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TODAY
I.
Check
Vocabulary
and lit.
examples
II. Notes:
Literary
Terms
III. Read and
Discuss
“The Gift of the
Magi”
The Gift of The Magi
by O’Henry
8th September, 2015
+ William Sydney Porter
O. Henry
1862-1910

Born on Sept. 11th in N. Carolina

Raised by Gma/aunt after mom
died

Left school at 15 to work.

Moved to Texas at 18

Coined the term “Banana
Republic” while living in
Honduras

Spent 3 years in prison for
embezzlement (He maintains his
innocence)

Died of cirrhosis in 1910
+
O. Henry Museum in AUSTIN!!

The O. Henry Museum offers a
look into the life of William
Sidney Porter in the Austin
years leading up to his
controversial prison term, after
which he assumed the pen
name O. Henry and set about
transforming himself into the
famed short story writer who
authored such universal
classics as "Gifts of the Magi,"
"The Ransom of Red Chief" and
"The Cop and the Anthem.”
(austintx.gov)

409 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
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Magi
plural noun, singular Magus
(sometimes lowercase) the wise men, generally assumed to
be three in number, who paid homage to the infant Jesus.
Matt. 2:1–12. These men
brought gifts at a great
sacrifice to themselves.
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Your Turn!***

Think about the greatest gift you’ve ever received. What is it?

Would you be willing to sacrifice that gift? Give it up?

If so, what circumstances would need to be surrounding that
situation to make you willing to give it up?
{Put this on page 9 of your response
notebook OR the page directly after your
SOT literary term examples. This will be
checked for a stamp next class}
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Plot***


The sequence of events in a story.
Focuses on a central conflict or problem faced by the main
character. The actions that the characters take to resolve the
conflict build toward a climax.

A plot develops in five stages: exposition, rising action,
climax, falling action and resolution.
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events that occur to complicate the
plot and create suspense
a turning point in the story; the
highest point of conflict
what happens as the
result of the climax
the beginning of the story where the
characters, situations, and conflicts
are introduced
the final outcome
of the story
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Character***

Characters are the individuals
who participate in the action of a
literary work.

Like real people, characters
display certain qualities, or
characters traits; they develop
and change over time; and they
usually have motivations, or
reasons, for their behavior.
•
Major, minor, dynamic,
static, round, flat…
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Setting***

The time and place of the action of
a story.

Some stories have minimal
descriptions. In others, setting is
described in detail and become a
major contribution to the stories'
overall effect.
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More Figurative Language***

Irony: a special kind of contrast between appearance and
reality – usually when reality is the opposite of what it seems.
There are multiple types of irony.
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Possible Left Side Idea
What Della Plans:
What Actually Happens:
What Jim Plans:
What Actually Happens:
This would be helpful if you’re struggling to
determine what irony is!
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As We Read…

Think!

How do the affections between a couple
influence their giving and receiving of gifts?
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Vestibule, flat, pier glass
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Watches
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Hair
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Coney Island Chorus Girl
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Hair Combs
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What Are You Willing to
Sacrifice?***
1
Why would O. Henry portray Della as happy after she
makes the sacrifice of selling her hair?
2
How do the details in lines 98-100 hint that Jim, as well as
Della, is capable of sacrifice?
3
Lines 115-136, What is Della feeling? How does suspense
contribute to the story?
[Include on page 11 in your notebook.
OR whichever page comes directly
after your response to “Your Turn!” This
will be checked for a stamp next class]
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
Homework:
What are you willing to sacrifice? Questions on previous
slide.


Copy down in your journal on the right side; this will be checked
for a stamp!
STUDY!!

Vocabulary Test next class, 9/14

This will include all vocabulary words
from “A Sound of Thunder” and “The Gift of the Magi.”

You will be asked to use these words in their proper context.