The Last Leaf by O.

Henry

I. Pre-Reading Exercises
- a list of words and ideas that might be related to this article:

disease, friendship, taking care of someone, struggle for life, reason to live,
happy ending

Pre-reading Questions

1. Did you ever have to take care of a good friend when they were very ill? If you
have, describe the situation. How did you feel?

Luckily, my friends have never been very ill, but I was hepling them about the school
and homework when they haven't been on classes. Because of that I felt happy, fulfill
and useful.

2. Have you ever been very ill? If yes, describe what it was like. Did someone take
care of you? Describe this person.

I'm frequently ill, but I've never been sick that bad. My friends and, of course, my
family were helping me about everything I needed in those situations. They were very
patient and I appreciate that.

3. If a good friend of your got sick, would you take care of them? Explain why or
why not.

I deffinitely would because I know how much it can mean to them and help them to
recover.

4. In which season are people more likely to get sick? Why?

People often get sick easier in winter because they spend most of time indoors where
bacteria and viruses spread intensively.
 Prediction and Character Organizer Charts

Habits / Relationships
Physical Other
MR. BEHRMAN Mannerisms / with Other
Appearance Characteristics
Behaviors People
slowly gets closer
Your description of reserved, to people,
the character at the old (past sixty), failure at antisocial, non- impatient to
beggining of the gray beard painting communicative, communicate and
story no friends, lonely collaborate with
others
a lazy,
uninterested in
short, old, experienced antisocial, non-
Your predictions for anything else than
hunched over, painter who likes communicative,
this character art, slowly gets
gray haired to spend time no friends, lonely
closer to people
alone

wants to help and

Your analysis of the old (past sixty),
reserved, caring, make someone
character at the end gray beard, blue loves his job
symphatetic happy just can't
of the story shirt
show it

1. Is the character you chose static (unchanging) or dynamic (changing)? Explain.

I would say Mr. Behrman is quite static ( unchanging ) character because his
characteristics are the same all the time but not all of them are described at the
beginning and his character is presented only in part.

2. If the character changes over the course of the selection, what do you think he or
she learns in the course of the change? Explain.

3. Were your predictions correct? Why, or why not?

In part they were because in most of fairy tales characters who are seemingly
negative, at the end become truly heroes.
II. While Reading, Watching Tasks (explain the word sin bold)
district – an area of a country or city with the certain characteristics

traversing – to move or travel through an area

quaint – having an old-fashioned attractiveness

congenial – to be friendly, pleasant, or agreeable

pneumonia – an infection that inflames the lungs caused by bacteria or a virus

chivalric – very polite, honest, and kind behaviour, especially by men towards women

swaggered – walk or behave in a very confident and arrogant way

monocle – a single eyeglass

solicitously – to show an interest to care about someone/something

merciles – showing no mercy (cold)

Questions for Comprehension.

1. Where does the story take place?

The story takes place in New York City's district called Greenwich Village.

2. Identify the main characters in the story.

The main characters are Johnsy and Sue.

3. What are the professions of Sue and Johnsy?

They are artists.

4. What did Mr. Behrman paint before he died?

He painted an ivy leaf on old brick wall.

III. Post-Reading Exercises
1. What are some of the themes in the story?

One theme is Johnsy's struggle for life and struggle against her mindset. Other one is
Mr. Behrman's encouraging Johnsy and giving her will to live.

2. What are some of the symbols in the story?

The ivy leaf sybmolizes Johnsy's will to live and keep going. It also symbolizes a
glimmer of hope that is always here in the most difficult moments of life.

3. Identify one example of how O. Henry used imagery.

''An old, old ivy vine, gnarled and decayed at the roots, climbed half way up the brick
wall.'' – This sentence perfectly describes how poor does Greenwich Village look like.

4. Why does Sue refer to the painting of the “Last Leaf “as Behrman�™s
masterpiece?

Even it is just simple painted leaf on old brick wall, Sue thinks it is masterpiece
beacuse leaf halped to convice Johnsy not to ever give up.

Writing Assignment

1. O. Henry is famous for the surprise endings in his stories. In The Last Leaf, one
of the surprises is that the last leaf was not real but a painting. See if you can
write a different “surprise” ending for the story.

''The next morning Johnsy woke up and saw Mr. Behrman painting a leaf on a brick
wall in her garden. Then she realized she was feeling better and had no reason to
think that one plain leaf depended on her life. She also saw the good side of Mr.
Behrman who was ready to help in such a strange but very interesting and good
way.''
IV. Listening Activity
Questions for Discussion

· After viewing this version of the story, do you feel that you understand it better? If
yes, describe in what way. If no, explain why not.

I think i understand the story better because of some unknown (for me) words and phrases
which I found easier to understand while watching the movie.

· Do you prefer the written or visual version of The Last Leaf ? Provide reasons for
your choice.

I actually prefer written version because I can better imagine the characters in my
imagination and create a special atmosphere by reading the story.