Story-12: The Gift of Magi by O.Henry

Story-12: The Gift of Magi by O. Henry

Exercise Question and Answers 

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry, first published in 1906. The story revolves around a young couple, Jim and Della, who are struggling to make ends meet during the Christmas season.

Plot

Della wants to buy Jim a special Christmas present, but she doesn't have enough money. She decides to cut and sell her long, beautiful hair to buy a chain for Jim's prized possession, a gold watch.

Meanwhile, Jim is struggling to find the perfect gift for Della. He wants to buy her a set of beautiful combs for her hair, but he doesn't have enough money. In a sacrificial act, Jim decides to sell his gold watch to buy the combs.

1	How much did she save for Christmas?
Ans:	Della saved one dollar and eighty-seven cents for Christmas gift.
2.	Why did she feel proud in the beauty of her hair?
Ans:	Della felt pride in the beauty of her hair because her hairs were more beautiful than any queen’s Jewels and they shine like a falling stream of brown water. They reached below her knees and looked like a dress for her.
3.	Why did she sell her hair?
Ans:	Della did not have enough money to buy a Christmas gift for Jim. Therefore, she sold her hair for twenty dollars.
4.	Why did Jim sell the gold watch?
Ans:	Jim sold his gold watch to get money to buy a nice Christmas gift for Della.
5.	Why did they want to exchange the gifts?
Ans:	The Magi were famous for their gifts. Della and Jim loved and respected each other, they could not celebrate Christmas without presenting gifts to each other.
6.	Why did she feel sad on losing her hair?
Ans:	Della felt sad on losing her hair because she was afraid that Jim might not find her attractive without her beautiful hair.
7.	Why did Jim not welcome her when he stepped in?
Ans:	Jim didn’t welcome her when he stepped in because he had bought combs for her hair. But she had sold her hair.
8.	What did he bring out of his coat?
Ans:	From his coat, Jim took out something tied in paper. It was a comb for Della’s hair. But now he threw it upon the table.
9.	How beautiful was the gold watch chain?
Ans:	The gold watch chain was simple but its real value was in its rich and pure material. It was a perfect chain for Jim’s gold watch.
10.	What was the wisdom in selling the most valuable things?
Ans:	The wisdom in selling their valuable things was that material things are not important in life. We should scarify our valuables for our beloved because love begets love.
11.	How much did she save for Christmas?
Ans:	Della saved one dollar and eight-seven cents for Christmas gift.
12.	How many times Della counted her savings?
Ans:	Della counted her savings for three times.
13.	Why did Della fall on the bed and cry?
Ans:	Della fell on the bed and cried because she had insufficient amount to buy a nice gift for Jim.
14.	What type of gift Della was planning to present to Jim?
Ans:	Della was planning something nice, something worth of belonging to Jim.
15.	What did the James Dillingham Youngs proud of?
Ans:	James Dillingham Young’s were proud of two things: one was Jim’s gold watch and the other thing was Della’s beautiful hair.
16.	Why did she feel proud in the beauty of her hair?
Ans:	Della felt pride in the beauty of her hair because her hair were more beautiful than any queen’s Jewels and they shine like a falling stream of brown water. They reached below her knees and looked like a dress of her.
17.	What did Della wear before going out into the street?
Ans:	Della wore her old brown coat and hat and went out into the street to buy a gift for Jim.
18.	Describe the character of Mrs. Sofronle?
Ans:	Mrs. Sofrolne was a large, white and cold-eyed lady who dealt in hair articles of all kinds.
19.	How much amount did Della get for her hair?
Ans:	Della got twenty dollars for selling her hair.
20.	What was the wisdom in selling the most valuable things?
Ans:	Della did not have enough money to buy a Christmas gift for Jim. Therefore, she sold her hair for twenty dollars.
21.	How beautiful was the gold watch chain?
Ans:	The golden watch chain was simple but its real value was in its rich and pure material. It was a perfect chain for Jim’s gold watch.
22.	What was the common between Jim and the Chain?
Ans:	Both Jim and the chain had the common qualities of quietness and value.
23.	What will it cost to bring a gift for Jim?
Ans:	Della needed twenty-one dollars to buy a gift for Jim. But she had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents.
24.	What were Della’s feelings when she returned home after selling her hair?
Ans:	When Della returned home after selling her hair, her mind quietened a little. She began to think more reasonably. She tried to cover the sad marks of what she had done.
25.	How did Della look after short hair?
Ans:	After getting short hair, Della looked wonderfully like a schoolboy.
26.	What did Della think about her short hair while standing before a looking glass?
Ans:	Della thought if Jim did not kill her before looking at her for the second time, he would say that she looked like a girl who worked for money.
27.	What did Della pray to Almighty after getting short-hair?
Ans:	Della prayed to Almighty that Jim might still think her pretty after getting short hair.
28.	What was Jim’s age?
Ans:	Jim was only twenty two years old.
29.	Why did Della become afraid when Jim looked at her?
Ans:	When Jim looked strangely at Della, it filled her with fear. It was not anger, nor surprise nor anything. He simply looked at her with the strange expression on his face.
30.	How did Della react to see Jim’s strangeness?
Ans:	Della told Jim that she had her hair cut off and sold it. She couldn’t live through Christmas without giving him a gift.
31.	Did Jim believe to see Della’s short hair?
Ans:	No, Jim did not feel sure of it. He seemed to labour to understand what had happened, with her.
32.	How did Della account for her love for Jim?
Ans:	Della said that the hair on her head could be counted but no one could count her love and regard for Jim.
33.	What did Jim bring out of his coat?
Ans:	From his coat, Jim took out something tied in paper. It was a comb for Della’s hair, but now he threw it upon the table.
34.	Why did Della remain indifferent to see the beautiful combs?
Ans:	Della looked at the combs without the least hope of owning them. Though, the combs were hers now, yet her hair were gone.
35.	Why did Jim sell the gold watch?
Ans:	Jim sold his gold watch to get money to buy a nice Christmas gift for Della.
36.	Who were the Magi?
Ans:	The Magi were wonderfully wise men who brought gifts to the newborn Christ-child. The Mage set the tradition of presenting gifts to new borns. Both Della and Jim wanted to presented gifts to each other, they were Magi at heart.
37.	What was the wisdom in selling the most valuable things?
Ans:	The wisdom in selling their most valuable things was that material things are not important in life. We should scarify our valuables for our beloved because love begets love.
38.	Discuss the irony in the story?
Ans:	The story is full of irony from beginning to end. Della aspired for controls for her long hair but ironically when she got the combs, she had sold her hair. Similarly, Jim longed for a chain for his wrist watch but ironically, he could not wear new chain because he had to sell his gold watch.

The Gift of Magi, O. Henry, Intermediate English-I, Punjab Textbook Board, Magi, Short Story, Jim and Della