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THREE LEVEL STUDY GUIDE: The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry
INSTRUCTIONS: Scan the statements on this study guide before reading pages. Then,
during or after reading, place a check mark (  ) in the space next to each statement with
which you agree. Be sure to be able to refer to the text to support your choices whether
you agree with a statement or not.
LEVEL I: RIGHT THERE ON THE PAGE
___1. Della negotiated with the grocer, vegetable man, and butcher to save her pennies.
___2. Jim took pride in his money clip, and Della took pride in her hair.
___3. Della sold her hair for $20.
___4. The Magi invented the art of giving Christmas presents.
LEVEL II: READING BETWEEN THE LINES
___5. Stores and markets were run differently a hundred years ago than they are today.
___6. Neither Jim nor Della are angry or frustrated by what happened.
___7. Della and Jim are both poor and rich.
___8. Della and Jim were foolish to purchase gifts they could not afford.
LEVEL III: READING BEYOND THE LINES
___9. A true gift comes from the heart.
___10. It is better to give than to receive.
___11.Maybe if this story had been written today, Jim would have sold something like his car to
buy a new color printer for the computer, and Della might have sold her computer to buy new tires
for Jim’s car.
The Gift of the Magi
Major and Minor Themes
A story usually has one main theme and several minor themes. Below is a list of some common general
themes in literature around the world. Think of some stories or movies that you are familiar with and try to
identify some of the themes in them. Eight of these themes can be found in The Gift of the Magi. Explain
how O. Henry uses each theme you identify and then check the key to see if you have found all the themes
in the story.
• Art
• Justice
• Giving
• Pride
• Beauty
• Knowledge
• Greed
• Sacrifice
• Bravery
• Law
• Growing Up
• Religion
• Death
• Loss
• Heroism
• Sacrifice
• Fear
• Love
• Honesty
• Truth
• Family
• Money
• Hope
• War
• Faith
• Nature
• Identity
• Wisdom
• Freedom
• Peace
• Independence
• The Future
• Poverty
Try something like Idea Survivor….
1. Individually come up with 8 Themes you see in the story (have list posted)
2. Come to group consensus.
3. Record the themes on the board.
4. Groups reduce 8 themes to 4.
5. Put one groups’ idea up.
6. Continue discussion whole group until 1 remains.
KEY: Major and Minor Themes: one interpretation of the story
The eight themes that O' Henry uses are:
Beauty Della is worried that Jim won't think she is beautiful with short hair, but Jim loves her for more
than just her beautiful hair and how she looks. If you really love somebody, they are beautiful no
matter how they look.
Family Jim and Della are husband and wife and they love each other. Jim's watch was given to him by
his father and has been in his family for many years. Still, he sacrifices it out of love for Della.
Giving Della and Jim both feel that it is important to give nice gifts to each other to express their love.
Identity Della learns that Jim loves her for just for being herself, not because of her hair or the
Christmas present she buys him.
Love Because Jim and Della love each other, there is really no need to prove their love by buying gifts
for each other.
Love is the greatest gift. Money Della and Jim sell valuable things to get money to buy gifts for each
other, because they are poor.
Sacrifice Both Della and Jim give up valuable possessions so they can buy Christmas gifts for each
other.
Wisdom Della and Jim were wise because they were willing to make sacrifices to show their love for
each other.
Writing Ideas…
Sacrifice
1. Many teachers in the USA feel that sacrifice, or giving up something for someone else, is the
main theme in The Gift of the Magi. Both Della and Jim make sacrifices so they can buy
Christmas gifts for each other. Who made the greatest sacrifice, Della, by selling her hair or Jim,
by selling his watch? Why? Write a paragraph of your own thoughts on this matter.
2. Explain the literary term “irony” and how it is used in The Gift of the Magi.
3. In the final paragraph, the narrator says, “And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful
chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the
greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that
of all who give gifts these two were the wisest.” Interpret these contradictory statements.
Which way does the narrator really feel? What purpose did the narrator have for contradicting
himself? Write in 3rd person.
4. In this story, the first thing that O. Henry makes apparent is that Jim and Della are not people of
means, in fact they seemed to be teetering on the very edge of poverty. Is it the particular time
of the year that motivates them, and others like them, to spend beyond their means? Are the
expectations of the gift-giving season really as powerful as they appear to be here?
5. “It’s the thought that counts.” This age-old adage is often quoted when something is given that
may not quite measure up to the expectation. Does this adage apply in the case of Jim and
Della and their gift giving? If so, how? If not, why not?
6. Jim and Della each made a selfless-sacrifice of something of great personal value in order to be
able to secure for the other something they felt worthy of being called a gift. What role does
selfless-sacrifice play in giving in general? Would you praise or blame Jim and Della’s selflesssacrifices?
7. Given the reaction of both Jim and Della concerning the entire situation, do you think that
these gifts were appreciated? Why or why not? How do you think you would react if you found
yourself in a similar situation? What impact do you think this sort of selfless-sacrifice might
have on a relationship between a giver and a recipient?
8. Often those who receive gifts are unaware of the sacrifice that the giver makes in order to give
gifts. What can we learn from Jim and Della about receiving gifts? About giving gifts?