Characterization, Theme, and Irony in "The Gift of the Magi" — Quiz Answers

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face. In this excerpt, Jim’s character is developed

Read this sentence about Della from "The Gift of the Magi." Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet. What theme do Della’s actions in this sentence best suggest?

Read this characterization of Della from "The Gift of the Magi." Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. The phrase "she turned white for just a moment” is mainly used to show that Della

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." "Don't make any mistake, Dell," [Jim] said, "about me. I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less”

In "The Gift of the Magi," when Jim buys combs for Della, the irony is that

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. Only 1 point 8 7 dollars 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. What inferences about Della can be made based on this excerpt? Choose three correct answers.

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." Where she stopped the sign read: "Mme. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the "Sofronie." "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 practised hand. Madame Sofronie’s character is most developed through

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." At 7 o’clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops. Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit of saying a little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things.

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi." 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. The theme expressed in this paragraph is that

At the end of "The Gift of the Magi," Jim says that he and Della should forget their gifts for a while and eat supper. This suggests the theme