The Last Leaf by O Henry
Vocabulary checkpoint
Paragraph/line word
definition
approach (v)
To approach is to move towards. It is often used with seasons and
special occasions (New Year, Christmas, birthdays) as well as with
people and moving objects (vehicles, etc).
pneumonia (n)
Pneumonia is a serious illness of the lungs.
vine(n)
brave (v)
survive (v)
masterpiece (n)
Art
There are 3 main types of art: Visual Arts (V), Literary Arts (L) and Performing Arts (P). You will find an
example of each in the columns below. How would you categorize the other art forms listed here? Some
might be able to go into two or even all three columns.
• drama (acting)
V L
P
• film (cinema, movies) V L
P
• painting
V L
P
• short stories
V L
P
• music
V L
P
• novels
V L
P
• fashion design
V L
P
• photography
V L
P
• cartoons (animation) V L
P
Art and Artists: suffixes
What do you call the people who perform or create these arts? There are five suffixes that we commonly
use for artists. Be careful of spellings with some endings.
-ist
sculpture
dance
-er
-or
-ian
-ess
poetry
drama
painting
music
fashion design
movie making
short stories
novels
photography
cartoons (animation)
Choose one of these artists, or one of your own favorite artists and describe what you think their
“masterpiece" is.
Steven Spielberg
Ralph Lauren
Michael Jackson
Pablo Picasso
William Shakespeare
Mozart
Leonardo Da Vinci
Will Smith
Setting
Think about the following questions:
1. Where does the story take place?
2. Have you ever been to New York City?
3. Have any of your family or friend been there?
4. What other name does New York have?
5. What is your impression of New York City?
6. Find a picture that best describes your image of New York.
7. Compare your impression of New York with the place Johnsy and Sue lived. Do they match?
How different are they?
8. In what season does the story take place?
PERSONIFICATION
“The streets run crazy and broken themselves into small strips called ‘places’.”
Pneumonia is a serious kind of disease and may become the cause of death. Johnsy falls ill due to the prey of
pneumonia. While Behrman dies of it.
“Mr. Pneumonia was not what you would call a chivalric old gentleman.”
1. Friends don't have to be exactly the same. Friends have similarities but they also have
their differences. They key to opening up the world of friendship is not only to expand on
similarities but to accept each other's faults. Because you can't ever judge your friend.
2. Friends have to argue! No one likes to but it is necessary to be healthy. Cause if you agree
on everything, either the government has expanded cloning subjects or someone isn't being
true and is trying a little too hard.
3. You have to be comfortable together or else you just aren't going to click. If you feel edgy
around the person then something isn't quite right.
4. Friends love unconditionally. They have there little angry moments but what's done is
done and all is forgive and forget. Why let something that happened in the past ruin what
happiness you could have in the future?
1.
What is your definition of friendship?
2.
Faith, hope and charity are traditionally grouped together as three important virtues.
What do you think of it?
3.
Some say that charity begins at home, that we should take care of those closest to
us rather than worrying about strangers. What do you think of that?
4.
Can you figure out what the stories of this unit are going to be about?
Q1: What was, at first, Johnsy determined to do if the last ivy leaf should fall?
A1: She made up her mind to die when the last leaf fell.
Q2: What did she decide to do when she saw the last leaf still cling to the vine after two
nights’ rain and wind?
A2: She decided not to give up her life.
Q3: How was it that the cold fierce wind did not blow away the last leaf?
A3: Behrman, a kind neighbor, who was aware of Johnsy’s state of mind, risked death to
paint the last leaf and save her.
Q4: Why did Sue call the painted leaf Behrman’s masterpiece?
A4:
Because it was so perfect the girls both mistook it for the real thing.
1.
Many campers are tempted by backpacks with extra_______, zippers and other
options, but a simple, well-made pack is sufficient on most trips.
2.
Born in Boston, American natural history writer Elizabeth Cary was educated at home
because of ________health.
3.
Abstract expressionism involves_______ and splashing paint in an impulsive, loosely
controlled manner without any predetermined design.
4.
Biological clocks release a hormone that__________ complex behaviors in humans
and animals alike.
5.
__________, play fair. That is what every mother teaches her child to do.
6.
Early women basketball players were prohibited from______ the ball from the hands
of another player.
7.
The Ford Trimotor, the first plane designed to carry passengers rather than mail, had
an interior cabin with a ceiling high enough for people to walk down the aisle
without________.
8.
The Andrew Johnson Homestead, where US President Johnson lived between 1851
and 1875, is __________with his original articles.
9.
With 1300 meters remaining, Barbara and Decker Slaney were among the group of
leading runners. However, the two bumped, causing Barbara to ________.
10.
Although all Americans do not speak the same way, their speech _________enough
________so that American English can be recognized as a variety of English different from
British English, Australian English, etc.
11.
_____________ of the Cluny Museum is a large beautiful garden.
12.
Shellery felt a _______ at her heart at the sudden attraction of him, the perfect body
and the face that looked so much more natural and attractive out here in the warm southern
wind.
13.
Dealing with your children’s friends who __________round in the evening calls for
diplomacy and the setting of time limits.
14.
Aunt Louise seemed to swell up, her eyes about to ________of her head.
15.
Hearing her baby scream all of a sudden, Robyn made a _________for the bedroom.
Comprehension check
What example of personification can you find in the story? Why does the writer use personification?
•
Where do we see Sue's devotion to Johnsy in the story?
•
What does the story have to say about the connection between mind and body?
•
Why does the writer choose to have the story take place in the winter?
•
Where in the story does Sue lie to Johnsy. Why does she lie?
•
What is Behrman's reaction to what Sue tells him about Johnsy?
•
Why does the writer continually emphasize the beating rain and fierce gusts of wind?
•
How does Sue try to convince Johnsy to fight to stay alive? Is she successful in her
•
•
attempt? Why, or why not?
In what way can Behrman's painting be called, "A Masterpiece"?
Why do you think that Johnsy never noticed that the last leaf never fluttered or moved?