and looked out dully at a greygrey cat walking a cat walking a greygrey fence in a fence in a greygrey backyard.” backyard.”

• Jim tells Della, I don't think there's anything in the way of Jim tells Della, I don't think there's anything in the way of a a haircuthaircut or a or a shaveshave or a or a shampooshampoo that could make me like that could make me like my girl any less. my girl any less.

Three: A Magic Number Three: A Magic Number (Again)(Again)

• The narrator alliteratively describes Della as The narrator alliteratively describes Della as speaking with "speaking with "suddensudden seriousserious sweetnesssweetness." ."

• There were three magi: Balthasar, Melchior, There were three magi: Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar. and Gaspar.

• The magi offered three gifts: gold, The magi offered three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. frankincense, and myrrh.

• According to tradition, the magi were kings According to tradition, the magi were kings of Arabia, Persia, and India.  of Arabia, Persia, and India. 

• The story centers on three valuables: Jim's The story centers on three valuables: Jim's gold watch, Della's hair, and the love Jim gold watch, Della's hair, and the love Jim and Della share. and Della share.

Literature Journal Literature Journal • 1. What is one of the greatest gifts 1. What is one of the greatest gifts

that you have ever been that you have ever been given? What made it so special? given? What made it so special?

• 2. What is the greatest gift that you 2. What is the greatest gift that you have ever received? have ever received? Why was it great? Why was it great?

• 3. What are three things that you 3. What are three things that you could make or do for could make or do for someone you dearly love?someone you dearly love?

ExpositionExposition– Della and Jim– both are the protagonistsDella and Jim– both are the protagonists

• SettingSetting– Takes place in the pastTakes place in the past– Christmas EveChristmas Eve– Apartment flat with shabby furnitureApartment flat with shabby furniture

• CharactersCharacters• POVPOV

– 33rdrd person limited person limited

Narrative HookNarrative Hook

• What will they buy each other for What will they buy each other for ChristmasChristmas

Rising ActionRising Action

• Della’s hair and Jim's watch are very Della’s hair and Jim's watch are very importantimportant

• Della sells her hair to get moneyDella sells her hair to get money• She buys a watch chainShe buys a watch chain

ClimaxClimax

• Waiting for Jim to come homeWaiting for Jim to come home

Falling ActionFalling Action

• Jim is shocked about her hairJim is shocked about her hair• He bought her combs for her hairHe bought her combs for her hair• Jim opens his giftJim opens his gift• He sold his watch to buy the combsHe sold his watch to buy the combs

ResolutionResolution

• Both Jim and Della got rid of their Both Jim and Della got rid of their treasures to please each othertreasures to please each other

• This is an example of IronyThis is an example of Irony

ImputationImputation

• attributing goodness or guiltattributing goodness or guilt• Pennies saved one and two at a time Pennies saved one and two at a time

by bulldozing the grocer and the by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until vegetable man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied.close dealing implied.

ParsimonyParsimony

• tendency to be over-careful in tendency to be over-careful in spendingspending

ScrutinyScrutiny

• close examinationclose examination• For ten seconds let us regard with For ten seconds let us regard with

discreet scrutiny some discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight dollars a week or a direction. Eight dollars a week or a million a year--what is the million a year--what is the difference? difference?

InconsequentialInconsequential

• unimportantunimportant

How much money does How much money does Della have to spend for Della have to spend for

Christmas?Christmas?• $1.87$1.87

How did she manage to How did she manage to save even this little save even this little

amount?amount? By bargaining with the butcher, the By bargaining with the butcher, the

grocer, and the vegetable man. grocer, and the vegetable man.

What is the true Gift of the What is the true Gift of the Magi?Magi?

• Selflessness and LOVE!!!!!Selflessness and LOVE!!!!!

What are Della and Jim’s What are Della and Jim’s most prized possessions?most prized possessions?

• Her hair and his watchHer hair and his watch

Explain the irony of the Explain the irony of the gifts.gifts.

• . . Jim sold his watch to buy Della Jim sold his watch to buy Della combs for her hair and Della sold combs for her hair and Della sold her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s watch.watch.

Extension ActivityExtension Activity

Write a sequel. Pretend it's 10 years Write a sequel. Pretend it's 10 years down the road and Jim and Della down the road and Jim and Della got a divorce. Does Jim strangle got a divorce. Does Jim strangle Della with his watch chain? Does Della with his watch chain? Does Della poke Jim's eye with the Della poke Jim's eye with the combs? Do they get each combs? Do they get each something else?something else?