The last leaf

1. “Here they found rooms they liked, with good light and at a low
cost.”
a. Where was the building located?
b. Who does ‘they’ refer to? Where did ‘they’ meet?
c. What did they decide when they met? Why?

2. “Toward winter a cold stranger entered Greenwich Village. No one

could see him.”
a. Who was the cold stranger? What did he do?
b. Which figure of speech is used here?
c. What was used to describe his character? Why?
d. Who was affected by it?

3. “She has a very small chance”

a. Who does ‘she’ refer to? Who said these words to whom?
b. Why did the speaker say this?
c. What was bothering ‘her’?

4. Talk to her about new winter clothes.

a. Who said these words and to whom?
b. Who does 'her' refer to in the above line? What had happened to
her?
 c. Why did the speaker advise the listener to talk to 'her' about new
winter clothes?

5. “As she worked she heard a low sound, again and again.”
a. Who does ‘she’ refer to?
b. What was the low sound?
c. Describe the time when this event occurred.

6. “Twelve,' she said; and a little later, ' Eleven'; and then, 'Ten,' and, '
Nine'; and then, ' Eight,' and 'Seven,' almost together.”
a. Who said these words?
b. What was she counting?
c. What notion had entered her head?

7. “The cold breath of winter had already touched it.”

a. Who did the cold breath of winter touch?
b. Where was it present?
c. Why does the writer say that the cold breath of winter touches it?

8. “What does an old tree have to do with you?”

a. Who said these words to whom?
b. Why did she say this?
c. How did the speaker try to reason with the listener?
9. “You don't have to buy anything for me”
a. Who said these words to whom?
b. Why did she say this?
c. How did the listener reply?

10. “I want to go sailing down, down, like one of those leaves.”

a. Who said these words to whom?
b. Why did she say this?

11. “I must call Behrman to come up here.”

a. Who said these words to whom?
b. Why did she call Behrman?
c. Who was Mr Behrman? What was his feeling towards the two
young girls?

12. “Her hold on the world was growing weaker.”

a. Who said these words to whom?
b. Who does ‘her’ refer to?
c. Why was it happening so?
d. How did the listener reply?

13. “In the morning, after an hour's sleep, she went to Johnsy's
bedside.”
a. Who does she refer to?
 b. Why did she have only an hour’s sleep?
c. Why did she go to Johnsy’s room?

14. “It was the last on the tree.”

a. What was the last on the tree? Describe it.
b. How did Johnsy react when she saw it even after a stormy night?

15. “The most lonely thing in the world is a soul when it is preparing
to go on its far journey.”
a. Who was the "lonely soul" in the story? Why was she called so?
b. What 'far journey' is being referred to in the above line?
c. To what had Johnsy connected her journey?

16. “I've been a bad girl, Sue,”

a. Who said these words?
b. Why did she call herself a bad girl?
c. What did the doctor say?

17. “Give her good care, and she'll get well.”

a. Who said these words to whom?
b. Who does ‘her’ refer to?
c. Why did he say this?

18. “You have done it.”

 a. Who said these words to whom?
b. Why did the speaker say this?
c. What did the listener do?

19. “I have something to tell you.”

a. Who said these words to whom?
b. What did the speaker say?

20. “Oh, my dear, it is Behrman's great masterpiece”

a. Who said these words to whom?
b. What was the masterpiece?
c. Putting the pieces of the story together, what did they realize that
Behrman had tried to do?
1. masterpiece: an artist's best work of art
2. lamented: expressed great sadness
The story circles the advent of pneumonia in the town, which infected a
lot of people, and two painters, Sue and Johnsy, who met and started to
live together. Johnsy was infected by pneumonia, and her condition had
worsened, so she thought of dying with the last leaf on the tree next to
the window. Sue was unsuccessful in her attempt to make Johnsy eat a
bit. Mr Behram, another painter in the building, tried to help them by
allowing Sue to paint and sell his picture. The last leaf remained till the
next day, unaffected by the harsh rain and wind. Seeing this, Johnsy
realized her mistake and agreed to eat. The doctor returned and said that
Johnsy was better, and required just proper food and care to recover. But,
Mr Behram was about to die because of pneumonia. He painted his
masterpiece, a realistic tree with just one leaf, which Johnsy thought of
as the real tree. He helped Johnsy to get well before dying.