The Gift of the Magi

O. Henry: life
• William Sydney Porter

• born in North Carolina (1862)

• mother died when he was three

– raised by his grandmother
and aunt

• married Athol Estes (she was 17)

– 1 daughter: Margaret
 O. Henry: life

• started a humour magazine

– failed

• worked as a journalist and also

as a bank clerk

• accused of taking bank money

(1896)
 O. Henry: life
• sent to prison in Ohio after his
wife died (1897)
– started taking writing
seriously in prison
• wanted to earn money to
support his daughter

• got out of prison and changed

his name to O.Henry (1901)
• died of liver disease (1910)
 O. Henry: works
• 1st story:
– published in McClure’s
Magazine (1899)

• collections:
– Cabbages and Kings (1904)
– The Four Million (1906)
• includes The Gift of the
Magi and The Furnished
Room
 O. Henry: works
• 10 collections and over 600
short stories

• most of his stories:

– set in the early 20th century
– New York City
– about ordinary people
 The O.Henry Prize
• since 1918

• the most prestigious American award for short

fiction
– given to 20 short stories every year

• since 2016:
– a special prize for an author under 22 years of
age
The story
 Reading Comprehension
1. $ 1.87
2. Christmas Day.
3. the second floor.
4. old and worn.
5. below her knees.
6. his father and grandfather.
7. a platinum chain.
8. selling her hair.
9. after looking in all the stores.
10.she couldn’t wear the combs.
 Situational Irony
• when we expect a certain thing to happen only to
be surprised when something entirely different
takes place

• - Della cut and sold her hair to buy Jim a chain

for his watch.
- Jim sold his watch to buy Della combs for her
hair.