the gift of the magi essay questions

'The Gift of the Magi' Questions for Study and Discussion

O. Henry's Famous Holiday Story of Love and Sacrifice

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"The Gift of the Magi" is one of the best-known and most-adapted short stories in modern American literature. Written in 1905 by O. Henry , the pen name used by William Sydney Porter, it tells the story of a poor, young married couple, Jim and Della, who want to buy Christmas gifts for each other but don't have enough money. Originally published in The New York Sunday World newspaper, "The Gift of the Magi" also appeared in the 1906 O. Henry anthology, "The Four Million."

The "magi" of the title refers to the three wise men from the Biblical story of Jesus' birth. The three traveled a great distance to bring valuable gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the new baby, and, as O. Henry put it, "invented the art of giving Christmas presents."

In this story, Della's hair is spectacular: "Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts." Meanwhile, Jim as a prized gold watch that is described as follows : "Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy."

Della sells her hair to a wig maker to buy a chain for Jim's watch for Christmas. Unbeknownst to her, however, Jim sells the watch to buy her a set of prized hair combs. Each gave up their most valued possession to get a gift for the other.

'The Gift of the Magi' Discussion Questions

• What is important about the title? Does it suggest that the story has a religious lesson, or just that Christmas will figure into the plot somehow?
• What are some central ideas or themes of the story?
• What are some conflicts in the story? Are they internal or external?
• List a metaphor or comparison in the story. Explain it.
• Why do we spend so much time getting to know Della in the story, while Jim is introduced only near the very end? Is her perspective more or less important than his?
• Some of the language and phrasing O. Henry uses in "The Gift of the Magi" seems a bit outdated, particularly his descriptions of Della and references to salary and prices in 1905. How could the story be updated to be more contemporary without losing its central lessons of love and sacrifice?
• What are some symbols in "The Gift of the Magi?" Is it telling that Jim gives up something material that can't be reclaimed while Della gives up something that will regrow?
• Relate a symbol to a central idea or theme of the story.
• Does the story end the way you expected? Did you find it endearing that the two gave up their possessions for each other, or were you exasperated that neither could enjoy the other's gift?
• How does this short story compare with other works in holiday literature? Is it similar to the lessons in works like Charles Dickens' " A Christmas Carol ?"
• How essential is the setting, both the time and place, to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?

Understanding 'The Gift of the Magi'

• Describe a time when you picked out the perfect gift for someone or someone picked out the perfect gift for you. Why was it perfect?
• Describe a time when a gift didn't work out. What could have made the situation different? How was the situation handled?
• Describe an ironic incident in your own life. What was expected to happen, and why was the actual event ironic?
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10 Critical Thinking Questions for The Gift of the Magi

Aug 14, 2021

O. Henry’s classic short story “The Gift of the Magi” should be on your list of MUST-TEACH literature! And including Questions for The Gift of the Magi is VITAL!

It has so much to offer not only to teachers but also to middle AND high school students! If you have never read it, here is a quick synopsis: A wife and husband are relatively poor, yet they still want to give each other something for Christmas. Each decides to sacrifice something in order to pay for that gift. At the end of the story, there is an unexpected twist, and the couple ultimately realizes the true meaning of Christmas. And one of the best things about this story is the message involving sacrifice and generosity!

Keep reading for help with teaching this short story as we focus on 10 Critical Thinking Questions for The Gift of the Magi !

Need help with Test Prep? Check out this  FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities  to help students achieve success on standardized tests!

Table of Contents

10 Critical Thinking Questions by Standard for The Gift of the Magi 

Teaching the concept of theme (the message of the story) can be quite difficult at times. Most of the time, we get one-word responses from our students about the theme. For this story in particular, we might get “love” or “gifts” or “sacrifice.”

These are NOT the themes of the story, so introducing theme questions for The Gift of the Magi can be very important to comprehending theme!

What about love? What about gifts? What about sacrifice?

BUT these are good topics to focus on, which can help students to figure out the theme!

You could ask your students the following question:

#1.  Which theme could be true based on the short story?

Here are several examples of thematic statements that could or could not be true for “The Gift of the Magi:”

• Gifts represent love, loyalty, and faithfulness.
• People should not cherish objects too much.
• Generosity to the poor is an important part of the holidays.
• Marriage often requires self-sacrifice.

If you need an EASY way to teach the concept of theme, check out The Gift of the Magi Quiz Pack with 20 Questions for The Gift of the Magi in various assessment forms that mirror standardized tests!

W ant more short story ideas? Click below!

Central Idea

Central Idea is not the same thing as Theme. In terms of literature, a theme is the message of the story whereas the central idea is the main idea of the story. Just tell me what the text is about, so it covers the main point.

You could ask a very basic question:

#2.  What is the central idea of the short story?

Students could answer in one sentence, several sentences, or even a full paragraph. The choice is yours!

Now, students’ responses will differ, but they should all include relevant support. Encourage students to locate textual evidence for their ideas!

Characterization

I love analyzing characters, whether the character is in a poem, book, play, television show, or even a movie. So let’s help our students examine characterization with ease.

There are a couple of things to cover first:

• Flat Characters: usually only have 1 or 2 characteristics
• Round Characters: usually reflect real-life people with many characteristics
• Dynamic Characters: change in some way by the end of the story
• Static Characters: do not really change by the end of the story

So when we are asking students to analyze characterization, we want them to see more than 1 or 2 traits. We want our students to see how a character changes.

#3.  What traits best describe Jim at the beginning and the end of the story?

Click to buy this Literary Analysis and Characterization Pack for The Gift of the Magi !

Click the link for a FREE My Traits Activity to help students with examining characterization in THEMSELVES!

4 Literary Analysis Questions for The Gift of the Magi

There are many aspects of literary analysis you could focus on for any story:

Analyzing Description:

#4.  What is the effect of the description within the following excerpt?

The “Dillingham” had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called “Jim” and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good.

Analyzing Techniques:

#5.  What is the effect of the repetition of the phrase “One dollar and eighty-seven cents” in the short story?

Analyzing Literary Devices:

#6.  How does O. Henry use a literary device to convey meaning in “The Gift of the Magi?”

Analyzing How Characterization Contributes to Theme with questions for The Gift of the Magi:

#7.  How does the characterization of Della contribute to the message of the story?

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Tone can be quite tough for students to grasp. They know the words “positive” and “negative,” but identifying a specific tone is a feat for most students. Be sure to explain connotation (the positive or negative feelings associated with a specific word, phrase, or idea) and tone (the specific emotions of the author, speaker, characters, etc.).

Examples of specific tones:

You could even have your students identify tone in various situations before having them examine tone in the story as you incorporate questions for the Gift of the Magi!

#8.  How does the tone change in the following excerpt?

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.

If you need help with Questions for The Gift of the Magi, check out this pack —> “The Gift of the Magi” while online, click below to buy!

Want more info about teaching tone? Check out this post!

2 structure questions for the gift of the magi.

Teaching about structure is vital, but it can also be a bit frustrating. The concept of structure, order of events, organization, etc. really challenge adults, let alone students. One of the modules I teach for online learning asks students to examine the impact of the structure in a letter. How do we even begin to tackle teaching this idea to our students through questions for The Gift of the Magi?

Steps for Analyzing Structure: 

• Introduce the concept of structure: it is simply the way a text is organized.
• Explain how different texts are organized: you may want to focus on a poem, letter, song, novel, play, etc.
• Examine the beginning, middle, and end: ask students about what they notice in each part.
• Finally, discuss the WHY of the structure: encourage students to think critically about WHY a text starts and ends in a specific way.

Below are Questions for The Gift of the Magi:

#9.  What is the impact of the sentence structure in the following excerpt on the meaning of the story?

For there lay The Combs–the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims–just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone.

#10.  How does the order of events in the short story affect the meaning of this quotation?

  O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. 

Need a break from lesson planning? Check out the ENTIRE lesson bundle with PDF and Digital Options that include Questions for The Gift of the Magi !

Why should we include critical thinking questions for The Gift of the Magi?

If I am totally honest, I might reveal that I just want to read and enjoy short stories for what they are without dissecting all of the details…Sometimes, I just want to sit and reflect. But our students need more than that. They don’t necessarily have to examine EVERY part of the story or meet EVERY standard in a week.

We can, however, meet our students where they are. You can teach only one standard or several standards. It is up to you! Just be sure to read this amazing and insightful tale when you can and include questions for The Gift of the Magi along the way.

Your students will thank you for it!

Click the bundle below for activities & questions for The Gift of the Magi!

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The Gift of the Magi - Study Guide

Which is the better gift, the comb or the pocket watch? O. Henry 's short story, The Gift of the Magi (1905) offers a memorable ironic twist. We hope our study guide is particularly useful for teachers and students to study irony and appreciate O. Henry's clever literary devices.

Read the story: The Gift of the Magi , Character Analysis & Summary , Genre & Literary Devices , Etymology of "Magi" , Quotes , Discussion Questions , Paired Readings , Useful Links , and Notes/Teacher Comments

Character Analysis & Summary

Della Dillingham - The young woman, married to Jim, whose prized possession was her long, beautiful hair.

Jim Dillingham - The young man, married to Della, whose prized possession was an old pocketwatch with a leather strap.

Plot Summary : Jim and Della Dillingham are a poor, young married couple who don't have enough money to buy Christmas gifts. Both sell their most prized possessions in order to pay for a gift for the other at Christmas time.

Genre & Literary Devices

While The Gift of the Magi certainly falls in the fictional short story genre, it employs what could be called a sub-genre of "dramatic irony."

Dramatic irony is where the reader learns a secret that the main character(s) don't know about yet. Without the other knowing, both traded their most valuable possessions (priceless) for a gift that could no longer be used by the other because that person gave up their own possession. We wish we could stop Della from selling her hair, or Jim from selling his watch, but we can't. That's what makes for an engaging storyline that keeps us hooked. We want to know how they'll react when they find out.

Literary Devices

Intimacy - O. Henry effectively employs a literary technique of creating intimacy with his reader, addressing us directly so we feel like we are in the same room with the main characters. Examples: "...already introduced to you as Della" "Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 Bat."

Self-deprecating - O. Henry makes fun of himself and his writing "Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Forget the hashed metaphor. She was ransacking the stores for Jim's present."

Similes - Comparing Della's hair, "rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters" and describing herself after the haircut: "[I] look like a Coney Island chorus girl." Describing Jim standing still, "as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail."

Biblical References

The Magi King Solomon Queen of Sheba

Primary Themes

Sacrifice Love

Comparative Themes

Yearning for what you can't have vs. receiving what you can't use Material happiness vs. spiritual or emotional happiness

Etymology of "Magi"

Magi is Latin, meaning skilled magicians, astrologers. Singular is "magus" which is the Persian root from Indo-Iranian "magh" which means powerful and rich, expressing ability. The Latins called them wise men, the Persians called them Magi. Also from the Greek "magos" (5th century BCE) which refers to the Persian priestly and learned class as portrayed in The Bible in The Gospel of Matthew

According to Ludolph of Saxony (died 1378): " The three pagan kings were called Magi not because they were magicians but because of the great science of astrology which was theirs. Those whom the Hebrews called scribes and the Greeks, philosophers, and the Latins, wise men, the Persians called Magi. And the reason that they were called kings is that in those days it was the custom for the philosophers and wise men to be rulers."

Explain what the following quotes mean and how they relate to the story:

"One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies."

"Whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called 'Jim' and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della."

"Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch eveyr time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy."

"So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her, rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her."

"'I buy hair,' said Madame. 'Taker yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it.'"

"As soon as she saw it she knew that it must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness and value--the description applied to both."

"Don't you like me just as well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, ain't I?"

"Eight dollars a week or a million a year—what is the difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer."

"The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit."

"Let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present."

"[The magi] invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication."

"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."

Discussion Questions

1. The opening line, "One dollar and eight-seven cents" (in 1905) is equivalent to how much in today's dollars? Here's an Inflation calculator Why is this amount both important and unimportant in the story?

2. Define irony and how O. Henry's employs it in the story.

4. Do Della's and Jim's reactions to their predicament giving up their most valued possesions for gifts that are now useless surprise you? Rather than be angry at eachother or sad, Jim suggests they put the presents away for awhile and says, "And now suppose you put the chops on." How do material possessions compare to their true love for one another?

5. Della coveted the hair combs without the least hope of possession, and now that they were hers, she couldn't use them. Think of a situation in your own life that might be defined as ironic.

6. Why did O. Henry choose this simile? "Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail."

7. Describe O. Henry's use of Biblical references (the magi, King Solomon, Queen Sheba) and his use of symbolism that Ella and Jim are the magi. Link to The Holy Bible, Book of Matthew

8. Compare the events of "The Adoration of the Magi" to O. Henry's story. Recommended reading: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 's poem, The Three Kings , particularly noting his lines: "They [the people] thought the Wise Men were men insane" and, after the kings presented their precious gifts: "And the mother wondered and bowed her head, and sat as still as a statue of stone; her heart was troubled yet comforted..."

9. Describe the meaning of "wise" in the story. What does "word to the wise" mean (still a commonly used idiom)?

10. What's the definition of a "meaningful gift"? Why do you think this story is particularly touching at Christmas?

11. Compare the elements of irony in Federigo's Falcon with The Gift of the Magi . Identify literary devices used by each author to engage his reader in the protagonists' plight.

12. Read O. Henry's story, The Last Leaf , compare its themes of sacrifice and irony with The Gift of the Magi .

Essay prompt #1 : Describe your own philosophy of gift giving (and receiving) and what makes for the most meaningful gifts. Relate your experiences to the story.

Essay prompt #2 : Think of an incident which you consider ironic in your own life (or relate a movie or story where irony is central to the plot). Why is irony so appealing to readers/viewers? Discuss how coming to terms or resolving the conundrum is important.

Paired Reading Suggestions

Compare The Gift of the Magi to other stories of the sub-genre "dramatic irony":

Federigo's Falcon The Last Leaf Caline The Ambitious Guest (this one is scary irony)

When comparing uses of dramatic irony, discuss plot, themes, the role of irony in engaging the reader, and contrasts that make each story unique.

Teachers : Challenge students to identify other stories they've read which contain dramatic irony, perhaps assign them to compose their own, to more fully appreciate the richness and appeal of irony in storytelling. It's both a pleasure for the audience and the writer!

Useful Links

Biography and Works by O. Henry

Is It Actually Ironic? 3 TED-Ed lessons on irony

Gift of the Magi Q & A

Storyboard That Plot Diagram for The Gift of the Magi

Complete List of Major and Minor Characters in the Bible

The Holy Bible, Book of Matthew

Inflation calculator: 1905 dollars in 2017

20 Great American Short Stories

Short Stories for High School

Short Stories for Middle School

Notes/Teacher Comments

Visit our Teacher Resources for recommended works, supporting literacy instruction across all grade levels

American Literature's Study Guides

The Gift of the Magi Essay: Summary & Analysis

Looking for The Gift of the Magi essay? Summary and analysis of the themes, characters, and irony in the short story by O’Henry are below.

• Main Characters
• Main Themes
• Personal Opinion

Works Cited

O. Henry, an American writer, is famous for his short stories with an unpredictable ending. The Gift of the Magi is one of his masterpieces, which has become a traditional Christmas tale. In this story, the author shows genuine love between young spouses, which is more precious than any material possessions. In this essay, the plot will be summarized, the main themes and characters will be discussed, and personal opinions will be given.

The Gifts of the Magi Summary

The story takes place just before Christmas, and Della Young is concerned about what she should give her husband, Jim, as a present. She counts her savings and finds only $1.87, which is not enough to buy a worthy gift. She is frustrated since she wants to present her husband with something he deserves for his hard work. Della tries to find a way out of the situation and finally comes up with an idea. The most precious thing she has is her long shining brown hair. After she looks at it in the mirror, she dresses up and goes to Madame Sofronie, a hairdresser. The woman cuts Della’s hair quickly and gives her $20.

Having enough money, Della visits several shops to find a present for Jim. She is not satisfied with anything she finds until she knows exactly what she needs. Della remembers that her husband’s most valuable thing is his gold watch, but he has to wear it with a leather strap since the original one has been broken. The woman finds a platinum chain that will perfectly suit the watch, pays $21 for it, and goes home.

When Jim arrives and sees his wife without her gorgeous hair, he becomes surprised and puzzled. Della cannot understand his reaction until she unpacks his present for her. She discovers a set of combs that she has desired for a long time, but since she does not have her long hair anymore, they appear to be useless. To comfort her husband, she hands him the platinum chain, only to find out that Jim has sold his gold watch to buy a present for her. Jim suggests they should put away their Christmas gifts and have dinner. The story ends with the statement that Della and Jim are the wisest of those who give presents.

The Gifts of the Magi Characters

Della is one of the two main characters of the story. She is young and beautiful, and she is distinguished by her complete devotion to her husband. Della appreciates him so much that she does not agree to present him with some trifle because he deserves something precious. For this reason, she dares sell her hair, which is the only treasure she possesses. She explains to Jim that she “couldn’t have lived through Christmas without giving you a present” (O. Henry 5). Apart from being deeply in love with her husband, Della is a highly emotional person. She does not hold back her tears when she is desperate and does not restrain her laugh when she is happy. Moreover, her mood can change in an instant, which happens when she grieves over her haircut, and the next moment she is anxious to give Jim his Christmas gift. Perhaps, the abundance of emotions contributed to Della’s deep affection for her husband.

Since Jim appears on the scene only at the end of the story, readers do not know his thoughts, but they see his actions. Like Della, Jim sacrificed the most precious thing he had, his gold watch, to buy a present for his wife. Thus, it may be assumed that he is as deeply in love with Della as she is with him. After all, the story is intended to show true affection, which is why the author made his characters so pure and loving.

The Gifts of the Magi Themes

The major theme of the story is pure love, which is the most valuable thing in the world. It is unconditional since Della and Jim do not need anything special from each other; they are just happy to be together. When Della counts her scarce savings, she does not even think to blame her husband for earning little money. On the contrary, she is happy to be his wife and wants to give him the best present she can afford ( Study Guide 5). Due to the couple’s sacrifices, the author compares them to the magi who brought presents to baby Jesus (Zhang and Wang 657). However, he says that Jim and Della are wiser because they gave each other the most precious gift in the world, which is pure love (Zhang and Wang 657). Thus, the story conveys the idea of a relationship that should be pursued by everyone.

The Gift of the Magi also tackles the theme of wealth and poverty. According to Nagel, the story “resonates throughout American marriages, many of which went through periods of economic struggle at some point” (102). Indeed, the Young family is very poor, and Della has to haggle with vendors over every single penny (Tong 207). Even though they hardly make ends meet, Della and Jim are happy because they possess a much greater treasure than money – their love. As Zhang and Wang rightly stated, “There is no pure love in the world of money while there is no money in the world of love” (657). The story, therefore, conveys the idea that material possessions do not play a significant role in human life because deep affection is the only thing that matters.

The Gifts of the Magi Critique

Although the story is written to show readers pure love and encourage them to pursue this feeling in their lives, it seems slightly unreasonable when regarded from a realistic rather than a romantic point of view. The exchange of useless gifts would not have happened if the spouses had discussed their desires and plans with each other. Perhaps, they could have agreed upon a festive dinner or something pleasant for both, which would have saved their money and their personal treasures. After all, communication is a crucial part of a strong relationship. Therefore, instead of sacrificing something precious to surprise one’s partner, one had better inform him or her of one’s plans to avoid possible unpleasant consequences.

In conclusion, The Gift of the Magi is a kind and inspiring story about two young people truly loving each other. Their love is revealed by their willingness to sacrifice the most valuable things they own to bring joy to each other. Apart from the theme of affection, the story is concerned with the concepts of poverty and wealth. It asserts that rich people are not those with much money but those who love and are loved in return.

Nagel, James. The American Short Story Handbook . John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

O. Henry. The Gift of the Magi . Strelbytskyy Multimedia Publishing, 2018.

Study Guide for O. Henry’s ‘The Gift of the Magi.’ Gale, Cengage Learning, 2015.

Tong, Lu. “A Brief Analysis on the Typical Writing Styles of O. Henry.” Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research , vol. 30, 2016, pp. 205-208.

Zhang, Yue, and Lijun Wang. “On Different Types of Love Stories Written by O. Henry.” Journal of Language Teaching and Research , vol. 6, no. 3, 2015, pp. 656-661.

The Gifts of the Magi FAQ

• What Is the Theme of The Gift of the Magi? The main theme in the story by O’Henry is unconditional love. Sacrificing their most precious things to make the other one happy, Della and Jim show that love is more important for them than any material possessions.
• What Is the Irony in The Gift of the Magi? The most ironic episode in The Gift of the Magi takes place when Della opens the box with the gift from Jim. When she sees the tortoise shell combs, for a moment, she forgets that her hair isn’t long enough so she can use them.
• What Point of View Is The Gift of the Magi? The Gift of the Magi is written in the third person point of view. The narrator is a non-participant. The story is told using pronouns like “she,” “he,” “they,” and “it.”
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, January 2). The Gift of the Magi Essay: Summary & Analysis. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-gift-of-the-magi-by-o-henry/

"The Gift of the Magi Essay: Summary & Analysis." IvyPanda , 2 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/the-gift-of-the-magi-by-o-henry/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'The Gift of the Magi Essay: Summary & Analysis'. 2 January.

IvyPanda . 2024. "The Gift of the Magi Essay: Summary & Analysis." January 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-gift-of-the-magi-by-o-henry/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Gift of the Magi Essay: Summary & Analysis." January 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-gift-of-the-magi-by-o-henry/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Gift of the Magi Essay: Summary & Analysis." January 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-gift-of-the-magi-by-o-henry/.

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The Gift of the Magi

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A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

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Discussion Questions

How do the narrator’s intrusive comments throughout the story affect your experience reading the story?

Compare and contrast Jim and Della’s characters.

How does the presumed setting (New York in the early 20th century) affect the characters and the plot of the story?

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Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love

A Summary and Analysis of O. Henry’s ‘The Gift of the Magi’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The Gift of the Magi’ is a short story by the US short-story writer O. Henry, whose real name was William Sydney Porter (1862-1910). His stories are characterised by their irony, their chatty narrative style, their occasional sentimentality, and by their surprise twist endings.

All of these things became something of a signature feature, and ‘The Gift of the Magi’ embodies them all to some extent. But what does this Christmas story mean?

You can read ‘The Gift of the Magi’ here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of O. Henry’s story below.

We discuss some of the key themes of ‘The Gift of the Magi’ in a separate post.

‘The Gift of the Magi’: plot summary

It is Christmas Eve. Jim and Della are a married couple living in a modest furnished flat in New York. They have little money. The story opens with Della upset because she has just one dollar and eighty-seven cents to spend on a Christmas present for her husband.

The narrator tells us the married couple each have a possession in which they take great pride. For Jim, it’s a gold watch that had been his father’s and, before that, his grandfather’s. Della’s prized possession is her beautiful hair.

Della goes to a woman who deals in hair goods. This woman agrees to buy Della’s hair for twenty dollars. With the newly acquired money, Della goes to buy a platinum fob chain for Jim’s gold watch. This costs her twenty-one dollars, leaving her just eighty-seven cents in the whole world. When she gets home, she sets about curling what’s left of her hair so it looks presentable.

When Jim gets home, he is surprised by his wife’s actions, but when she explains why she had her hair cut off, he embraces her and gives her the present he has bought her: two jewelled tortoiseshell combs she has long admired in a shop window. The combs are useless to her until her hair grows out again, but at least she can give Jim his present …

But in a last twist, Jim tells Della that he sold his gold watch to pay for the expensive combs he bought for her. So now, she has two combs but no hair to use them on, and he has a platinum fob chain for a gold watch he no longer owns.

‘The Gift of the Magi’: analysis

Many of O. Henry’s short stories – the majority of which stretch to only five or six pages – are marked by their ironic twists, and ‘The Gift of the Magi’ is a good example of this typical feature of his work.

In their attempts to buy each other their dream Christmas gift, young Jim and Della end up sacrificing the very things that their presents are designed to complement: the combs for Della’s (sold) hair, and the chain for Jim’s (sold) watch. As the narrator observes in the final paragraph:

The magi, as you know, were wise men – wonderfully wise men – who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. 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 O. Henry is not inviting us to laugh at their folly, but to celebrate their sacrifice. Indeed, what motivated them was not foolishness but wisdom, as the narrator remarks in the story’s closing words:

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. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

So there are, in a sense, two surprise twists at the end of ‘The Gift of the Magi’: the trademark plot twist which characterises most of O. Henry’s short stories, and the narratorial ‘twist’ in which he overturns our initial response – which might be to laugh good-naturedly at the unhappy turn of events which have just been narrated – and makes a moral point that Jim and Della behaved out of wisdom, even though they ended up with ‘useless’ presents from each other.

This is all well and good, but it’s worth noting that the narrator doesn’t gloss why he believes that Jim and Della were ‘wisest’ of all gift-givers. Of course, ‘wise’ here is suggested by the Magi, the Zoroastrian astrologers who, in the Gospel of Matthew , visited the infant Jesus and brought him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh: hence the title of the story.

But what makes Jim and Della wise? And why doesn’t O. Henry tell us? Is it because he wanted us to make up our own minds, or did he assume that the answer was fairly self-explanatory?

The latter seems more likely. For surely the ‘moral’ of ‘The Gift of the Magi’, given its Christmas setting and the fact that Jim and Della clearly love each other and treat each other well despite having no money to afford the finer things in life, is that love is more important than possessions. And when it comes to Christmas and buying gifts for our loved ones, it really is the thought that counts.

But there’s a little more to ‘The Gift of the Magi’ than this rather hackneyed old adage, which would reduce the story to a sentimental and rather twee fable about ‘giving being better than receiving’ and ‘love being more important than money’. Both of these statements are relevant to the story, but what is also relevant is the element of sacrifice the two characters make, and their reaction to learning the implications of this.

So Jim is happy to part with a gold watch that has been passed down the male line for three generations, while Della is happy to lose her hair (which would, despite her protestations, take many months to grow back fully) in order to purchase the gift the other one most desires. But with the story’s twist, they learn that their personal sacrifices – committed for their love of the other one – have been in vain.

But they are happy about this, not because of the gesture of buying the gift but the great cost that it has incurred for the other. Love, O. Henry seems to say, is about giving up that which you most treasure in order to show your beloved – whom you should love even more – the extent of your devotion.

In other words, what is remarkable about ‘The Gift of the Magi’ is that its moral seems to be not just ‘giving is better than receiving’ but ‘giving and losing is all that matters’, since what they receive is of no practical use to them.

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The Gift of the Magi

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The Gift of the Magi Questions

• By Gay Miller in Free Novel Studies

July 21, 2016

Get The Gift of the Magi Unit over four blog posts. This third post The Gift of the Magi Questions, contains constructed response writing questions with organizers for students to plan their writing. Questions include summarizing, theme, course of action, and comparing different versions.

The Gift of the Magi is a heartwarming story of a young married couple who sell their most prized possessions to have money to buy gifts for each other. It makes a beautiful mini-unit to teach during the Christmas season.

Get the printable questions and answer keys from this post here .

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List one theme that is repeated several times in the story. List examples of this theme.

Example Answers

Della welcomes Jim warmly when he comes home from work.

Proof from Text

But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called “Jim” and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good.

Della saves money, so she can get Jim a Christmas gift.

Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling – something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim.

Della excitedly shops for Jim’s gift.

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

Theme Sacrifice

For weeks, Della embarrassingly shops with the butcher and grocer to try to save money.

Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied.

Della sells her most prized possession.

“Will you buy my hair?” asked Della.

“I buy hair,” said Madame. “Take yer hat off and let’s have a sight at the looks of it.”

Down rippled the brown cascade.

“Twenty dollars,” said Madame, lifting the mass with a practiced hand.

“Give it to me quick,” said Della.

Jim sells his most prized possession to have money to buy Della a Christmas gift.

For there lay The Combs–the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoiseshell, with jeweled rims–just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone.

Explain what course of action you would take if you were in Jim or Della’s situation.

Why would your course be a more effective course than the course they chose?

Select the 10 most important events from the story. Use these details to write a summary.

Example Summary

• Della Dillingham Young counts her money and finds she has only $1.87 to buy her husband Jim a Christmas gift.
• Della cries because she has tried to save money for weeks to buy a gift.
• When Della goes to the mirror and lets down her long hair, she gets an idea.
• Della goes to Madame Sofronie’s and sells her hair for $20.00.
• Della finds Jim the perfect gift, a chain for his prized watch.
• After returning to her apartment, Della curls her short hair. She prepares dinner and waits for Jim to come home.
• Jim arrives home at 7:00. He is surprised when he sees Della has cut her hair. He can only stare at her.
• A little later Jim snaps out of his trance and gives Della her Christmas present, two beautiful combs for her hair.
• Della cries and Jim holds her. She cannot use the beautiful combs in her short hair. Della then gives Jim the watch chain.
• The two discover that each sold a prized possession to have money to buy the other a Christmas gift.

Additional Questions

• Write an argumentative essay. Select Della or Jim to argue which character gave up the most valuable possession.
• Rewrite the story from Jim’s perspective.
• Compare different versions of the story.

I hope your stud ents will enjoy this unit.

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I hope your students will enjoy this unit.

Click here to download The Gift of the Magi questions.

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The Gift of The Magi

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The Gift of the Magi Discussion Questions

Compare the typical living and working conditions in New York in the early 1900s with today. What does a "normal" working person make per week today in New York City, and what would his or her rent be? How much did food and clothing cost at the time "The Gift of the Magi" takes place?

Where, exactly, in New York did 0. Henry live? Research what his life was like when he lived there.

Find the places in the Bible that 0. Henry alludes to in "The Gift of the Magi." Also, do some historical research on King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and the magi. What do these references bring to the story?

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The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories

By o. henry, the gift of the magi and other stories quiz 2.

• 1 Della spent months saving money for Jim’s present by ________ Spending as little money as possible Getting a part-time job Cutting her hair Asking her sister-in-law for money
• 2 How does the narrator describe Jim’s appearance? He looks frazzled, exhausted, and poorly postured He looks thin, serious, and lacks proper outerwear He looks muscular, jubilant, and extravagantly dressed He looks tall, handsome, and gentle

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The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Why did O. Henry choose this simile? "Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail."

I think it indicates that Jim was in shock, startled when he saw Della with her hair cut.

What story elements did the author use to develop the theme?

One important element in O. Henry's, The Gift of the Magi, is his use of allusion.... references to well-known people, places, events, or artistic works. When the narrator describes Della's hair and Jim's watch, he alludes to the Bible: "Had the...

Sevaral passages in the Story give subtle clues about jim.Identify at least three passages that reveal aspects of jim's character and exolain their significance

This is only a short-answer space but I can give you a general comment on Jim. Jim is a loving husband. We know this not because he gives up a possession he treasures in order to give his wife something she dearly wants, but because he is so...

Study Guide for The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories

"The Gift of the Magi" and Other Stories study guide contains a biography of O. Henry, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories
• The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories Summary
• The Gift of the Magi Video
• Character List

Essays for The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories

"The Gift of the Magi" and Other Stories essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of "The Gift of the Magi" and Other Stories by O. Henry.

• The Consequences of Capitalism: A Marxist Analysis of “The Gift of the Magi”
• Importance of Dialogue in O. Henry’s Short Story ‘‘The Gift of the Magi’’  

Lesson Plan for The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories

• Introduction
• Adaptations

The Gift Of The Magi Questions & Answers

Hi Everyone!! This article will share The Gift Of The Magi Questions & Answers. In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of Still I Rise , Games At Twilight and My Childhood so, you can check these posts as well.

The Gift Of The Magi Questions & Answers

Word galaxy.

• Vestibule – a hall or lobby next to the outer door of a building
• Sterling – excellent and valuable  
• Coax – obtain
• Faltered – lost strength
• Depreciate – belittle
• Chaste – pure
• Ravages – the destructive effect of something
• Prudence – cautiousness
• Trance – a half-conscious state
• Setter – a hunting dog
• Singed – lightly burnt
• Combs – hair slides
• Ardent – enthusiastic
• Fob chain – a chain attached to a watch for carrying in a waistcoat
• Dandy – an excellent thing

Question 1: Describe Jim and Della’s apartment.

Answer: Jim and Della lived in a cheap furnished flat at 8 dollars per week. It required some renovation. In the vestibule below was a letterbox which was not in a good condition and into which no letter would go, an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring, there was also a card bearing the name ‘Mr. James Dillingham Young’ from which the word ‘Dillingham’ had been flung to the breeze.

Question 2: What kind of present did Della wish to buy for Jim?

Answer: Della wished to buy something nice, fine and rare and sterling – something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honour of being owned by Jim.

Question 3: Why did Della falter for a minute before she left home?

Answer: Della faltered for a minute before she left home because she had to think for a while.

Question 4: What did Della finally find for Jim?

Answer: Della found a platinum fob chain for Jim.

Question 5: How did Jim react when he saw Della’s short hair?

Answer: He simply stared at Della fixedly with the peculiar expression on his face.

Question 6: Read these lines and answer the questions:

‘I don’t think there’s anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or shampoo that could make me like you any less. But if you’ll unwrap that package, you may see why you had me going a while at first.’

(a) Who said these words and to whom?

Answer: Jim told these words to Della.

(b) Why did the speaker say these words?

Answer: Della after having her hair cut and getting it sold for the sake of buying a Christmas gift for Jim was looking worried. So, in order to comfort her, Jim says so.

(c) What was in the package?

Answer: A set of beautiful combs made of tortoise shells was there in a package.

Question 7: Who invented the art of giving Christmas gifts and how?

Answer: The Magi invented the art of giving Christmas gifts on the day of the birth of Jesus. They travelled a great distance to bring valuable gifts of gold.

Question 8: What did Jim say they should do with their Christmas presents?

Answer: Jim told Della to keep the Christmas presents aside and enjoy the Christmas Eve.

Question 9: Read these lines and answer the questions:

‘Let’s keep our Christmas presents away for a while. They are too nice to use at present.’

(a) Who said these lines and to whom?

Answer: Jim told these lines to Della.

(b) Why did the speaker say that the Christmas gifts were ‘too nice to use at present’?

Answer: Jim says so because he understands the fact that neither of them is able to make use of their Christmas presents at that point of time.

(c) Do you think the story ended on a hopeful note?

Answer: Yes! The story ended with a hopeful note. So, these were The Gift Of The Magi Questions & Answers.

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