Who, being loved, is poor?
— Oscar Wilde
Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.
Unit Goals
— Robert Heinlein
After learning the unit, students are expected
·to learn the cultural knowledge about Christmas and the gift-giving custom,
·to know O. Henry as a master of short story and his unique literary elements,
·to understand the theme of love and explore minor themes in a given selection,
·to learn some useful words and expressions from the unit, and
·to improve English language skills, communication skills and critical thinking.
Before You Read
1. Do you know the origin of Christmas Day and the story of the Magi? What are some other time of the year when people like to exchange gifts? What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
2. Think about all the special events in your country or region. Make a list of all the special dates that you celebrate during the year.
3. Predict which of the four sayings best describes the main theme of The Gift of the Magi. Study the sayings or proverbs and see whether there are similar ones in your language.
Love is the greatest gift of all.
Money can’t buy you love.
A gift must come from the heart.
Beauty comes from within.
4. Form groups of three or four students. Try to find, on the Internet or in the library, information about O. Henry and his famous stories such as The Cop and the Anthem. Prepare a presentation about the author and his unique writing style.
Start to Read