1. Discuss the following questions.
1) What is important about the title?
2) What are the conflicts in The Gift of the Magi? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) do you see in this story?
3) How does O. Henry portray the characters in The Gift of the Magi?
4) What are the themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
5) What are the symbols in The Gift of the Magi? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
6) Is Della consistent in her actions? Is she a fully developed character? How? Why?
7) Do you find the characters likable? Why or why not?
8) Does the story end in the way you expected? How? Why?
9) What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?
10) How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?
2. Tell whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
1) Della counted out 20 dollars at the beginning of the story. ( )
2) Upon moral reflection, Della (Mrs. James Dillingham Young) decided that life was made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles. ( )
3) In The Gift of the Magi, the next day was going to be Della and Jim’s anniversary.( )
4) Della sold Madame Sofronie her wedding ring for $20. ( )
5) Della bought a platinum fob chain for her husband Jim for $21. ( )
6) Della thought her new look would remind Jim of a Catholic nun. ( )
7) “Please, God, make him accept my apology” is the prayer Della said to herself when she heard Jim come inside. ( )
8) Jim got Della a set of combs as a gift as he came back. ( )
9) Jim sold his gold watch chain to pay for his Christmas gift to Della. ( )
10) O. Henry used the words “foolish” and “wise” when describing the couple in relation to the Biblical Magi. ( )
3. Decide which character speaks the following lines and what do these lines tell us about the characters. Put the lines in order and retell the story.