The Gift of the Magi by O Henry - B1 - Learn English Through Short Stories

Summary

In 'The Gift of the Magi,' a heartwarming tale set on Christmas Eve, Della and Jim Young struggle financially but cherish their love for each other. Della, with only $1.87, sells her prized long hair to buy a chain for Jim's heirloom gold watch. Unbeknownst to her, Jim sells the watch to purchase a set of combs for her hair. Their sacrifices reveal the true spirit of Christmas, teaching that love and thoughtful giving are the most precious gifts.

Takeaways

• 🎄 The story is a retelling of 'The Gift of the Magi', a classic tale about the spirit of Christmas and the sacrifices made for love.
• 💰 Della has only $1.87 to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim, highlighting their financial struggles.
• 🏠 They live in a modest apartment with a broken doorbell, symbolizing their humble living conditions.
• 👤 Jim's income has significantly decreased, which has a direct impact on their lifestyle and ability to afford gifts.
• 😢 Della cries over her limited resources, showing the emotional toll of their situation.
• 💇 Della decides to sell her beautiful long hair to afford a present for Jim, a significant sacrifice.
• 📿 The two prized possessions of the couple are Jim's gold watch and Della's hair, both of which are deeply personal and valuable.
• 💎 Della purchases a fine chain for Jim's watch with the money she got from selling her hair, believing it to be the perfect gift.
• 😱 Jim is shocked when he sees Della with short hair, as it was a drastic change.
• 🎁 In a twist, Jim has sold his treasured watch to buy Della a set of combs for her long hair, unaware she had sold it.
• 🤗 Despite the misunderstanding, they both express love and acceptance, showing that their love is more valuable than material possessions.
• 🌟 The story concludes with the message that giving selflessly, even when it results in the loss of something precious, is an act of wisdom and true love.

Q & A

What is the main theme of 'The Gift of the Magi'?

The main theme of 'The Gift of the Magi' is the selfless love and sacrifice made by a couple, Della and Jim, for each other, even in the face of poverty.

How much money does Della have to buy a Christmas present for Jim?

Della has one dollar and 87 cents to buy a Christmas present for Jim.

What is the significance of the gold watch to Jim?

The gold watch is significant to Jim because it has been in his family for many generations, belonging to both his father and grandfather.

Why does Della decide to sell her hair?

Della decides to sell her hair to raise enough money to buy a special Christmas present for Jim, as she has very little money.

What does Della buy with the money she gets from selling her hair?

Della buys a fine-looking chain for Jim's gold watch with the money she gets from selling her hair.

How does Della feel about her new short hairstyle?

Della is initially nervous and unsure about her new short hairstyle, fearing Jim's reaction.

What gift does Jim surprise Della with, and why is it ironic?

Jim surprises Della with a set of combs for her long hair, which is ironic because she has just sold her long hair.

What did Jim sell to afford the gift for Della?

Jim sold his precious gold watch to afford the gift for Della.

How does the story describe the couple's living situation?

The story describes the couple's living situation as modest and struggling, with a broken doorbell and a letterbox that no letter would go into.

What is the connection made between Della and Jim's sacrifices and the story of the Magi?

The connection made is that just as the Magi were wise men who gave precious gifts to baby Jesus, Della and Jim, despite being called 'fools', showed wisdom in their sacrifices for love, making them as wise as the Magi.

What lesson does the story impart about the value of gifts?

The story imparts the lesson that the value of gifts lies not in their material worth but in the love and sacrifice behind them.

Outlines

00:00

🎄 The Dilemma of Christmas Gift

In the first paragraph, we meet Della Young, who is struggling financially and trying to find a way to buy a special Christmas gift for her husband, Jim, with only $1.87. Della is described as having saved this small amount of money through careful bargaining with vendors. She lives in a modest apartment and is married to Jim, who has seen better days, now earning only $20 a week. The couple has two prized possessions: Jim's gold watch, a family heirloom, and Della's beautiful long hair. In a moment of desperation and inspiration, Della decides to sell her hair to buy a gift for Jim, receiving $20 from Madame Sofrani, a hair goods dealer.

05:02

🛍️ The Search for the Perfect Gift

The second paragraph follows Della as she spends the money from selling her hair to buy a gift for Jim. She finds a fine chain for his cherished gold watch, which she believes will make him proud and cover up the old strap. Della pays $21 for the chain and rushes home to prepare. She styles her new short hair into tight curls, which gives her a boyish appearance. As Jim returns home, he reacts with a strange expression to Della's changed appearance. Della explains her actions, expressing hope that Jim won't mind her shorter hair because it will grow back. She presents him with the watch chain as a Christmas gift, excited to see how it looks with his watch.

10:05

💔 The Bittersweet Exchange of Sacrifice

In the final paragraph, the story reaches its emotional climax as Jim reveals that he has sold his gold watch to buy Della a set of combs for her beautiful hair, unaware that she has sold her hair to buy him a gift. The combs, which Della had long desired, now seem out of place without her long locks. Despite the irony of their sacrifices, both are touched by the other's gesture of love. The story concludes with a reflection on the wisdom of the Magi, drawing a parallel between their gifts and the selfless acts of Della and Jim, who, despite losing their prized possessions, have demonstrated the true spirit of Christmas giving.

Keywords

💡Christmas

Christmas is a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated on December 25th. In the script, Christmas is the backdrop for the story, highlighting the spirit of giving and sacrifice as Della and Jim prepare to exchange gifts despite their financial struggles.

💡Della

Della is the main female character in the story 'The Gift of the Magi.' She is depicted as loving, selfless, and resourceful. Her decision to sell her prized long hair to buy a gift for her husband, Jim, exemplifies the theme of sacrifice and love in the narrative.

💡Jim

Jim, also known as Mr. James Dillingham Young, is the main male character and Della's husband. His financial struggles and the sale of his precious family heirloom, the gold watch, to buy a gift for Della, underscore the themes of love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of giving.

💡Sacrifice

Sacrifice in this context refers to giving up something valuable for the sake of someone else. Both Della and Jim make sacrifices in the story by selling their most cherished possessions to buy gifts for each other, illustrating the depth of their love and the lengths they are willing to go for one another.

💡Gift of the Magi

The 'Gift of the Magi' is a reference to the precious gifts given by the three wise men to the baby Jesus, symbolizing the tradition of gift-giving during Christmas. In the script, it is used to draw a parallel between the wise men's gifts and the sacrifices made by Della and Jim for each other.

💡Pride

Pride in the story is associated with the characters' most valued possessions. Jim takes pride in his gold watch, a family heirloom, while Della takes pride in her beautiful long hair. These items represent their identities and are central to the plot as they are sold to make way for the sacrifices they make for each other.

💡Poverty

Poverty is a significant theme in the story, as it is the condition that Della and Jim live in, which limits their financial resources. Their economic situation is what prompts them to make sacrifices in order to express their love for each other through gifts.

💡Watch Chain

The watch chain is the gift that Della buys for Jim with the money she gets from selling her hair. It symbolizes her love and thoughtfulness, as she knows how much the watch means to him and wants to enhance its value with a fine chain.

💡Combs

The combs are the gift that Jim buys for Della, intending to adorn her beautiful long hair. Unbeknownst to him, she has sold her hair to buy his gift, creating an ironic twist in the story that highlights the depth of their sacrifices.

💡Irony

Irony in literature is a situation where the outcome is the opposite of what was expected. In the story, the irony lies in the fact that both Della and Jim sell their most prized possessions to buy gifts that the other will no longer have use for, yet their actions ultimately strengthen their bond.

💡Wise Men

The term 'Wise Men,' or 'Magi,' refers to the three wise men from the biblical story who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. In the script, the narrator draws a comparison between the Magi and Della and Jim, suggesting that their selfless acts of love make them wise in the truest sense.

Highlights

Della's financial situation is depicted as she counts her money, revealing she has only one dollar and 87 cents.

Della's emotional state is shown through her tears, reflecting on the hardships of life.

The couple's living conditions are modest, with Della living in a furnished apartment and the doorbell not working.

James Dillingham Young's reduced income from thirty to twenty dollars a week is highlighted.

Della's deep affection for her husband, Jim, is evident through her actions and thoughts.

Della's decision to sell her hair to buy a gift for Jim showcases her selfless love.

The description of Della's beautiful hair and its significance to both her and Jim.

The emotional moment when Della cuts off her hair to sell it, symbolizing her sacrifice.

Della's excitement and anticipation as she searches for the perfect gift for Jim.

The purchase of a fine watch chain for Jim, which Della believes will make him proud.

Della's transformation with her new short hairstyle and her concern about Jim's reaction.

Jim's initial shock upon seeing Della's new appearance, leaving his reaction ambiguous.

The revelation of Jim's gift to Della—a set of combs for her long hair, which she has now sold.

The irony and poignancy of the couple's gifts to each other, both sacrificing their most cherished possessions.

Jim's disclosure that he sold his precious family watch to buy the combs for Della.

The couple's decision to cherish their gifts as symbols of love rather than use them practically.

The moral of the story, drawing a parallel between the Magi's wise gifts and the couple's selfless sacrifices.

Transcripts

the gift of the magi

it was the day before christmas

della had already counted out her money

three times

all of the money was in coins

she had one dollar and 87 cents

it was not a lot of money

60 cents of the money was in pennies

this was a collection of money she had

saved after bargaining with the grocer

and the butcher when she went shopping

della lay on her old couch and cried

she cried and cried

della felt that life was really only

made up of sobbing sniffling and smiles

but that sniffling with tears seemed to

take up most of life she lived in a

modest furnished apartment

her rent was eight dollars a week

in the hallway of her apartment was a

letterbox into which no letter would go

there was an electric button for the

doorbell

but the bell did not work

above the button there was a card with

the name mr james dillingham young

written on it

mr james dillingham young had had better

days in his life

there had been a time when he had earned

thirty dollars a week

these days however he only earned twenty

dollars

james was called jim by his wife

della adored her husband jim

della stopped crying and put some makeup

on her face

she looked out of the window and saw a

gray cat

walking along a gray fence in a gray

backyard

the next day would be christmas day

andela had only 1.87

cents to buy jim's present with

she had been saving the money for many

months now

they struggled to get by on jim's low

wages

she had spent many hours wondering about

what wonderful present she could buy for

jim

she wanted to buy him something very

special

della looked at her reflection in the

tall mirror

she could see the reflection of her slim

body

she took down her hair so it could fall

full upon her shoulders

there were two particular things owned

by the couple that they took great pride

in

jim loved the gold watch that had

belonged to both his father and his

grandfather

it had been in his family for many

generations

and was therefore very special to him

meanwhile

della had the most beautiful hair

she had hair that would make even an

ancient queen jealous

and jim adored it

della stood admiring her beautiful brown

hair

her hair was very long

it fell below her knees and felt almost

like a piece of clothing that covered

her

quickly and nervously she put her hair

back up on her head

she hesitated for a moment

standing still as one or two tears fell

onto the old red carpet

she then put on her old brown jacket and

her old brown hat

her eyes lit up with excitement and then

she rushed out of the door and

downstairs to the street

she walked down the street and saw a

sign that said

madame sophrani hair goods for all kinds

della went up the steps to the shop and

looked inside

will you buy my hair she asked madame

sofrani

madame sofrani wanted to see della's

hair first before deciding whether she

would buy it or not

when she saw della's beautiful long hair

madame sofrani said i'll give you twenty

dollars

della agreed to have her hair cut off

and grabbed the money from madame

sofrani

the next couple of hours flew by

as della visited various stores

looking for a special present for jim

finally she found the present that she

was sure jim would love

it was a fine looking chain to go with

the watch he was so proud of

she felt it possessed the same quiet

quality that she could see in gym

she paid 21

for the watch chain and hurried home

jim could now be more proud of his watch

he would no longer have to feel

embarrassed about his old watch strap

as soon as she got home

della started to curl her hair to

improve the look of her new short

hairstyle

parting with her hair had been a symbol

of her love for jim

within 40 minutes her head was covered

with tight curls

her new hairstyle made her look like a

naughty schoolboy

she looked at her reflection in the

mirror

oh

jim will be so angry when he sees my

hair

della said out loud to herself

dela made some coffee and got the frying

pan ready to cook the chops

she waited for jim to return from work

della became nervous when she finally

heard his footsteps

please make him think i'm still pretty

she whispered

jim finally came through the door

when jim saw della

he just stood looking at her with the

very strange expression on his face

della could not read the look on his

face

he did not look angry or surprised

he did not look as if he disapproved

it was not even a look of horror

he just stared at her

don't look at me like that della said

i wanted to buy you a nice present for

christmas

della got up from the kitchen table

and walked over to her husband

i sold my hair so that i would have

enough money to buy you a christmas

present

my hair grows really fast

it will soon be long again she said

you don't mind do you jim

say merry christmas to me and let's be

happy together

i have a beautiful wonderful gift for

you

but jim was still in a state of shock

he could not believe his eyes he just

could not believe that della had cut off

her beautiful long hair to get money for

a present for him

della looked at her husband's face

don't you like me now she said

jim took a package out of his coat

pocket and placed it on the table

don't worry jim said

there's nothing you could do with your

hair that would make me love you less

but if you open this package you will

understand why i am shocked

della started to open the package

she undid the string

and then took off the paper that covered

the small box

she could not believe what was inside it

della screamed with joy and then she

cried

inside the box lay something wonderful

something della had long to have

jim had bought della a set of combs to

put in her beautiful long hair

they were pretty and expensive too

della had wanted these combs for a long

time

but she no longer had the hair to put

them in

my hair grows fast jim

she eventually said to her husband

it was now time for jim to see his

present

isn't it a great chain cry della

i went to many many shops before finding

it

it's perfect for your watch

i really want to see how it looks on

your watch

she said with great excitement

jim fell onto the couch

della

let's put our christmas presents away

for the time being

they are too nice to use now

then told della how he had actually sold

his watch to get the money to buy the

combs

he leaned back with his hands behind his

head and smiled

put those chops on now della he said in

a happy voice

you might have heard of the story of the

magi

the magi were the three wise men who

visited baby jesus when he was born in a

stable in bethlehem

they brought precious gifts for the baby

it was the three wise men who started

the tradition of giving presents at

christmas

they were wise men

so they were able to give gifts wisely

but you have just read the story of two

pure-hearted fools who lost their

treasures

but i should add that these two fools

who made a sacrifice for someone they

loved were also wise

if you can give and receive gifts as

they did

then you too will be as wise as the magi

[Music]

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