Gift of the Magi Study Guide

What does the acronym STEAL in characterization represent?

Which point of view provides an unrestricted perspective on all characters' thoughts and feelings?

Which of the following words is synonymous with 'to initiate' or 'to provoke'?

Which vocabulary word describes something highly desired or wished for?

What type of narrator reports only observable actions and dialogue without delving into thoughts or feelings?

What is a characteristic of a reliable narrator?

Which point of view directly addresses the reader and creates a unique engagement?

In which type of narration does the narrator know the thoughts and feelings of all characters?

What distinguishes an unreliable narrator from a reliable one?

Which of the following narrators shares the story through their personal experience?

Gift of the Magi Study Guide

Author: O. Henry (William Sydney Porter)
Story Focus: Love and sacrifice in a struggling couple's life.
Character Analysis (STEAL): Understanding characters' motivations, emotions, appearance, relationships, and last thoughts.
Figurative Language: Identify and analyze similes, metaphors, personification, irony, etc.

Point of View (POV)

First Person POV: Told from the character's perspective ("I," "me," "my").
Second Person POV: Told from the reader's perspective ("you").
Third Person POV: Told from an external perspective.
- Objective Narrator: Presents facts without expressing opinions.
- Subjective Narrator: Expresses the narrator's opinions.
- Omniscient Narrator: Knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters.
- Limited Third-Person Narrator: Limited to the thoughts and feelings of one character.
- Reliable Narrator: Presents the story truthfully and without biases.
- Unreliable Narrator: Perspective is not trustworthy; their thoughts and opinions might be flawed.
**Alternating First Person Narrator:**The story shifts between telling from multiple first-person perspectives.

Vocabulary

Agile: Quick and light; able to move easily.
Assertion: A confident and forceful statement of fact.
Cascade: A large waterfall or a series of events that rapidly follow one another.
Chronicle: A detailed historical record.
Coveted: Strongly desired.
Inconsequential: Of little importance.
Instigate: To cause something to begin; to provoke.
Predominating: Most frequent or important; most noticeable.
Prudence: Careful judgment; wisdom.
Subside: To become less intense or decrease.

Explore O. Henry's poignant tale 'The Gift of the Magi' which focuses on love and sacrifice in a struggling couple's life. This study guide covers character analysis, figurative language, and various narrative perspectives to deepen your understanding of the story's themes and techniques.