EL 113 ACTIVITY 2:

NEW
CRITICISM
Submitted by:
Lyza Rhane M. Lapastora
BSED ENGLISH 3-1

Ma’am Frincess T. Flores

Course Instructor
 THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
By: O. Henry

The heartfelt short tale "The Gift of the Magi" was written by O. William Sydney
Porter, an American author, uses the pen name Henry. This well-known story takes place
in a small New York City apartment in the early 20th century and comes to the genre of
classic American literature. The story's historical setting is essential since it was initially
published in 1905, reflecting the atmosphere of a time when materialism was on the rise
and there were many economic hardships and pursuits of the American Dream. Readers
are still affected by the story's timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and the genuine nature
of giving gifts. The writer, O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" was written with the
intention of conveying the classic Christmas theme of unselfish love and sacrifice. The
central theme of this lovely short story is the intense love shared by Jim and Della, a
young married couple who are prepared to make big sacrifices for one another. They each
give up their most valued items to buy gifts for the other despite their limited budgets,
only to find the irony that their presents are no longer usable. The moral of the narrative
is that sacrifices made for love are the most valuable gifts of all, and that true love
transcends material riches. Readers are urged by the author to consider the genuine
meaning of giving and the depth of love in their personal relationships. Through their acts
of selling of their most treasured items for gifts for one another, only to discover that the
gifts were no longer useful, O. Henry highlights the notion that a gift's value is
determined by its intention and sentiment rather than by how much it costs. The story
serves as a reminder that, even when they come at a personal expenses, the finest gifts are
those that are offered from the heart and with unselfish love. In "The Gift of the Magi" by
O. Henry, the primary characters include Della Young and Jim Young, who are the
protagonists of the story. Della and Jim are dynamic characters as they undergo
significant internal changes throughout the narrative. They start as a young couple
struggling financially, deeply in love, and willing to sacrifice their most cherished
possessions for each other's happiness. The antagonist in this story is not a traditional
character but rather the couple's dire financial situation, which creates obstacles for their
happiness. The story's static characters are the other minor characters who do not undergo
significant transformation, such as Madame Sofronie, the hairdresser, and the grocer.
These characters remain relatively consistent in their roles within the story.

The author of the short tale employs several literary devices to enhance the story's
emotional impact; Irony: The story is rich in irony, particularly situational irony. The
central irony is that both Jim and Della sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy gifts
for each other. Della sells her long, beautiful hair to buy a chain for Jim's pocket watch,
while Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair. The irony lies in the fact that their
gifts become useless due to the sacrifices they make. Metaphor: The story uses metaphors
to convey the depth of Jim and Della's love. When Jim sees Della's short hair, O. Henry
compares her to a "Coney Island chorus girl," highlighting the contrast between her
previous appearance and her current one. Imagery: The story employs vivid imagery to
describe Della's hair and Jim's watch. Della's hair is described as "rippling and shining
like a cascade of brown waters," while Jim's watch is portrayed as "the pride of its
owner." Foreshadowing: The story hints at the impending sacrifices and the value of their
possessions early on when it mentions Della counting her money and how little it is,
foreshadowing her need to make a significant sacrifice. Suspense: O. Henry builds
suspense as Della anxiously waits for Jim to come home and reveal her haircut. The
reader wonders how Jim will react, which creates a sense of anticipation. Flashback: The
story briefly looks back at happier times in Jim and Della's life, describing their love as
"pure" and their previous moments of happiness. This flashback emphasizes the contrast
with their current financial hardship. Humor: There is a touch of humor when O. Henry
describes Della's initial reaction to her haircut, calling it "the Coney Island queen's
adornment." This adds a bit of levity to the story before it delves into its more poignant
themes. Rhyme: Although not a central element, O. Henry's prose occasionally features a
rhythmic quality, almost resembling a poetic cadence. This rhythmic quality adds to the
storytelling's charm and impact. These literary characters, which O. Henry expertly uses,
aid in illustrating the story's themes of sacrifice, love, and the true significance of giving
gifts. The author's tone is one of warmth and appreciation for both Jim and Della, the
subjects of the story, and the concept of unselfish love and sacrifice. O. The young couple,
who are prepared to make enormous personal sacrifices to prove their love for one
another, are depicted by Henry with a sense of warmth and understanding.The author
emphasizes the sincerity of their love and the heartwarming act of giving up their most
prized assets in order to purchase gifts for one another in an emotional and compassionate
tone. In the end, the narrative honors Jim and Della's love and devotion, striking a
sympathetic and genuine connection with readers. The story of O. Henry is told from a
confined third-person perspective. This indicates that while the narrator is not a character
in the story, she has access to one character's thoughts and emotions, especially Della's.
The narrative also concentrates on Della's actions and perceptions, giving insights into
her motivations and decisions throughout the novel. Word cues that indicate this point of
view include references to Della's thoughts and feelings, such as "she thought," "she felt,"
and "Della's dilemma." Due to the reader's limited perspective, Della's choices and
sacrifices to purchase a particular Christmas present for her husband, Jim, can be
understood. "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry is a short story that explores the theme
of sacrifice and love. In this story, there are both internal and external conflicts The
primary external conflict in the story is the Dillingham Youngs' financial struggle. They
are a poor young couple, and their limited financial resources create tension and conflict
as they try to find meaningful gifts for each other for Christmas. While Della faces an
internal conflict when she decides to sell her long, beautiful hair to buy a gift for her
husband, Jim. She struggles with the idea of parting with something so precious to her
but ultimately decides to do so out of love for Jim.
 And for the main elements of the plot in this story, Jim and Della Young, a young
married couple residing in a humble apartment, are first introduced to the reader. As
stated in the introduction, it is Christmas Eve and they are both having financial issues.
Despite their financial limitations, Jim and Della's affection for one another is clear in the
prologue. Della has little money but wants to give Jim a special Christmas present to
express her love for him.Then, in the rising action, Della makes the decision to turn in her
most valued possession—her long, gorgeous hair—to a hairpiece maker in exchange for
cash. Della purchases a pendant made of platinum for Jim's pocket watch using the
proceeds from the sale of her hair. Jim goes home on Christmas Day, which serves as the
story's turning point, and is startled to see Della sporting short hair. He gives her a set of
combs that he bought by selling his own pocket watch as a gift. The falling action reveals
to Jim and Della both the sacrifices they have made for one another and the irony of their
gifts. And in the resolution, it is shown that their love for one another is the most
priceless present of all. They have made sacrifices and exchanged presents that may seem
pointless, but they are still satisfied and happy.