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The Gift Of The Magi - Online Term Paper

The Gift Of The Magi

Stylistic Analysis of a Short Story "The Gift of the Magi"

In 1884 he started a humorous weekly The Rolling Stone. When the weekly failed, he joined the Houston Post as a reporter and columnist. In 1897 he was convicted of embezzling money, although there has been much debate over his actual guilt. In 1898 he entered a penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio.

While in prison O. Henry started to write short stories to earn money to support his daughter Margaret. His first work, "Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking" (1899), appeared in McClure's Magazine. After doing three years of the five years sentence, Porter emerged from the prison in 1901 and changed his name to O. Henry.

O. Henry ...

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in the collection Whirligigs (1910). The Heart Of The West (1907) presented tales of the Texas range. O. Henry published 10 collections and over 600 short stories during his lifetime.

O. Henry's last years were shadowed by alcoholism, ill health, and financial problems. He married Sara Lindsay Coleman in 1907, but the marriage was not happy, and they separated a year later. O. Henry died of cirrhosis of the liver on June 5, 1910, in New York. Three more collections, Sixes And Sevens (1911), Rolling Stones (1912) and Waifs And Strays (1917), appeared posthumously.

INTRODUCTION

It is a well-known fact that a literary text is comprehended better if it is studied in parallel with stylistic analysis which emphasizing the intended meanings of the text. In the light of this idea, I will try to analyze a short story of O. Henry which is called as "The Gift of the Magi". Before this, I believe that I should give a brief summary of the story.

Synopsis

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He sold the watch to buy her those nice combs.

This short story ds with the description part of the "Magi" who were wise men--wonderfully wise i n--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger.

Inference

The author tries to tell us the importance of sacrificing. The characters in the story are considered to be wise and passionate because they had each sacrificed their most valuable possessions for the person they loved.

They were like the three wise men -the Magi- who brought presents for Jesus Christ after he was born. And this is why Christians still give presents in Christmas Day.

Brief Information about the Stylistic Features

Main Characters; Della and Jim (They ...

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The Gift Of The Magi. (2012, May 30). Retrieved January 11, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Gift-Of-The-Magi/101068

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 5/30/2012 11:12:36 AM
Submitted By: Allisanda
Category: Book Reports
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 3401
Pages: 13

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