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The gift of the magi theme and meanings
Theme of gift of the magi
Gift of the magi story elements that contributed to the theme
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“But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile” (Henry 206). Tones can make a short story intriguing, emotional, and gripping. In "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry and "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst, the underlying themes of both short stories are about the love the main characters have for certain members of their family, both stories are somber and thoughtful, and the main characters are serious and family-oriented. Overall, this can lead to key tones in each book. Towards the beginning in "The Gift of the Magi," the short story is dreary and sad. Since Della can't afford anything for her husband for Christmas, "she stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard" (Henry …show more content…
Both, the authors of “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Scarlet Ibis” talk about the sorrow the characters face. In addition, in "The Scarlet Ibis," before the flashback of Doodle’s death, the house and swamp where they used to play was "...stained with rotting brown magnolia petals, and ironweeds grew rank amid the purple phlox" (Hurst 315). Both authors from “The Gift of the Magi” and “ The Scarlet Ibis” use the same type of word choice to describe the dull situation that the characters are in, which forms tone. Next, in “The Scarlet Ibis,” toward the end of the book, the brother feels lonely and scared when “the sound of rain was everywhere, but the wind had died,... As I waited, I peered through the downpour, but no one came” (Hurst 323). The short story ended with the same death-like tone it started with, so the tone never changed, however, in “The Gift of the Magi,” the story ended with an uplifting and happier tone than in the beginning, so the tone
Usually, a short story may contain profound thoughts. Writers always convey their ideas or opinions by offering several arguments in their productions. These arguments are essential to advancing the story and defining characters. In "Aunt Mary" written by Joseph Imperiale, we might identify three arguments here.
O. Henry is a very inspirational person, in “The Gift of the Magi,” he makes the story go a lot deeper than the words on the page, with a little something called symbolism. One thing he really specializes in is symbolism, certainly with adolescence, worriness, and timelessness in this story. Symbolism plays a huge role in the narrative, a role so big that without it, the story would be quite dull. Without symbolism, this story would not have half the meaning it does now, when you dig into the story, you discover how much Della and Jim really love one
In conclusion, James Hurst, author of The Scarlet Ibis, and Eugenia Collier, writer of Marigolds wrote short stories including a variety of emotions, yet the main feeling portrayed was regret. From ruining the last source of hope a person in a poverty stricken community has, to being a main factor in another person’s death, sorrow affected the narrators of both stories drastically. To sum up, James Hurst and Eugenia Collier both presented readers with stories involving recollections of regret due to a lack of selflessness.
The “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and ‘”The Hand” by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette are similar in theme and setting. Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette and Kate Chopin create the theme of obligatory love and the unhappiness it entails. Both stories illustrate the concealed emotions many women feel in their marriage yet fail to express them. The two stories take place in a sacred room of the house and both transpire in a brief amount of time. The differences between the two stories are seen through the author’s choice of characters in each story. In “The story of an Hour” Kate Chopin involves other characters in Mrs. Mallard’s life, whereas, “The Hand” deals with marriage and togetherness and only involves the husband and wife. Symbolism is seen all throughout “The Hand” not so in ‘The Story of an Hour.” The similarities in “The Story of an Hour” and “The Hand” is portrayed in theme and setting. The differences are illustrated in the choice of characters involved in each story and the amount of symbolism depicted in the different stories.
Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Tell-Tale Heart." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 7th ed. New York: Longman, 1999. 33-37.
Lots of people have received gift that is not particularly favored. Those people know exactly how Ana and Dori feel. Ana is a character in Erin Fanning’s “The Quinceanera Text”. Dori is a character in Rachel Vail’s story “Good Enough”. Both of these characters received disappointing gifts, but later the girls realized how much these present represent the love the families show towards the young ladies. “Good Enough and “The Quinceanera Text” have similarities and differences such as author's tone and types of characters.
For a writer, stylistic devices are key to impacting a reader through one’s writing and conveying a theme. For example, Edgar Allan Poe demonstrates use of these stylistic techniques in his short stories “The Masque of the Red Death” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The former story is about a party held by a wealthy prince hiding from a fatal disease, known as the Red Death. However, a personified Red Death kills all of the partygoers. “The Fall of the House of Usher” is about a man who visits his mentally ill childhood companion, Roderick Usher. At the climax of the story, Roderick’s twin sister, Madeline, murders him after he buries her alive. Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories employ the stylistic decisions of symbolism, dream-like imagery, and tone to affect the reader by furthering understanding of the theme and setting and evoking emotion in readers.
Throughout history writers have offered readers lessons through themes and often symbolized. In the story, “The Storm” by Kate Chopin is quite different from “The Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid; both have a different theme, symbol, throughout the stories. “The Storm” in Kate Chopin 's story can symbolize a number of different things: temporary, fleeting and quick action, and without consequences.
...ll’s House, both of the authors write their plots differently, discuss a similar issue where both the female characters conceal their secrets, encompass an alike theme of marriage, and contain diverse symbols. While both of the authors use a feminine main character to contain a secret, they also use a similar theme of marriage in their writing. As a result of her dishonorable act, Nora abandons her marriage when she finds out the reality of her marriage. Similarly, Chopin also inscribed the theme of marriage into her writing. As an outcome of her affair, Calixta’s marriage strengthens. However, both authors contain unique symbols in their writing. While the Christmas tree symbolizes Nora, the storm symbolizes the relationship Calixta had with Alcee. Both the drama and short story contain significant events, which teaches valuable lessons and ideals to the society.
While there are many more significant literary devices throughout the short story, symbolism and foreshadowing are the most prevalent. These devices enhance the story, because they keep the readers attention. Symbolism and foreshadowing help the reader better understand the characters and how the brother’s actions lead to the death of Doodle.
O. Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi,” is about a couple who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. The story takes place on Christmas Eve in a furnished apartment at eight dollars a week. I feel that the narrator mocks Jim and Della for being poor. “It did not beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.” (O. Henry 165). Della and Jim’s income shrunk from thirty dollars a week to twenty dollars a week causing them a great deal of financial problems. They both are troubled that Christmas is tomorrow and they cannot afford to buy each other a nice gift. Jim’s gold watch and Della’s hair play an important role in the story.
O.henry use of irony, mood and symbolism throughout the short story The Gift Of The Magi has greatly enhanced the reading experience of reading the story.
Several symbols in Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour" create a feeling of comfort, wellness, and wonderfulness within the reader's mind. The first symbol I will speak of is the "comfortable chair" which she sinks into after the news of her husbands' death. Then, I will speak of the open window, which she sits in front of through which she sees many symbols of things that are good. Finally, I will speak of the description of Mrs. Mallard herself and her comfortable situation, which will tie together all the symbols that create the feelings of comfort and wellness in the reader.
The Young’s are a very poor couple living in New York City. James and Della Young are both scrambling to get the other something for Christmas but, neither have enough money. Even though both of the Young’s decide to give up what is most precious to them for the other, both do it out of selfless love for one another. The young couple both lose in the end what is most precious to them. However, both do receive the ultimate gift from each other and that is the gift of unselfish love which is worth more than any physical object. The title “The Gift of the Magi” completes the true meaning of the story by comparing this unique gift of love the Young’s have with the love that Christ had for his people. The multiple themes of O. Henry’s story “The Gift of the Magi” are crucial to the reader’s understanding of the decisions made by the two main characters. The three main themes of generosity, love, and poverty ties the story together to show the reader what the best gift of all truly is.
Three elements of literary work that truly sum up the theme of The Tell Tale Heart are setting, character, and language. Through these elements we can easily see how guilt, an emotion, can be more powerful than insanity. Even the most demented criminal has feelings of guilt, if not remorse, for what he has done. This is shown exquisitely in Poe's writing. All three elements were used to their extreme to convey the theme. The balance of the elements is such that some flow into others. It is sometimes hard to distinguish one from another. Poe's usage of these elements shows his mastery not only over the pen, but over the mind as well.