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

Question 1

Based on evidence in the passage, what inference can be made about Della?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Della is proud of her beautiful hair and feels scared and sad about giving it up.

Question 2

directindirect

Revolt · Accepted Answer

direct; “He looked thin and very serious.”: direct; “He was only twenty-two.”: direct; “He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.”: indirect

Question 3

Which sentence supports the inference that Jim loves Della for more than just her looks?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

“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.”

Question 4

Read each quotation from the story, and then decide whether the author is using direct or indirect characterization.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

✔ direct characterization; “Della, being slender, had mastered the art.”: direct characterization; “Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the ‘Sofronie.’”: direct characterization; “‘Twenty dollars,’ said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand.”: indirect characterization; “Grand as the watch was, he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of a chain.”: indirect characterization

Question 5

In two to three sentences, explain a characteristic that Della and Jim have in common and what this characteristic shows about their relationship.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Della and Jim share the characteristic of selflessness, as they both sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy a meaningful gift for the other. This shows that their relationship is grounded in deep love and devotion, where the happiness of the other person is more important than their own personal vanity or wealth.

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

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