The Gift of the Magi
Figure of speech?
"Jim stepped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of a quail."
Simile
How long did the Loisels work to pay off their debt?
10 years
What is the point of view of the story?
First person narration
What triggers Mitty's daydream about being a military captain?
A magazine
What does the word astute mean?
clever
What literary device is the title of the story?
Allusion
Direct or Indirect Characterization?
"Have you nothing more?"
Indirect Characterization
The main conflict of the story is character vs. ________
self
He daydreams he is a surgeon in an operating room.
Literary device?
"...I reflected upon the daring, dashing, and discriminating ingenuity of D-..."
alliteration
Who are the "magi" alluded to in the story?
The three wise men from the Bible who presented gifts to the baby Jesus.
Who wrote "The Necklace"?
Guy De Maupassant
A literary device in which the writer hints at what is to come.
Foreshadowing
"rat-tat-tatting"
onomatopoeia
Use the word purloined in a sentence that hints at the meaning of the word.
Answers may vary.
In your own words, what is the definition of situational irony? Why is the ending of the story ironic?
Why is the diamond considered a symbol in the story?
The diamond has a deeper meaning than its literal meaning. It represents wealth, desire, perfection, and luxury.
In your own words, what is the significance of the beating heart at the end of the story?
Where was James Thurber born?
Explain the allusion to the Procrustean bed.
The metaphor alludes to Procrustes who forced travelers to fit into a bed by either stretching them or chopping off their legs to fit. The Procrustean bed represents forced uniformity, inability to adjust to individual needs, and a lack of creativity in problem solving.