The story takes place in New York during the Christmas holiday season. Della and Jim, the couple who are the main characters in the short story, live in a tiny but well-kept apartment. Also know, where does the story The Gift of the Magi take place?
New York City
Secondly, what is the conflict of the story The Gift of Magi? In "The Gift of the Magi," the main conflict is that Della does not have enough money saved to buy the gift she thinks Jim deserves.
Additionally, what time period is the Gift of the Magi set in?
1900s
Who are the characters in the story The Gift of Magi?
In “The Gift of the Magi” the major characters are Jim and Della, and Madame Sofronie as a minor character. The author uses indirect characterization.
Related Question Answers
What does Jim's watch symbolize?
Jim's gold watch Symbol Analysis. Jim's watch holds sentimental value for him as well, having been passed down from generation to generation. In this way, the watch represents Jim's ties to the family he grew up in—the family he leaves in order to make a new family with Della. Why Jim and Della are called the Magi?
James Dillingham Young, or Jim and Della, are called "the magi" in the final sentence of O. Since they were wise men, their gifts were undoubtably wise, too, and it is suggested that the spirit of their love and generosity are something to strive for in the gift-giving season. What is setting in a story?
A setting (or backdrop) is the time and geographic location within a narrative, either nonfiction or fiction. It is a literary element. The setting initiates the main backdrop and mood for a story. Elements of setting may include culture, historical period, geography, and hour. What is the main theme of the story Gift of the Magi?
Della Young and Jim Young's deep love for each other is the central theme of "The Gift of the Magi." It makes them willing to sacrifice their most prized possessions in order to buy a Christmas gift for the other person. Both show they value their relationship more than material things. Why is it called Gift of the Magi?
The title of the story refers to the three "wise men" or magi who are supposed to have come bringing precious gifts to present to Jesus at his birth. O. Henry used this title because of the idea of precious gifts and the idea of wisdom that the title alludes to. What is the author's purpose in writing The Gift of the Magi?
O. Henry's purpose in writing 'The Gift of the Magi' was to show that material possessions are not as important as true love. What does the word Magi mean?
wise men and kings
What is the summary of the story The Gift of Magi?
"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. What does Dellas action of cutting her hair to buy Jim a gift reveal about her character?
Henry's “The Gift of the Magi,” Della's action of cutting her hair reveals her self-sacrificing love for her husband Jim. What did Della do after selling her hair?
So she cuts off some of her lovely locks and sells them to a fancy hairdresser, who will presumably use her hair to make wigs. With the money she earns from selling her hair, Della buys Jim a chain for his watch. Why does Jim ashamed look at his watch?
Grand as the watch was, sometimes Jim checked it secretly because he was ashamed of the old leather strap that he used in the place of a chain. When Della reached home, she got out her curling irons, lit the gas and went to work on her now very short hair. What is the denouement or conclusion of the story The Gift of the Magi?
Answer. The denouement, or resolution, of "The Gift of the Magi" is that while Jim and Della do not have what they need to make use of their Christmas gifts, these gifts are anything but worthless. For, they are proof of the real gift that each has given the other: His and her love. What theme do Della's actions in this sentence best suggest quizlet?
What theme do Della's actions in this sentence best suggest? Sacrifice is more important than true love. Sacrifice for a loved one is not always easy. Sacrifice is part of a life lived to the very fullest. What happened to Jim's weekly salary in the gift of the Magi?
Jim and Della are a husband and wife living in a rented room in New York. They are quite poor and recently Jim has had his salary cut back to only $20 a week from the $30 a week he used to make. After rent and groceries, the couple hardly have any money left. Who is the protagonist in The Gift of Magi?
The protagonist in O. Henry's story, ''The Gift of the Magi,'' is the main character, Della. Della is the focus of the story. What are Jim and Della's most valued possessions?
Jim's most valued possession was his watch, and Della's was her hair. Jim and Della were a young couple who loved each other very much, but were not wealthy. What they did have they valued highly. Jim placed great importance on a gold watch that had been passed down through the family for generations. Why did Della cry on Christmas Eve?
At the beginning of the story Della was moping and crying because she only had ONE DOLLAR AND EIGHTY-TWO CENTS to use to buy her husband Jim a gift for Christmas, and it was Christmas Eve meaning she had very little time to think of something. What is the irony in the Gift of Magi?
The irony of the ending of "The Gift of the Magi" is the fact that both Della and Jim unselfishly sacrificed their most prized possessions in order to purchase gifts that the other would be thrilled about receiving, but each of them sacrificed the very thing for which the other bought the gift. What is the lesson of the Gift of Magi?
The moral lesson in the story "The Gift of the Magi" is that people are willing to give up what means the most to them for the person they love. In the story, the couple acts on impulse as each strives to please their spouse. What is the symbolism in The Gift of Magi?
Gold, a metal, is a symbol of earthly kingship; frankincense, an incense, is a symbol of godliness; and myrrh, an embalming oil, is a symbol of death. Thus the gifts were given in recognition of Jesus's importance within the Christian story. In "The Gift of the Magi," the magi symbolize wisdom. What is Jim's full name in the gift of the Magi?
James Dillingham Young
Who is the antagonist in the Gift of Magi?
Lack of money is the antagonist in "The Gift of the Magi." O'Henry goes to pains to show that Jim and Della are poor, and that Jim, the husband, has recently taken a pay cut. What was Della's treasured possession?
Ans: Della's treasured possession was her long and beautiful hair, rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. Who were Jim and Della?
James Dillingham Young, or Jim and Della, are called "the magi" in the final sentence of O. Henry's short story. It is explained at the conclusion of the story that the magi were the "wonderfully wise men" who gave the very first Christmas presents when they bore gifts to Christ in the manger. What does O'Henry mean by with sniffles predominating?
what does O. Henry mean when he says that "life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating" ? Life is mostly sad, but it does have some positives to it too. What was Della's hair worth to Madame Sofronie?
When Della from "Gift of the Magi" decides to sell her hair so that she can buy a nice gift for her husband, she goes to Madam Sofronie. The agree that $20 is sufficient pay for Della's hair, although the amount is far below the actual worth. Della uses the money to purchase a gold watch chain for her husband. Is Jim a static or dynamic character The Gift of the Magi?
Both characters, Della and Jim, in "The Gift of the Magi" are dynamic characters, defining a dynamic character as one who changes throughout the story. At the beginning of the story they both clearly feel that they can only prove their love to the other through extravagant gifts which neither of them can afford. 
