The Gift of the Magi
What is Della upset about / concerned with at the beginning of the story?
Being able to buy her husband (Jim) a suitable gift
The graveyard flowers described by the narrator at the beginning of the story represent the use of what literary device?
Foreshadowing
Why does the monster mistrust humanity?
Immediately rejected by his creator; the De Lacey family, etc.
How is this story written?
It's told backwards. We see the end first.
What is an autobiography?
A biography where the person writing is doing so about themselves.
What are the two possessions that Jim and Della have always been proud of? (Half credit for one and not the other)
Della's hair; Jim's watch
Why does Brother / the narrator consider smothering his younger sibling to death?
He doesn't like that his younger brother is physically handicapped; he can't take it when his mother suggests that he might also be mentally impaired.
What is striking about the creature in the book versus the creature in pop culture (movies, cartoons, shows, etc.)?
The creature is vastly intelligent and reflective
How does the grandmother want the kids to feel at the beginning of the story?
She wants them to get over their fear of going back in the water.
This term signifies a type of writing where the places an author has visited are described and experiences are recounted.
Travel writing
What does each partner buy for the other? (Half credit for one and not the other)
Della buys a chain for Jim's watch by selling her hair. Jim buys beautiful combs for Della's hair by selling his watch.
Why does the narrator attempt to teach his younger brother to walk / do physical activities?
He wants someone to compete with and have fun / brotherly activities with
What happens with the creature and the girl? What happens with the creature and the boy? (Half credit for one and not the other)
The girl is saved from drowning by the creature; the boy is killed by the creature.
What does Gary, one of our few named characters, find in this story?
He finds the body of a boy they had been searching for who'd never resurfaced after being pulled down by the tide.
What is an interview?
A conversation between two individuals where one is asking the other questions; sometimes formal, sometimes informal
What literary device does this story largely represent when you look at the entirety of it?
"Irony": they both sacrifice that which the other thought to complement with their gifts.
What is Doodle's real name and why did they stick to calling him by his nickname?
William Armstrong; "it was a name that only looked good on a tombstone"
Who is the young boy that the creature kills?
He's a Frankenstein, specifically Victor's younger brother.
Why is the symbol of hand-holding changed in this story?
Because the boy whose hand is held is dead
This term signifies a piece of writing about a time in the author's life; not the whole story.
Memoir
What is a central theme to this story? (Multiple / different answers accepted)
Sacrifice; unconditional love
What is visually striking about Doodle when Brother runs back to see where he's gone at the end of the story?
He's dead; specifically, he resembles the scarlet ibis, a bird that Doodle had been fascinated with / buried in their yard.
Why does the monster seek out the Dr. Frankenstein, his creator, according to the story? (Multiple answers accepted)
Seek revenge, express anger/despair, ask him for a companion.
What is the effect of the final sentence of the story, "Before that, it was simple summer day."?
Much more striking contrast to reality than if it had been a dark day.
This term signifies the act of judging and evaluating a piece of writing.
Literary Criticism