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The gift of the Magi summary in brief

The story ”The gift of the magi” takes place on a single day, Christmas Eve, and illustrates the love that a young couple has for one another. They do not let their poverty come in the way of giving each other befitting gifts for Christmas. Both sell their most treasured possession to buy a gift for the other. This sacrifice adds a greater value to the gifts. Magi were wise men, who brought gifts for Jesus when He was born in the manger.

The gift of the magi important questiom-answers for upcoming Exam

The gift of the magi Summary-Paragraph wise

Monetary Woes

On Christmas Eve, Della counted the money she had saved. It totaled to one dollar and eighty-seven cents. There were pennies worth sixty cents and most of it was acquired after bargaining with the grocer, vegetable man and butcher. The realization that she has only a meager amount makes Della flop down on the couch and cry. Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles with sniffles predominating.

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An Overview of the Flat

Della’s home is a furnished flat costing a rent of $8 per week. The letterbox was non-functional and so was the electric bell. There was a nameplate bearing the name ‘Mr. James Dillingham Young’. James Dillingham Young known as Jim used to earn $30a week before now he earns $20 a week. Whenever Jim returns home, he is greeted with great affection by Della.

Gift Dilemma

After a good cry, Della composes herself and powders her face. She looks out of the window and sees a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Despite saving for months, she only had $1.87 to buy Jim a present. She had planned to buy him a special present, worthy of the honour of being owned by Jim. Viewing her reflection in the pier-glass gives her an idea. She pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.

Prized Possessions of the Youngs

There were two prized possessions in the Young household in which both of them took pride. One was Jim’s gold watch, handed down to him by his father, which was passed down to him by his father. The other was Della’s hair. The author says that the queen of Sheba would have been envious of Della’s hair, had she lived in the flat across the airshaft. If King Solomon was the janitor, he would be envious of Jim’s watch. Now Della’s hair rippled and shone like a cascade of brown waters. It fell below her knees. She tied it up quickly and nervously.

The Perfect Gift

She got dressed and went outside. She went to Madame Sofronie’s shop where hair goods were available. She seeks to sell her hair. MadameSofronie looks at her hair and buys it for $ 20.After selling her hair, Della takes the money and goes shopping. Finally, she finds the perfect gift, a platinum fob chain, simple and chaste in design. She liked it the moment she set eyes on it all knew that it must be Jim’s. It was bereft of unnecessary ornamentation, quiet and valuable, like Jim. She bought it for twenty-one dollars. It could replace the old leather strap that Jim used, instead of a chain.

Getting Prepared

When Della reached home, she used her curling irons on her newly cut hair. Soon she had tiny close-lying curls that made her resemble a truant schoolboy. She gives her reflection in the mirror a long, careful and critical look. She wonders if Jim would be angry at her. By 7 pm she got coffee ready and the frying pan was hot and ready, on the stove, to cook chops for dinner. Della kept the fob chain in her hand and awaited her husband’s arrival. Hearing his steps on the stairs, she paled for a moment and prayed that Jim would still think that she was pretty. The door opened and Jim entered. He was a young man of 22, thin and very serious. He was too young to be burdened with a family. He needed an overcoat and he was without gloves.

Reaction

Jim stopped inside the door with his eyes fixed on Della and an unreadable expression in them. This terrified Della. She cried out that she had got her hair cut and sold so that she could raise money to buy a Christmas present for him. She adds that her hair grows fast and they should be happy. Jim repeatedly asks her if she has cut off her hair, as though he cannot accept the fact. Della tells him that she is the same, even without her hair and she sold it for him.

She says that the hair on her head was numbered but her love for him is beyond count. Jim comes out of his trance-like state and hugs his wife. A wealth of love makes up for material poverty. Taking out a package from his overcoat pocket, he throws it on the table. He says that the haircut doesn’t reduce his love for her but if she saw what was in the package, she would understand his reaction.

Della’s Present

Della unwrapped the package and screamed with joy at its contents. This joyous outburst was quickly replaced by tears and wails, prompting Jim to comfort her. In the package was a set of beautiful combs, made from pure tortoiseshell, with jewelled rims. They were expensive and just the right shade to adorn her vanished tresses. She had long admired them in a Broadway window; craved and yearned for them without hope of possession. They were hers now, but her hair was gone. She hugged them to her bosom and after a while said that her hair would grow back fast.

Jim’s Present

She realized that Jim hadn’t seen his present yet. She held it out to him eagerly in her open palm and asked him for his watch to see how the chain looked on it. Instead of giving her the watch, Jim sat on the couch and told her that they should keep their Christmas presents away for a while. They were too nice to be used at the time. He had sold the watch to pay for her combs.

The Magi

The magi were wise men who brought gifts for Jesus, when he was born, in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. The magi were wise men capable of giving wise gifts. The narrator ends by saying that he has related the tale of two foolish children who unwisely sacrificed their greatest treasure for each other. Yet, these two are the wisest among all who practice the art of gifting. They gave up their most precious possessions to give each other the best Christmas gift. All those who give gifts like Jim and Della did are the magi and the wisest people.

Sita summary by Toru Dutt with Question and Answer

Chapter Highlights of the gift of the magi

1. The story follows Jim and Della, a young couple who are not very well off financially and live in a rented flat.
2. It is Christmas Eve and Della wants to give Jim a gift-worthy of him. Despite saving for months, she has managed to put away only $ 1.87.
3. There are two prized possessions in the Young household; Della’s hair and Jim’s gold watch handed down to him by his father and grandfather.
4. Della decides to sell her beautiful long hair to buy a gift for Jim.
5. She sells her hair for $ 20 to Madame Sofronie.
6. She buys a simple platinum fob chain for Jim’s gold watch for $ 21.
7. Della returns home and awaits Jim’s arrival from work.
8. The moment Jim sees her, he is in a trance-like state and can’t take in the fact that her hair is not there.
9. Della understands Jim’s reaction once she sees the gift he got for her: a set of expensive, tortoiseshell combs that she had been admiring for a long time.
10. When Jim sees the gift she bought for him, he says that he sold his watch to buy combs for her.
11. The magi were wise men who started the practice of giving gifts at Christmas.
12. Della and Jim, are very wise in that they sacrificed their prized possessions to give each other the best Christmas gift.

The Gift of The Magi Questions-Answers

Answer the following Questions: 1 Mark

1.Why was Della saving up her money for? 2019

Ans. Della was saving her money to buy a Christmas gift for her husband, Jim.

2. Where did Della look at her reflection?

Ans. Della looked at her reflection in the pier-glass between the windows of the room.

3. Who would the queen of Sheba be jealous of?

Ans. If the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, she would be jealous of Della’s beautiful long hair.

4. Where did Della run to after looking at her reflection in the pier-glass?

Ans. After looking at her reflection in the pier-glass, Della ran out of her flat to Madame Sofronie’s establishment, where hair goods of all kinds were bought snd sold.

5. How much money did Madame offer Della for her hair?

Ans. After assessing Della’s hair, Madame Sofronie offered her twenty dollars for her hair.

6. What was the present that Della chose for Jim?the gift of the magi story? (The gift of the magi story)

Ans. After ransacking shops for two hours, Della chose a simple and chaste platinum fob chain for Jim’s gold watch.

7. How did she look after the ‘repair’ of her hair?

Ans. She undertook the ‘repair’ of her hair by curling her hair with curling irons. Soon she had close-cropped curls, that made her look like a truant schoolboy.

8. How old was Jim and how did he look?

Ans. Jim was twenty-two years old. He looked thin and very serious.

9. How much was Della able to save?

Ans. After several months of saving, Della was able to save one dollar and eighty-seven cents.

10. Who is ‘Jim’?

Ans. ‘Jim’ was the loving husband of Della.

11. What is Jim’s full name?

Ans. Jim’s full name was James Dillingham Young.

12. Whose name does the card bear?

Ans. The card bears the name of “Mr James Dillingham Young “.

13. How much was the income of the possessor of the card earlier?

Ans. Earlier James Dillingham Young used to earn thirty dollars a week.

14. How much is his income now?

Ans. He earns 20 dollars a week now.

15. Who is “Dell”?

Ans. “Dell“ is Della, i.e. Mrs. James Dillingham Young, wife of Jim.

16. How much is the rent of the flat?

Ans. The rent of the flat is eight dollars a week.

17. Who is the ’mistress of the home’?

Ans. Della is the mistress of the home.

18. Give the meaning of the following words:

Ans. Bulldozing- use force insensitively when dealing with someone or something

Imputation- accusation

Parsimony- extreme unwillingness to spend money

Sniffles- sniff slightly or repeatedly

Mendicancy- the condition of being a beggar or begging

Vestibule- lobby next to the outer door of a building

Blurred- not clear

Sterling- excellent or valuable

Whirled- moved rapidly

Janitor- caretaker or doorkeeper of the building

Envy- jealousy

Cascade- a small waterfall

Faltered- hesitated

Splashed- caused liquid to fall on something

Sparkled- shone

Hashed- chopped into small pieces and cooked again

Ransacked- go through a place to steal things or cause damage, search thoroughly

Meretricious- apparently attractive but without any real value

Sly- cunning

Ravages- destructive effects of something

Mammoth- huge

Truant- being absent

Setter- a large long-haired dog trained to stand rigid when scenting game

Quail- a small bird

Patent- sole right, obvious

Trance- an induced half-unconscious state

Discreet- careful and prudent in speech or actions

Scrutiny- critical observation

Nimble- quick and light in movement

Coveted- greatly desired

Adornments- decorations

Singed- slightly burnt

Ardent- enthusiastic or passionate

Dandy- a man concerned with looking stylish, excellent

Manger- a long tray or trough from which cattle feed

Chronicle- a factual written account

Answer the following Questions 2 Marks

1. Who were the Magi? 2017

Ans. The Magi were wise men, who came from the East and visited Jesus after his birth, in Bethlehem. They brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

2. Why was Della worried?

Ans. Della was worried because she despite saving for months, she didn’t have enough money to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. All she had was $ 1.87.

3. What did Jim do to get a gift for Della? 2017 2019

Ans. Jim was the proud owner of a gold watch handed down to him by his father and grandfather. He sold this watch to get money to buy a gift for Della since he didn’t have sufficient money to buy a befitting gift for her.

4. What was Jim’s reaction when he returned home?

Ans. When Jim returned home and set eyes on Della, he stood as still as a hunting dog would at the scent of game. He stared at her with a peculiar expression on his face and it terrified her not to be able to understand the expression in his eyes. It was not anything that she had anticipated.

5. Why did Della count her money three times?

Ans. Della counted her money three times because she could not believe that it was so less, despite having saved for months to buy a Christmas gift for her husband, Jim. She had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents, which was not sufficient to buy aa gift appropriate for Jim.

6. What did Della do after she realized she had very little money with her?

Ans. Della was very disappointed at the scarcity of her funds for buying Jim a present for Christmas. She flopped down on the couch and had a good cry, after which she got up and composed herself. Glancing at her reflection in the pier-glass, gave her an idea on how she could raise money by selling her beautiful long hair.

7. How did della get the 1.87 Cents in gift of the magi

Ans. Della got the 1.87 Cents in the gift of the magi by bargaining with the people who provided provisions like the grocery, the butcher, and the vegetable man.

8. What makes the author come to the conclusion that ‘life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating’?

Ans. Della’s disappointment and subsequent tears led the author to conclude that life has its share of ups and downs. There are joyful times and sad times, but the sad occasions outnumber the joyous occasions.

9. Describe Della’s flat?

Ans. Della lived in a furnished flat, which cost $ 8 per week. The flat was not extraordinary to be described and had the appearance of something lacking and inadequate. In the lobby below was a letterbox in which letters could not be inserted and an electric bell which did not ring. The flat had a few things like a shabby little couch, pier-glass between the windows and a worn carpet. It also had a card with the name, ‘James Dillingham Young’.

10. Why did everything look grey to Della that morning?

Ans. That morning Della was upset as she lacked sufficient funds to buy a worthy Christmas present for Jim. She was upset and sad. The colour gray is an emotionless colour often associated with loss or depression. Hence, everything looked gray to Della that morning.

11. What had Della planned all along?

Ans. Della had planned to buy a nice, fine, rare and sterling present for Jim on the occasion of Christmas. She wanted to be worthy of the honour of being owned by Jim. She had spent hours in happy thoughts about this and had been saving up for several months.

12. What idea came to Della’s mind as she stood looking at her reflection in the pier-glass?

Ans. As Della stood looking at her reflection in the pier-glass, an idea came to her mind, which brightened up her face and made her eyes shine. She thought of selling one of their prized possessions, her beautiful hair, which was very long and fell below her knees. This sale would enable her to get enough money to buy a good gift for Jim.

13. What were the two possessions of the James Dillingham Young of which they both were very proud? 2016

Ans. There were two prized possessions in the Young household in which both of them took great pride. One was Jim’s gold watch, a family heirloom, handed down to him by his father, which in turn was passed down to him by his father. The other was Della’s beautiful long hair shining and rippling, that fell below her knees.

14. What was enough for Jim to do to make King Solomon envious?

Ans. King Solomon was the king of Israel,  known for his wisdom and great wealth. The author says that if King Solomon had been the janitor with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his gold watch every time he passed, to make him envious.

15. Why do you think, Della has the ‘brilliant sparkle still in her eyes’ even as she ran out of the door and into the street?

Ans. Della looked at her reflection in the pier-glass and an idea came to her. This brightened up her face and made her eyes shine. She thought of selling her beautiful hair, which was very long and fell below her knees. This sale would enable her to get enough money to buy a good gift for Jim. Happy at finding a solution to her problem, she rushes out of her flat to accomplish the sale of her hair.

16. What did Della ask Madame Sofronie and what was her answer? 2019

Ans. Madame Sofronie owns a shop which sells hair goods of all kinds. Della asked her if she would buy her hair. The proprietor asked her to remove her hat and show her hair. Madame Sofronie does not show that she is impressed by Della’s gorgeous hair and offers to pay twenty dollars for it.

17. Did Della bargain with Madame about the price of her hair? What did she say to her, then?

Ans. Della did not bargain with Madame about the price of her hair. Once Madame Sofronie assesses her hair and offers to pay twenty dollars for it, Della tells her to give it to her quickly. Della wants the transaction to take place soon as it is Christmas Eve and she wants to buy a gift for Jim.

18. Why was the gift chosen by Della for Jim ‘like him’?

Ans. After two hours of searching for the perfect gift, Della finally finds what she had been looking for. The object in concern was a simple platinum fob chain, without any decorative elements to enhance its appearance. The chain was like Jim in quietness and value. The chain was simple and proclaimed its value by substance alone without any ornamentation. Jim had a quiet strength in him and was worthy because of the many sterling qualities in him.

19. Once home, what did Della do to ‘repair’ her looks?

Ans. Upon reaching home, Della thought that before Jim saw her, it would be wise to ‘repair’ her looks after the loss of her beautiful hair. She used her curling irons to give herself a head full of tiny curls. This made her look like a truant schoolboy.

20. What did Della think Jim would say to her about the way she looked now? 2016

Ans. Della thinks that if Jim didn’t kill her, he would say that she looked like a Coney Island chorus girl. Coney Island is a tourist destination in New York known for its amusement park. A chorus girl is a part of a singing group. At that time, chorus girls had short hair.

21. What habit did Della have and what did she whisper about when she heard Jim’s steps on the stairs?

Ans. Della had the habit of saying a silent prayer about simple things in daily life. When she heard Jim’s steps on the stairs, she prayed that he would think that she is still pretty even though her crowning glory, her hair, had vanished.

22. How did Jim behave when he stepped inside the room?

Ans. Once Jim stepped inside the room and closed the door, he stopped right in his tracks. On seeing Della, he stood as still as a hunting dog would at the scent of game. He stared at her with a peculiar expression on his face and it terrified her not to be able to understand the expression in his eyes.

23. What did Della think was the reason for Jim’s odd behaviour?

Ans. Jim reacted to Della’s haircut in a way that she had not anticipated at all. He just kept looking at her with a peculiar expression. Della thought that the reason for Jim’s odd behaviour was his disappointment at her haircut.  She assured him that it would grow back again.

24. How did Della try to coax Jim into thinking that she was still pretty?

Ans. Della said that her hair grew very fast and it would soon grow out. She also said that she is the same even without her hair and reminded him that he likes her as she is.

25. How was the hair of Della?

Ans. Della had long hair which fell below her knees. The length of her hair made it appear like a garment for her. It rippled and shone like a cascade of brown waters. Della’s beautiful hair was one of the prized possessions of the Young household.

26. Why was Della worried that Jim would be displeased? 2018

Ans. Della was worried that Jim would be displeased about her selling her hair because her hair was a matter of pride for both of them. In addition, her new short hair might draw comparisons with a Coney Island chorus girl.

27. What did Della do after reaching home? 2018

Ans. After reaching home, Della thought that before Jim saw her, it would be wise to ‘repair’ her looks after the loss of her beautiful hair. She used her curling irons to give herself a head full of tiny curls. This made her look like a truant schoolboy.

28. What was the condition of the card which bore its owner’s name?

Ans. The card was not in a good condition and they were thinking of shortening “Dillingham “ to “D”.

29. Where did Della look at her reflection?

Ans. Della looked at her reflection in the pier-glass between the windows of the room. Such glasses were usually there in $8 flats. A thin person could see their reflection in the longitudinal strips.

30. How old was Jim and how did he look?

Ans. Jim was twenty-two years old. He looked thin and very serious.

31. What is Jim’s answer to Della regarding her looks without her long hair?

Ans. Jim tells Della that a haircut wouldn’t reduce his love for her. He loves her the same with or without her long hair.

32. What lay in the package that Jim had bought for Della?

Ans. In the package, there was a set of combs that Della had been yearning for.  The combs were expensive, made from tortoiseshell and just the right shade to wear in her tresses which she had sold.

Answer the following Questions 4 Marks

1. Bring out the relation between Della and the queen of Sheba.

Ans. The queen of Sheba ruled the kingdom of Sheba in Southwestern Arabia. She visited King Solomon, after hearing about his fame and his relationship with God. She came to test him with difficult questions. In comparing Della and the queen of Sheba, O. Henry tries to show that though the queen had everything, even she would be envious of Della’s gorgeous hair. Della’s hair is so long that it falls below her knees. If the queen lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window to belittle the queen’s great wealth.

2. Bring out the relation between Jim and King Solomon.

Ans. King Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba. He was the king of Israel,  known for his wisdom and great wealth. The author says that if King Solomon had been the janitor with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his gold watch every time he passed, to make him envious. Jim’s gold watch was a family heirloom and was one of their prized possessions, of which both Della and he were proud of.

3. Show how the ‘twist in the tale’ makes the story of Jim and Della a moral lesson. 2017

Ans. Jim and Della sacrificed their precious things to buy each other a fitting gift. The gifts turned out to be of no use for both of them. Della could not use the set of combs that Jim bought for her as her hair was gone. Jim could not use the fob chain as he had sold his watch to pay for her combs. This ‘twist in the tale’ tells us about the true meaning of Christmas, love and sacrifice. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life. O. Henry’s story brings the essence of love and sacrifice out in the tale of Jim and Della.

4. Examine the significance and appropriateness of the title of the story.

Ans. The title is both significant and appropriate. The Magi were wise men, who came from the East and visited Jesus after His birth, in Bethlehem. They brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The magi invented the art of giving Christmas presents. They were wise men capable of giving wise gifts. Jim and Della are the wisest among all who practice the art of gifting. They gave up their most precious possessions to give each other the best Christmas gift. All those who give gifts like Jim and Della did are the magi and the wisest people.

5. Based on the events, attempt a justification of the story as an example of comic irony.

Ans. The story ‘The Gift of the Magi’ can be seen as an example of comic irony. There are several instances reflected in the story. Diana is described as slender, but she has behaved like a bulldozer while bargaining with those who she buys kitchen supplies from. It is also ironic that the gifts Jim and Della bought for each other cannot be used at the moment, and have to be kept away till a certain time in the future.  Jim and Della are compared to King  Solomon and the queen of Sheba, who were famous rulers, lacked nothing and had abundant wealth. Jim and Della despite material poverty had a wealth of love in their relationship.

6. How did the next two hours pass by for Della?

Ans. The next two hours passed very swiftly for Della. She had acquired money after selling her hair and she had in the past spent many a happy hour contemplating buying a nice gift for Jim. Now that she has the money, nothing is preventing her from getting something suitable for him. She goes to several shops and searches for the perfect gift, something worthy of the honour of being owned by Jim. Her search eventually bears fruit and she finds the right gift for him- a simple platinum fob chain that he can use with his gold watch.

7. Why did Jim’s expression terrify Della?

Ans. When Jim entered the flat, he closed the door and stopped right in his tracks. On seeing Della, he stood as still as a hunting dog would at the scent of game. He stared at her with a peculiar expression on his face and it terrified her not to be able to understand the expression in his eyes. It was not anger, surprise, disapproval, horror or any of the sentiments that she had prepared for.

8. Why did Della quickly change from being joyous to crying hysterically?

Ans. When Della opened Jim’s gift, she was ecstatic to see the set of beautiful tortoiseshell combs and gave a joyful cry. She had worshipped them in a Broadway shop window and craved for it without the least hope of ever owning it.  The realization that the long-coveted combs were hers made her joyous but further realization that the beautiful hair in which the combs could be worn were gone made her hysterical.

9. O’ Henry calls Della and Jim ‘Two foolish children’. Do you think they are really foolish? Why or why not?

Ans. O. Henry called Della and Jim two foolish children as they unwisely sacrificed the greatest treasures of their house for each other. They are not at all foolish as they have made the sacrifice due to their love for one another. They have prioritized love above material things. Though young, they can understand and value love above materialism. True love necessitates sacrifice and giving.

10. Is the title of the story ‘The Gift of the Magi’ appropriate? Justify.

Ans.  The title of the story ‘The Gift of the Magi’ is appropriate. The Magi were wise men, who came from the East and visited Jesus after His birth, in Bethlehem. They brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The magi invented the art of giving Christmas presents. They were wise men capable of giving wise gifts. Jim and Della are the wisest among all who practice the art of gifting. They gave up their most precious possessions to give each other the best Christmas gift. All those who give gifts like Jim and Della did are the magi and the wisest people.

11. Show how the ‘twist in the tale’ makes the story of Jim and Della a moral lesson.

Ans. Jim and Della sacrificed their precious things to buy each other a fitting gift. The gifts turned out to be of no use for both of them. Della could not use the set of combs that Jim bought for her as her hair was gone. Jim could not use the fob chain as he had sold his watch to pay for her combs. This ‘twist in the tale’ tells us about the true meaning of Christmas, love and sacrifice. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life. O. Henry’s story brings out the essence of love and sacrifice in the tale of Jim and Della.

12. What was the financial condition of the two young couples?

Ans. Jim earns twenty dollars a week which isn’t enough for them to meet all their requirements. They live in a flat for which they have to pay a rent of $8 every week. Della bargains while buying provisions for the house, so she can save a bit there. Jim requires an overcoat and gloves. Della’s clothes are old. The furniture in the flat is old and shabby. From all the above information given by the author, we can see that their financial condition is not good.

13. Give a description of the flat Della and Jim used to live in.

Ans. Della and Jim, were a young couple who lived in a furnished flat, which cost $ 8 per week. The flat was not extraordinary to be described and had the appearance of something lacking and inadequate. In the lobby below was a letterbox in which letters could not be inserted and an electric bell which did not ring. The flat had a few things like a shabby little couch, pier-glass between the windows, a table near the door and a worn carpet. It also had a card with the name, ‘James Dillingham Young’.

14. How does the narrator express the pride of the couple for their possessions?

Ans. The narrator says that there are two things in their house that Jim and Della are proud of, Jim’s gold watch which is a family heirloom and Della’s beautiful long hair.  If the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window to belittle the queen’s great wealth.  If King Solomon had been the janitor with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his gold watch every time he passed, to make him envious. It is through these comparisons that the narrator expresses the pride of the couple for their possessions.

15. How was the gift bought by Della for Jim?

Ans. The gift bought by Della for Jim was a simple platinum fob chain, without any decorative elements to enhance its appearance. The chain was like Jim in quietness and value. The chain was simple and proclaimed its value by substance alone without any ornamentation.

16. What did Della say to Jim for cutting off her hair?

Ans. Della told Jim that she cut her hair for him so that she could buy a good gift for him with the money raised.  She assured him that her hair grew very fast and it would soon grow out. She also said that she is the same even without her hair and reminded him that he likes her as she is.  She said that the hair on her head was numbered but her love for him was beyond count.

17. Why is it said that the gifts of the magi “were no doubt wise ones possibly bearing the privilege of exchange rather than duplication”?

Ans. The magi brought valuable gifts for Jesus when He was born. Since the wise men were wise, their gifts were wise ones. They were gifts of physical value and would be valued by anyone. They could be exchanged or sold if two similar ones were received.

18. Describe what Della does from the moment she decides to earn money for Jim’s gift till the moment she earns it. 2018

Ans. Viewing her reflection in the pier glass gives Della an idea. She pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.  Now Della’s hair rippled and shone like a cascade of brown waters. It fell below her knees. She tied it up quickly and nervously. She got dressed and went outside. She went to Madame Sofronie’s shop where hair goods were available. She sought to sell her hair. Madame Sofronie looked at her hair and bought it for $ 20.

Answer the following Questions 4 Marks–

1. Bring out the meaning inherent in this sentence: ‘She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard’.

Ans. It is Christmas Eve and Della wants to buy a Christmas gift for Jim, that is worthy of him. On realizing that her savings constituting one dollar and eighty-seven cents will not serve the purpose, she is disappointed and cries. After a while, she stands by the window and looks out without interest at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. The environment is colourless and lacks brightness. This is similar to Della’s financial situation.

2. What moral lessons are stressed upon in ‘The Gift of the Magi’? 2019

Ans. Jim and Della sacrificed their most precious possessions to buy each other a fitting gift. The gifts turned out to be of no use for both of them. Della could not use the set of combs that Jim bought for her as her hair was gone. Jim could not use the fob chain as he had sold his watch to pay for her combs. The moral lesson here is  about the true meaning of Christmas, love and sacrifice. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life. O. Henry’s story brings out the essence of love and sacrifice in the tale of Jim and Della.

The Gift of The Magi Explain with reference to the context (4 Marks):

1. a) So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating? 2016

Ans. The above lines are taken from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. It is Christmas Eve and Della wants to buy a special gift for Jim, that would be worthy of the honour of being owned by him. She is disappointed to realize that all that she has is one dollar and eighty seven cents. All that she could do was flop down on the couch and have a good cry. So she did it. This encourages the author to reflect that there are both joyful and sad times in life, but the sad occasions outnumber the joyous ones.

(b) Look out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.

Ans. The above sentence is taken from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. It is Christmas Eve and Della wants to buy a Christmas gift for Jim, that is worthy of him. On realizing that her savings constituting one dollar and eighty-seven cents will not serve the purpose, she is disappointed and cries. After a while, she stands by the window to looks out without interest at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. The dull environment outside is similar to Della’s own financial situation.

(c) Oh, and the next two hours passed by on rosy wings. Forget the hashed metaphor. She was ransacking the stores for Jim’s present.

Ans. The above lines are from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. Della received 20 dollars for her hair from Madame Sofronie and she goes to buy a Christmas present for Jim. The two hours that she spent shopping for Jim’s gift passed very swiftly for Della. It was back very pleasant time for Della and it disappeared quickly. By hashed metaphor, the author means something which is overused. He says to forget it because nothing can trip with a pair of wings. She went to several shops and kept on searching till she got what she wanted.

(d) She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else.

Ans. The above lines are from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. Armed with twenty-one dollars and eighty-seven cents, Della is shopping for a gift for Jim, that is worthy of him. Finally, after going to several shops she finds a simple platinum fob chain, proclaiming its value by substance and not by unnecessary ornamentation. She finds the fob chain so appropriate for Jim that she feels that it has been made for him alone and no one else.

(e) it was like him. Quietness and value – the description applied to both.

And. The above lines are from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. Armed with twenty-one dollars and eighty-seven cents, Della is shopping for a gift for Jim, that is worthy of him. Finally, after going to several shops she finds a simple platinum fob chain. The chain was like Jim in quietness and value. The chain was simple and proclaimed its value by substance alone without any ornamentation. Jim had a quiet strength in him and was worthy because of the many sterling qualities in him.

(f) But what could I do-oh! What could I do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents?

Ans.  The above lines are spoken by Della and are from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. Della was worried that Jim would be displeased about her selling her hair because her hair was a matter of pride for both of them. In addition, her new short hair might draw comparisons with a Coney Island chorus girl. But there was little that she could do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents.

(g) His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.

Ans.  The above lines are from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. They express Jim’s reaction to Della’s haircut. When Jim entered the flat, he closed the door, and stopped right in his tracks,  on seeing Della. He stared at her with a peculiar expression on his face and it terrified her not to be able to understand the expression in his eyes. It was not anger, surprise, disapproval, horror or any of the sentiments that she had prepared for.

(h) White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper. And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! A quick feminine change to hysterical tears and wails, necessitating the immediate employment of all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat.

Ans. The above lines are from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. Della opens the gift Jim bought for her. She was ecstatic to see the set of beautiful tortoiseshell combs and gave a joyful cry. She had worshipped them in a Broadway shop window and craved for it without the least hope of ever owning it.  The realization that the long-coveted combs were hers made her joyous but further realization that the beautiful hair in which the combs could be worn were gone made her hysterical. Seeing her in tears and wailing, Jim tried his best to comfort her.

(i) But in a lost word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who gives gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are magi.

Ans. The above lines are from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. The author says that Jim and Della are wise because they have sacrificed their most precious possessions due to their love for one another. They have prioritized love above material things. Though young, they are able to understand and value love above materialism. True love necessitates sacrifice and giving. All those who give gifts like Jim and Della did are the magi and the wisest people.

1. j) “Dell,” said he, “let’s put our Christmas presents away and keep’ em a while. They’re too nice to use just at present. 2018

Or

Why did Jim say their presents were “too nice to use just at present”?  2016

Ans. The above lines are spoken by Jim to Della in the short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’ by O. Henry. It’s Christmas Eve and Della and Jim have bought gifts for one another.  Della got a platinum fob chain for Jim to use with his gold watch. Jim bought a set of expensive tortoiseshell combs for Della to wear in her beautiful long hair. Della sold her hair and Jim sold his watch to get money to buy gifts for each other. Hence, Jim says that their Christmas presents are too nice to be used at present.

(k) Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard.    2017

Ans. The above lines are from O. Henry’s short story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’. Della had been saving for months to buy a good gift for Jim. She counts her savings and realizes that all she had is $1.87. Being disappointed, she has a good cry after which she powdered her face and stood looking out of the window. She sees a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. The environment is dull and colourless, similar to her financial situation.

4. Give a character analysis of Della.

Ans. Della is a young woman married to Jim, who she loves a lot. She wants to buy him a Christmas present worthy of him. She stays at home, while her husband goes to work. She has beautiful long hair that falls below her knees and is almost like a garment. We come to know more about Della than Jim because we see more of her then Jim in the story. She doesn’t think twice before sacrificing her hair to get a good gift for Jim.

She is a resourceful person as we see her repair the damage of the haircut by giving herself curls. She displays both joy and tears without inhibitions as we see on multiple occasions. The words ‘bulldozer’ and ‘slender’ both are used to describe her. She can be tough when the situation demands her to be so. In Della, we find a vibrant young woman, who knows that love is far above materialistic things.

5. Give a character analysis of Jim.

Ans. Jim is a young man of twenty-two. He is thin and very serious. He goes to work and earns twenty dollars a week. He loves his wife and does not think before selling his precious gold watch, a family heirloom. He does it so he can buy her a set of expensive combs she has coveted and yearned for. He has a quiet strength and many sterling qualities. Like Della, he too puts love above materialistic things.

6. Give a character analysis of Madame Sofronie.

Ans. Madame Sofronie is the owner of a shop that sells all kinds of hair goods. She is described as large, too white, chilly and unlike the ‘Sofronie’. She’s fat, despite being in the business of beauty. She might be a foreigner. She lacks warmth in her behaviour. Sofronie of Cioara was a Romanian  Orthodox saint. There is nothing saintly about Madame. In a single sentence, O. Henry has said much about Madame Sofronie. She also doesn’t show any signs of being impressed by Della’s lovely hair.

7. Why does Della turn pale for a moment as she hears Jim’s step on the stair?

Ans. On hearing Jim’s step on the stair, she became pale for a moment as she was scared of Jim’s reaction to her having cut and sold her hair. Her hair was one of the prized possessions of their household in addition to Jim’s gold watch. She wanted to buy a good gift for Jim, something worthy of him. Despite saving up for months, all that she had was one dollar and eighty-seven cents. Catching sight of her reflection in the pier-glass gave her the idea of selling her hair.

8. Why does Della say, “My hair grows so fast, Jim” in “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry?

Ans. Della says, “My hair grows so fast, Jim” in O. Henry’s ‘The Gift of the Magi’ to reassure Jim that her hair would grow back soon and she would be able to use the beautiful tortoiseshell combs he bought for her hair. The combs that she had long coveted without the slightest hope of having them for herself, are hers now. Yet, the beautiful tresses, in which the combs were just the right shade to wear in have vanished. Hugging the combs to her bosom, she says, “ My hair grows so fast, Jim! “

9. Discuss the indications that the couple is poor in “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry.

Ans.  There are several indications that the couple is poor in ‘The Gift of the Magi’. Jim earns twenty dollars a week which isn’t enough for them to meet all their requirements. They live in a flat for which they have to pay a rent of $8 every week. Della bargains while buying provisions for the house, so she can save a bit there. Jim requires an overcoat and gloves. Della’s clothes are old. The furniture in the flat is old and shabby. On Christmas, Eve Della counted her savings three times and saw that she only had one dollar and eighty-seven cents. She sold her precious hair to buy a gift for Jim. Similarly, Jim too didn’t have money to buy a good gift for Della. He sold his family heirloom to buy combs for her.

Past Years Questions of the chapter Gift of the Magi

Exam Questions From 2016-2020

1 Marks questions

1. How much money had Della managed to save for Jim’s present? 2016
2. What is the full name of Jim in the story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’? 2016 2017
3. How much used Jim to earn earlier? 2017
4. Who did Della go to get money for Jim’s present? 2018
5. What was Jim’s gift for Della? 2018
6. For what occasion did Della save money to buy a gift?2019                                                           
7. What is Jim’s gift for Della? 2019     
8. How much money Della did earn by selling her hair? 2020

2marks questions

1. What were the prized possessions of the James Dillingham Young’s? 2016
2. What does Della expect Jim to say when he returns and sees her? 2016
3. Who were the Magi? 2017 2020
4. What did Jim do to get a gift for Della? 2017 2019
5. Why was Della worried that Jim would be displaced? 2018
6. What did Della do after reaching home? 2018                                                         
7. What did Della ask Madame Sofronie and what was her answer? 2019
8. What was Jim’s reaction when he returned home? 2020                              
9. What did Della do to get a gift for Jim? 2020

4 marks questions:

1. Why did Jim say their presents were “too nice to use just at present”? 2016
2. Show how the twist in the tale makes the story of Jim and Della a moral lesson.  2017
3. Describe what Della does from the moment she decides to earn money for Jim’s gift till the moment she earns it.  2018
4. What moral lessons are stressed upon in “The Gift of the Magi”?   2019  
5. Bring out the relation between Della and the queen of Sheba. 2020

Explain with reference to the context( 4 marks)

1. So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating?  2016
2. Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard.  2017
3. “Dell,” said he, “let’s put our Christmas presents away and keep’ em a while. They’re too nice to use just at present. 2018
4. Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny, close-lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truant schoolboy. 2020

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