Chapter 4.6 – The Gift of the Magi
Jim and Della are a young couple living in a small apartment. They have very little money.
Jim and Della each want to get the other a present. Jim wants to get Della something for her beautiful hair and Della wants to get him something for his watch which is his most valued possession.
The problem is they don’t have enough money. Della cuts her hair off and sells it to get money to buy Jim a chain for his watch. I’m selling his watch to get combs for her hair, so now they don’t have their most prized treasures and the gifts they get for each other are also rendered worthless.
But the narrator says they are wise for giving those gifts to each other in their selfless act and compares them to the Magi bringing gifts for baby Jesus lying in the manger.
bulldozing : pressurizing
cheeks burned : felt embarrassed
imputation : associative action to some person
parsimony : unwillingness to spend money
instigates : provokes
mendicancy squad : police who arrest beggars and the homeless
coax : urge
appertaining : concerning
unassuming : simple and humble
agile : quick and light-footed
accurate : correct / precise
depreciate : gradually diminish in value
basement : the floor of a building which is partly or entirely below ground level
cascade : a small waterfall
garment : clothing
fluttered : danced / hovered
platinum : a precious silvery-white metal
cents : a monetary unit in various countries equal to one hundredth of a dollar, Euro or other decimal currency unit
gave way : submitted, yielded
prudence : quality of being wise
tremendous : very big
mammoth : huge
disapproval : disagreement
patent : obvious
curiously : eagerly
idiocy : foolishness
trance : half-conscious state
inconsequential : unimportant
coveted : sought after
whispered : spoke very softly
the magi : the Biblical Magi, also referred to as the wise men or kings, who visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh
treasures : a quantity of precious / valuable objects
Warming up!
1. The moment you hear the word ‘Gift’, what feelings do you experience? Complete the web with those feelings.
Ans:
2. ‘Gifts’ need not be material gifts. They can be abstract and yet priceless. For example, favours, kindness, help in times of need etc.
Think of and enlist such unforgettable gifts given to you by :
(1) Parents / Grandparents :
Ans: old photographs hand made articles like embroidered kerchiefs etc.
(2) Siblings / relatives :
Ans: spend time with you when you are alone, give a toy or cycle to ride.
(3) Friends :
Ans: teaching you, sharing their snacks or sweets with you.
(4) Strangers :
Ans: giving correct directions, helping to carry a heavy bag, etc.
3. Say whether the words underlined are infinitives / participles or gerunds.
(1) The athletes wanted to take part in the running race.
Ans:
(a) to take – infinitive.
(b) running – adjective participle
(2) Would you like to eat at the dinning table?
Ans:
(a) to eat – infinitive
(b) dining – adjective participle
(3) Reading is good for the mind and soul. So take up reading books.
Ans:
(a) Reading – gerund
(b) reading – gerund
(4) I like to eat fruits rather than eating sweets.
Ans:
(a) to eat – infinitive
(b) eating – gerund
(5) Listening and speaking sharpen your language skills.
Ans:
(a) Listening – gerund
(b) speaking – gerund
In Between The LESSON
Q1. Why do you think Della counted the money three times?
Ans: She counted the money carefully because she wanted to make sure she was not making any mistakes about the amount. She was thinking about the next day, that was Christmas and about what Christmas gift could she buy her husband with so little money.
Q2. What signs indicate that Della was very poor?
Ans: The ‘Dillingham’ from the sign board was missing. They could not even afford to make a simple and modest ‘D’ and fix it on the board.
Q3. What was the cause of Della’s disturbed mind?
Ans: Della was disturbed because she was contemplating cutting her long, brown, cascading hair in order to get some money to buy a christmas present for Jim, but at the same time, she loved her hair and did not want to cut it.
Q4. What were the couple’s prized possessions?
Ans: The two prized possessions of the Youngs was Jim’s gold watch that had been his father’s and his grandfather’s and the other was Della’s hair, which fell like a cascade of brown waters and reached below her knee.
Q5. What made Della look at her reflection critically?
Ans: Della cut her hair and sold it. When she reached home with her short hair, she thought of cutting her hair with the cutting icons. When her hair was covered with tiny, close-lying cycles, it made her loot like a tyrant school boy. so she looked at her reflection critically, in the mirror.
Q6. What good habits did Della have?
Ans: Della had a habit of saying a little silent prayer, about the simplest every day things.
Q7. Why did Jim stare at Della?
Ans: Jim looked at Della as her long cascading curls had vanished; so he just stared at her with a peculiar expression on his face. There was no feeling of anger nor surprise, nor disapproval or horror, nor any of those sentiments she was prepared for or expected.
Q8. What gift had Jim brought for Della?
Ans: Jim brought for Della set of combs, pure tortoise shell with jewelled rims, to wear in her long brown hair, by selling his watch.
Q9. Why did the beautiful present flash?
Ans: The present seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit.
Q10. Why are Jim and Della referred to as the magi?
Ans: Jim and Della are compared to two selfless givers who wisely sacrificed the greatest treasures they had for each other. They are called the ‘Magi’ as a reference to the three wise men who brought gifts for baby Jesus at his birth.
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Complete the following.
(a) Della had saved ____________
Ans: Della had saved one dollar and eighty seven cents.
(b) Della wanted to buy ____________
Ans: Della wanted to buy for her
husband Jim a christmas gift.
(c) Della’s beautiful hair tell about ____________
Ans: Della’s beautiful hair tell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters.
2. Answer the following questions:
(a) How much did Della save for Christmas? What does it show?
Ans: Della saved one dollar and eighty-seven cents. She did this by bargaining with the grocer and the vegetable man. It brings out qualities of their, planning and managing the home well and also insight about saving to buy a present for her husband.
(b) Why did Della take pride in the beauty of her hair?
Ans: Della had beautiful hair, which fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knees. It was her prized possession and in front of the Queen of Sheba, her open, long flowing hair would depreciate her majesty’s jewels and gifts.
(c) Why and how did Della sell her hair? Do you think she did well?
Ans: Della sold her hair at ‘Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds’ for twenty dollars. She had just one dollar and eighty seven cents on Christmas Eve; and wanted to buy, for her husband, a Christmas gift. The only option she had was to sell her hair. According to me, she may have done well, since she wanted the money.
(d) Why did Jim sell his gold watch? Do you think he did well?
Ans: Jim sold the gold watch because he too wanted the money to buy a christmas gift for his wife Della. He had seen the tortoise shells, combs in the shop and thought they would look good on her hair. According to me, he may have done well, since he loved his wife so much.
(e) Why did Jim and Della want to present the gifts?
Ans: It is customary to exchange gifts for Christmas. This custom was invented by the three wise men who brought gifts to Baby Jesus in the manger, that day is celebrated as Christmas Day. So Jim and Della also customarily wanted to exchange gifts to show their love for each other.
(f) Why did Della feel sad on losing her hair?
Ans: Della was proud of her hair and it was her only prized possession. She had long, brown cascading hair falling upto her knees which was indeed very beautiful. There is a similarity mentioned in the lesson between Della’s hair and the Jewels and gifts of Queen Sheba, one of the wealthiest women of her times. Della’s hair would depreciate all her majesty’s Jewels and gifts. Thus, on losing her hair which was so precious, Della felt sad.
(g) What did Jim bring out from his coat? Describe the scene.
Ans: Jim drew a package from his coat, which contained the combs, The set of Combs that Della had worshiped long in a Broadway window. They were expensive combs made of pure tortoise shell and were gold rimmed.
Della hugged the combs to her bosom and was able to look up with dim eyes and smile at Jim after her initial bout of hysterical crying. And then she leaped like a little, singed cat, when she remembered Jim’s present.
(h) How beautiful was the gold watch chain? Would you have liked to own it?
Ans: It was a platinum fob chain, simple and chaste in design properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by ornamentation. It was even worthy of ‘The watch’. Anyone for that matter, would have loved to own it. It was indeed very beautiful.
(i) How did the Magi want to celebrate their Christmas (OR) Who were the first people to give Christmas gifts?
Ans: The Magi were the wise men who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas gifts. Their idea of celebrating Christmas was by exchanging gifts.
(j) What is the moral of the story?
Ans: ‘It is the spirit behind the gift and not the gift itself, that is important. Della and Jim illustrate this moral when they express their love for each other by giving everything they have at christmas time. What is important is that they love each other, and their gifts really only serve as symbols and proofs of their love, which is far more precious than any material objects.
3. Complete the following activity :
Map the problems and solutions in “The Gift of the Magi” on the diagram below. Two problems have already been filled in.
Ans:
4. Read the following and answer.
(A) Say WHAT
(a) _______ troubled Della on Christmas Eve?
Ans: Della did not have enough money to buy Jim a decent / good Christmas gift.
(b) _______ was the current family income?
Ans: The current income was Twenty Dollars a week.
(c) _______ could have outshone Queen of Sheba’s jewels?
Ans: Della’s long brown cascading hair could have outshone Queen of Sheba’s jewels.
(d) _______ was the cost of the fob chain?
Ans: The cost of the fob chain was twenty-one dollars.
(e) _______ sent Jim into a trance, on his return?
Ans: The fact that Della had cut her hair short sent Jim into a trance, on his return.
(B) Say WHY
(a) _______ did Della sell her lovely long hair?
Ans: Della sold her lovely long hair so that she could get some money to buy a Christmas present for Jim. She wanted to buy for him, as a Christmas gift, a fob chain for his watch, which was worth twenty one dollars.
(b) _______ was Della a bit apprehensive after she had sold her hair?
Ans: She was wondering whether she still looked as pretty as before, and if Jim could find her still pretty, with her hair cut short.
(c) _______ did Jim avoid checking the time in his gold watch, in a public place?
Ans: Jim avoided checking the time in his gold watch, in a public place, on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of a chain.
(d) _______ did Della’s scream of joy change to loud wails?
Ans: Della’s scream of joy changed to loud wails because the combs which she had worshipped were hers, but the long hair, where she would have used the combs were gone.
(e) _______ in the end, did Jim ask Della to put the chops on?
Ans: The Christmas presents could not be used at that moment. (since the watch and the hair had gone) so to draw back to reality, he must have said it.
(C) Say WHEN
(a) _______ had Jim added ‘Dillingham’ as his middle name?
Ans: During a former period of prosperity, when Jim was paid $ 30 per week.
(b) _______ did a tear or two drop on the old red carpet?
Ans: When Della faltered for a minute and stood still.
(c) _______ did Della go through goods in the stores?
Ans: After selling her hair to Madame Sofronie and obtaining Twenty dollars for it, she went through the goods in the stores.
(d) _______ did Della say a silent prayer to God?
Ans: When she heard her husband Jim’s step on the stair away down on the first flight
(e) _______ did Jim try to divert their attention for ten seconds, at least?
Ans: When Della told him that she had cut her hair and sold it, he went in a trance.
5. Complete : Use the chart below to explain situational irony in ‘The Gift of the Magi’. For each character, identify what is expected to happen and what actually happens.
Ans:
6. Complete the following activity.
Word List :
- agile
- cascade
- coveted
- instigate
- prudence
- assertion
- chronicle
- inconsequential
- predominating
- subside
- gobbling
Fill in each set of blanks with the correct word from the word list. The boxed letters will spell out something that Della receives.
Ans:
7. Complete the following basic plot diagram :
Ans:
8. Pick out from the story words that mean the following. Against each consumer write (N) if it is a Noun (V) for Verb and (Adj) for Adjective.
(1) reluctance to spend money ( )
Ans: parsimony – Noun
(2) relating to ( )
Ans: appertaining – Verb
(3) urge ( )
Ans: coax – Verb
(4) reduce in value ( )
Ans: depreciate – Verb
(5) wisdom ( )
Ans: prudence – Noun
(6) very huge ( )
Ans: tremendous – adjective
(7) foolishness ( )
Ans: idiocy – Noun
9. Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.
(a) What would you do if you ran short of money, to buy a birthday gift for one of your parents / siblings?
Ans: I would most likely borrow money from a friend and buy a gift, and return the money when I receive pocket money.
(b) Think of two alternatives that could have prevented Della and Jim from selling their most precious possessions.
Ans: The two alternatives could be:
(i) Della could have taken a part time job; maybe at a restaurant or at a bakery to earn some extra money.
(ii) Jim could have mortgaged his watch and borrowed some amount of money that could have been paid later.
(c) Justify the title of the story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’.
Ans: In O’ Henry’s ‘The gift of the Magi’ the theme of the story is that of selfless giving from the heart, like that of the Magi, or wise men in the Christmas story.
The irony, of course, is that Della sells her hair to buy Jim, a watch fob chain for his pocket watch, but Jim sells his watch to buy Della beautiful combs for her long luxurious hair.
In this case, each has sacrificed what was most dear to him / her, for the other, which the other then cannot use.
The most prominent theme is love. Jim and Della are willing to part with their most prized possessions, to make each other happy. demonstrating that a wealth of love makes up for material poverty.
(d) Gifts that you buy have fixed prices/ rates. How can the buyer increase the value of a gift bought for someone very dear in the family?
Ans: The value of a gift, rather than its material value, can be sometimes increased by – giving the gift with love and blessings, or gift wrapping it well, or buying a gift which the person will cherish with love etc.
(e) What situation is the climax of the story? How does it end up as an anticlimax?
Ans: In ‘The gift of the Magi’ Della is determined to give her husband a Christmas gift. In order to afford the fob chain for her husband’s watch, she sells her long beautiful hair, only to learn that he has sold his precious watch, to buy her a set of combs.
(f) If you share this story with some friends in a junior class, how would they react in the end?
Ans: According to me most probably they would laugh, be shocked, or find it silly.
(g) Who were the very first people to give Christmas gifts? What had inspired them to do so?
Ans: The Three Kings were the first to give Christmas gifts. They had seen the star, and knew about the birth of Baby Jesus so they came with expensive gifts to pay homage to Him.
(h) At the end of the story, O Henry remarks that of all who give gifts, Della and Jim were the wisest. Think and explain this paradoxial remark.
Ans: The paradox is that Jim and Della, in demonstrating the depth of their love and commitment for each other, showed their true wisdom.
Gifts are to be given, out of love, not for material reasons, as did the original Magi and their gifts to the Babe in the manger. Jim and Della, ‘were the wisest’. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they, are wisest. Everywhere, they are wisest, they are the Magi.
10. Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly imply the following :
(a) Della was not too happy about bargaining for grocery etc.
Ans: Until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony.
(b) The flat was in a dilapidated condition.
Ans: It did not exactly beg a description but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.
(c) King Soloman would express his jealousy of Jim.
Ans: Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.
(d) Della spent a joyful time, for two hours.
Ans: Oh! and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings.
(e) Della’s elated mood underwent a change as she opened her gift.
Ans: And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! necessitating the immediate employment of all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat.
(f) The weekly income amount does not matter.
Ans: The “Dillingham” had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $ 30 per week.
(g) Let us set aside our gifts and get ready for dinner.
Ans: Shall I put the cops on.
11. Frame wh-questions to get the underlined answers.
(1) Life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles.
Ans: What is life up made of?
(2) Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him.
Ans: Who had spent many a happy hour planning for something nice for him?
(3) Her hair reached below her knee.
Ans: How far did her hair reach?
(4) She was ransacking the stores for Jim’s present.
Ans: Why was she ransacking the stores?
(5) At 7 o’clock the coffee was made.
Ans: At what time was the coffee made?
(6) The magi were wise men.
Ans: What kind of men were the Magi?
12. (A) Add appropriate question tags.
(1) Della leaped up, …………..?
Ans: Della leaped up, didn’t she?
(2) You’ll have to look at the time, …………..?
Ans: You’ll have to look at the time, wouldn’t you?
(3) They were expensive combs, …………..?
Ans: They were expensive combs, weren’t they?
(4) I just had to do it, …………..?
Ans: I just had to do it, didn’t I?
(5) I am still pretty, …………..?
Ans: I am still pretty, aren’t I?
(6) Give it to me quick , …………..?
Ans: Give it to me quick , will you?
(7) There was clearly nothing to do, …………..?
Ans: There was clearly nothing to do, was there?
(8) My hair grows so fast, …………..?
Ans: My hair grows so fast, doesn’t it?
(9) Let’s put our Christmas presents away, …………..?
Ans: Let’s put our Christmas presents away, shall we?
(10) She had a habit for saying a silent prayer, …………..?
Ans: She had a habit for saying a silent prayer, didn’t she?
(B) Supply short answers (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb)
Questions Answers
(1) Don’t you like me? Yes, ………………..
Ans: Don’t you like me? Yes, I do
(2) Have you cut off your hair? Yes, ………………..
Ans: Have you cut off your hair? Yes, I have
(3) Shall I put the chops on? Yes, …………….
Ans: Shall I put the chops on? Yes, You shall
(4) Isn’t it a dandy? Yes, ………………..
Ans: Isn’t it a dandy? Yes, It is.
(5) Does it make a difference? No, ………………..
Ans: Does it make a difference? No, It doesn’t.
(6) Will you buy my hair? No, ………………..
Ans: Will you buy my hair? No, I won’t
(7) Can you afford it? No, ………………..
Ans: Can you afford it? No, I can’t
(8) Are you fooling me? No, ………………..
Ans: Are you fooling me? No, I am not.
13. Pick out the infinitives / gerunds / participles from the following sentences and state what each one is.
(1) I want to see how it looks.
Ans: to see – infinitive
(2) I don’t like frightening stories.
Ans: frightening – adjectival participle
(3) We decided to settle in Pune.
Ans: to settle – infinitive
(4) Playing sitar is Arjun’s hobby.
Ans: Playing – Gerund
(5) It was a horrifying experience for all of us.
Ans: horrifying – adjectival participle
13. Imagine you are the monitor of the class. You are asked to conduct an interview of a famous scientist who is in your city/village. Frame 8 to 10 interview questions with the help of the following points.
(1) Early life and education
(2) Interest for this particular field
(3) Any inspirational incident that occurred in his/her life
(4) Guru or mentor
(5) Inventions and awards
(6) Future plans
(7) Advice/Message to youngsters
Ans:
(i) From where did you do your schooling?
(ii) What was your favourite subject in school?
(iii) How did you acquire interest in this field?
(iv) Why is your research important?
(v) How did it feel to receive India’s highest civilian honour?
(vi) What is your biggest goal in life?
(vii) What was the most challenging aspect in your carrier?
(viii) What was your proudest professional moment?
(ix) Any inspirational incident that proved a turning point in your life.
(x) What are your future plans?
(xi) What is your advice to young scientist enthusiasts who want to research and establish a career in science and technology?
14. Project :
Divide the class into four groups. Collect pictures or draw images of various musical instruments, of the following categories.
(a) Stringed Instruments (Guitar)
(b) Wind Instruments (Flute)
(c) Percussion Instruments (Tabla)
(d) Solid Metal Instruments (Cymbals)
Paste and decorate pictures on separate sheets of paper. Give proper headings and names. Compile into a file with a cover and suitable file-title.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.