By: O. Henry

Presented by: Ms. Wilkin

The Gift of the Magi

It is Christmas Eve and all the money that Delia has saved for Jim’s gift totals $1.87. Delia and Jim have two possessions that are the treasures of the household, Delia’s hair, which is their pride and joy and Jim’s watch, which is an inheritance from his grandfather.

Summary- ExpositionThe Gift of the Magi is the story of a young married couple.

Rising Action Delia leaves the house and sells her

glorious hair for $20. Then she races around town and spends $21 buying a platinum watch chain. She hurries home and tries to fix her hair so that Jim will not be too upset by her appearance.

When Jim comes home, he seems shocked. Finally, Jim gives her the gift he bought for her. It is a pair of hair combs that Delia had long desired.

Climax

Delia is thrilled but her joy is quickly followed by sorrow as she realizes she has no hair to wear the combs in. Delia remembers her gift to Jim.

Falling Action

Jim’s response is to smile and tell Delia that he sold the watch to buy the combs and that perhaps they should put their gifts up and save them for a later time.

Resolution

Delia and Jim Young: The protagonists of the story. They sacrifice their most valued possessions for each other.

There is no character that is the antagonist. However, it could be said that poverty is the antagonist. It is poverty that causes Delia and Jim to sacrifice their beloved possessions.

Madame Sofronie: The shop owner who buys Delia’s hair. She is a supporting character.

Characters

The story takes place in New York at Christmastime. Most of the action takes place in a modest apartment and at a hair shop near the apartment.

Setting

External Conflict:Delia and Jim experience man

vs. society external conflict. The conflict is that they want to buy gifts, but do not have money to do so.

Conflict

•Internal Conflict: • Delia experiences internal conflict

when she must decide to sacrifice her hair to buy a gift for Jim.• Jim may feel internal conflict when he

has to explain to Delia that their sacrifices have been in vain.

Sacrifice and LoveThe story, The Gift of the

Magi, is a story about love and sacrifice. Delia and Jim sacrifice their most valued possessions for love. The loving young husband and wife sell the only valuable things they own to give each other special Christmas gifts.

Themes

Selling her hair is not an easy decision for Delia to make. The color drains from Delia’s face when she makes her decision, and she urges Madame Sofronie to hurry- so, she will not change her mind.

The watch is also very important to Jim. Jim sells his only valuable possession, so that he may buy his wife a special Christmas gift. He decides that his wife, and his love for her, are more important than his precious keepsake.