The Gift of Magi with Classroom activities

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Title of the Study

The Gift of the Magiby O. Henry

Adviser: Lecturer, Sabrina Sadeka Haque, JU, Dhaka.Presenter: Md. Ziaul IslamID:

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

MEET THE WRITER BACKGROUND CHARACTERS SUMMARY CONCLUSION ACTIVITIES & OUTCOME LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY SOURCES

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Meet the writer

William Sydney Porter Pen name: O. Hendry, Olivier Henry, Oliver Henry Born: September 11, 1862, Greensboro North Carolina, USA Died: June 5, 1910 (47 yrs. Old) Style: known for his wit, wordplay, warm characterization, and clever twist endings.

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BackgroundThe Magi referred to in the title of this story are the three “wise men” who, according to the Bible (Matthew 2:1–13), brought gifts of frankincense and myrrh (substances prized for their fragrance) as well as gold to the infant Jesus. Traditionally the Magi’s gifts are regarded as the first Christmas presents.

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Characters

•Della- a loving, warm, selfless, and devoted woman to her husband.

• Jim- he is the husband of Della who works long hours but the salary is low.

•Madame Sofronie- the owner of a hair shop where Della sold her hair.

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SUMMARYDELLA IS MARRIED TO JIM AND THEY LIVE IN A SHABBY FLAT HOUSE. THEY WERE POOR BUT THEY LOVE EACH OTHER. IT IS CHRISTMAS TIME AND SHE WANTS TO GIVE JIM A NICE CHRISTMAS GIFT BUT SHE ONLY HAVE $1.87 SHE DOES NOT HAVE MUCH MONEY. WHEN SHE SEES HERSELF IN THE MIRROR, SHE FOUND A SOLUTION. DELLA GOES TO MADAME SOFRANIE’S STORE AND SELLS HER BEAUTIFUL HAIR FOR $20. WITH HER NEW FUNDS, DELLA IS ABLE TO FIND JIM THE PERFECT PRESENT: AN ELEGANT PLATINUM WATCH CHAIN COSTS $21. WHEN DELLA GOT HOME SHE PREPARES DINNER. JIM ARRIVES HOME AND STARES FIXEDLY AT HER THEN FOUND OUT THAT DELLA’S HAIR WAS GONE. AFTER A WHILE JIM GIVES HER A GIFT, THE GIFT IS A FANCY COMBS SHE’S WANTED FOR A LONG TIME BUT NOW IT HAS NO USE FOR HER. JIM TELLS HER THAT HE SOLD HIS WATCH TO PAY FOR HER CHRISTMAS GIFT. THEN DELLA GIVES HIM HER PRESENT, A WATCH CHAIN. JIM TOLD DELLA TO PUT AWAY THEIR PRESENTS TO HAVE THEIR DINNER.

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Conclusion

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Activities & outcomeActivity 1: Answers the following questions by your own.

1. What did Della want to buy for her husband for Christmas? How muchmoney did she have to start with?

2. Where does Della work? Give the reference that’s made in the story.

3. What did Jim buy for his wife for Christmas?

4. What decision did she make that caused her to feel happy? Do you agree with her?

5. What do we learn about the relationship between Della and Jim? Do they

love each other still after the events of the story?

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Symbol Meaning Jim’s middle name, Dillingham, on the mailbox (p. 123)

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 a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard (p. 124)

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 Della selling her hair (p. 125)

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 the watch chain Della buys Jim(p. 125)

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Activity 2: Directions List and explain other symbols in the story. Start with the symbols below. Add any additional symbols you find during reading. Remember that a symbol can be any person, place, object, or experience that represents something else.

18Activity 3: Directions Map the problems and solutions in “The Gift of the Magi” on the diagram below. Two problems have already been filled in.

Problem: Della doesn’t have enough money to buy Jim a present for Christmas.

Problem: Jim doesn’t have enough money to buy Della a present for Christmas.

1. Her solution:________________________.

2. His solution: ________________________.

3. Their new problem: ________________________________________________________________________________________________.

4. Their new solution: _________________________________________________________.

19Activity 4: 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.

20Activity 5:

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• Very few of studies have conducted in the school with the theory.

• The number of resources is not sufficient.

Sources

http://www.dukeofdefinition.com/short_stories2.htm#gift http://www.storyboardthat.com/teacher-guide/the-gift-of-the-magi-by-o-h

enry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Henry http://www.shmoop.com/gift-of-

the-m agi/characters.html http://www.schoolbytes.com/english/su mmary.php?id=345 http://www.ehow.com/info_8189216_sy mbols-gift-magi.html

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