高中英语选修课英语文学欣赏欧亨利Thegiftofthemagi《麦琪的礼物》学生版讲义资料

The Gift of the Magi①One dollar and eighty-seven cents.That was all.And sixty cents of it was in pennies.Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing(强迫;胁迫)the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony②that such close dealing implied.Three times Della counted it.One dollar and eightyeighty--seven cents.And the next day would be Christmas.There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.So Della did it.Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs,sniffles,and smiles,with sniffles predominating.③While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second,take a look at the home.④A furnished flat at$8per week.It did not exactly beggar description,but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.⑤In the vestibule(门厅;前厅)below was a letter-box into which no letter would go,and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring⑥.Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name"Mr.James Dillingham Young."⑦The"Dillingham"had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid$30per week.⑧Now,when the①麦琪（Magi，单数为Magus）：指圣婴基督出生时来自东方送礼的三贤人，载于《圣经·马太福音》第二章第一节和第七至第十三节。

The story opens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas. Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other.Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents.With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable (with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner.Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means.After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della's combs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi.Book Review of The Gift of the MagiⅠ.About the author: This book waswrote by O. Henry (1862~1910), whose real name was William Sydney Porter, and was born in North Carolina. His schooling was rudimentary, and after working in a drug store, he went to Texas in 1882; he became a rancher for a time, then a bank teller and journalist, founding a comic weekly magazine, The Rolling Stone (1894~1895) before being employed by the Houston Post to write a humorous daily column. In 1896 he was indicted for alleged embezzlement by the bank for which he had worked, and fled to Honduras. He returned three years latter to be with his dying wife, was arrested and spent three years in the federal penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. Here Porter started to write short stories under the pseudonym of O. Henry, thought to be adopted from a French pharmacist mentioned in the USDispensary, a reference book which Porter came across in his work in the prison pharmacy. His collections of stories include The Four Million(1906), Heart of the West (1907), The Trimmed Lamp(1907), The Gentle Grafter(1908), The Voice of the City(1908), Options(1909), Roads of Destiny(1909), Whirligigs and Strictly Business(1910).Ⅱ.Background: The extraordinary lifeand experiences of O. Henry inform all his stories. He is at home describing life south of the Rio Grande as he is with ‘the four million’-the ordinary inhabitants of teeming, tern-of the century Now York. Although he has been criticized for relying too much coincidence and contrived circumstance, O. Henry had a genuine sympathy for the down-trodden and oppressed which was unusual in writers of his era. And it is an era that he depicts with remarkable clarity; though some of the reportage some of theconversations may grate on those whose consciousness is attuned to political attitudes of the late twentieth century rather than the realities of the early twentieth century, the stories are valuable examples of how life was lived at a time when slavery and the Indian Wars were only a generation or so in the past.The Brief Introduction of people in story: The two protagonists are Jim andDella, and there is also a costar, Mme. Sofronie. Jim, who was called in that way only between he and his wife, and his real name was James Dillingham Young. He was a people loved his wife very much, and he had to burden a family in his twenty’s. And he needed a new coat and a pair of gloves because of the tough living condition. He was very punctual to go home, so his wife wouldn’t wait long. His payment was $30 per week, and at that time, he and his wife lived in a furnished flat at $8 per week, and towardIII.which was a letter-box, and an electric button. Also there was a card bearing the name ‘Mr. James Dillingham Young.’ So the led a happy life then. But, as times we nt by, his salary went to $20 per week, and no letter would go into it, no moral finger could hoax a ring with the electric button, the letters of ‘Dillingham’ looked blurred. Della, Jim’s wife, was a beautiful girl with long hair, which rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters, and it reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. Della complained about the reality and was anxious about the present she would give to Jim in Christmas. Also she loved her husband deeply. Mme. Sofronie, the manager of a barbershop, had much rich experience.IV.About the story: The storyopens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas.Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other. Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents. With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable(with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner. Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means. After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della'scombs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi.V.Writing Skills: There's not awhole lot of imagery or metaphor in this story. That makes the few Bible allusions stand out all the more. There's the whole "magi" reference. The last paragraph compares Jim and Della to the three wise men who, according to the Christian New Testament, delivered gifts to Jesus on the first Christmas (see "What's Up with The Title" for more on this comparison). In addition, there are two other Biblical allusions, both made in connection with Jim and Della's prize possessions. Della's hair is said to be so gorgeous that it would inspire envy in the Queen of Sheba. Jim's watchwould have been the envy of King Solomon. Both the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon are famous figures from the Old Testament. What do all three of these references have in common, besides being Biblical figures Well, they're all royal, very rich Biblical figures. The magi are often said to be kings, and brought Jesus three very expensive gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), while Sheba and Solomon were both powerful monarchs renowned for their wealth and splendor. The comparison of Jim and Della's possessions to those of Biblical figures helps bring out how precious those two items are to their owners; to Jim and Della they're treasures, which they giveaway. But that's not all the images of Solomon and Sheba do. By bringing them up, and by mentioning the magi, O. Henry creates a sharp contrast between their spectacular riches and the obvious poverty and Jim and Della. We have to wonder why O. Henry would dothat. Because ultimately the story wants us to think about what it means to be truly rich. Where it really counts, Jim and Della are as rich as Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and the magi, because they love each other. Just like the magi and Solomon (both figures famous for their wisdom), they're also wise, as the last paragraph tells us. The Biblical imagery also beefs up the story's credibility as a parable. By invoking the Bible at moments, O. Henry makes "Gift of the Magi" feel more morally weighty.VI.After reading: Have you ever lovedsomeone and wanted to find him or her just the perfect present Our bet is you have. Could be your mom, could be your significant other. And once you're in that gift-giving frame of mind, you're in the situation of Della, the main character from "The Gift of the Magi." That's why whenever the Christmas season rolls around; people (and television networks) go infor this story big time. You'll probably also face the same questions Della did. What is a perfect gift And how much (money, time, etc.) are you willing to give up to finding something that would really matter to that person You might even be lead to some surprisingly large questions. What really matters, and what's really valuable For a short, simple, and delightful way of assuring yourself that "all you need is love," this story's hard to beat. Read it to get a major case of the warm and fuzzies. Though it might also make you think more carefully about just what "love" means. Besides all that, to be honest, you've probably encountered this story somewhere even if you didn't know it. You might have seen it filtered through Sesame Street (which lodged it forever in your child subconscious), or you might have seen it recently parodied while watching The Simpsons. "The Gift of theMagi" is the original, though, and in our opinion, nothing's really touched it. It's hard not to be charmed by O. Henry's storytelling style.The Gift of the Magi is more than a nice Christmas story. It is a classic tale of sacrifice, irony, and wisdom gained. The story takes place on the day before Christmas, when a newlywed husband and wife long to buy the perfect holiday gifts for one another. Unfortunately, they have very little money, but they are determined. Della makes the difficult decision to sacrifice something of great value in order to raise the money to buy Jim a chain for his inherited gold pocket watch. Jim comes up with a similar solution so that he can buy a lovely set of ivory combs for his wife’s beautiful long hair. The conclusion of the story is poignant and touching, as realization sets in as to what they have done. In their efforts to please one another, they have lost two of the mostvaluable objects they owned, yet in the process may have gained something of much greater value. It is thought that this stor y reflects somewhat on the author’s own relationship with his wife as she struggled with poor health, even while he fled the country to avoid arrest for bank embezzlement. In spite of his problems, he returned to be with her in her final days. The Gift of the Magi is one of the most well-known stories of O. Henry, a pen name for William Sydney Porter.A definitive master of the short story, his tales tell of love and loss, deception and truth, loyalty and betrayal. He breathes life into his characters, who are rich and poor, young and old, the best and the worst of humanity… Through believable conversation and vivid description, he tells amazing, witty, and appealing stories that are inevitably peppered with twists of fate, chance encounters, and unavoidable meetings with destiny. Many editions of The Gift of the Magi have been published since it was written at the turn of the century, including children’s picture books. The story is most commonly ifound in various collected works of the author.“The Gi ft of the Magi”Title By O. Henry Author Important Characters: *Della- has a very beautiful long hair. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. *Jim- husband of Della. He has a golden wrist watch which was used to own by his grandfather and father. Synopsis: It was Christmas Day tomorrow, but Della had only $1.87 to buy Jim a special present. And the only precious thing they had was Jim’s golden wrist watch; in addition, was her beautiful long brown hair which reached to her knees. But she really wanted to buy a gift for Jim so she went to a hair and beauty parlor. She sold her hair for $20. And she bought a platinum fob chain for Jim’s wrist watch. When she got home, she fixed herself wondering if Jim would still love her. After forty minutes, she heard his footsteps. She whispered a silent prayer. She wished that she would still be looked pretty for him. The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. His coat and gloves were worn out. She became conscious because of the way he stares at her. Without asking why, she explained the reason why she had to do that because she wanted to buy him a special gift. And she told him that she really loved him. Then he asked why she would have to do that. But sh e thought that Jim wasn’t loved her because she has now a short hair, so Jim told her that before she doubt his love for her, he told her to unwrapped the package he brought. She saw beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jeweled rims—just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair that Della had worshipped for long. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone, but she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and said to him that her hair grew fast.Then she gave to him the platinum fob chain. She proudly told him that she had searched for it all over the town. She asked him to put it on to his watch but instead of obeying, Jim smiled and said that put their Christmas presents away and keep them a while because they''re too nice to use just at present because he sold the watch to get the money to buy her combs. Comments/reaction: The magi, as we know, were wise men that brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here the author have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. The story contains Porter’s characteristic ironic plot twists and surprise ending. And I have learned that we always need trust our love ones, because sometimes we misunderstood the way they react to such situations. Always put in mind that they want the best for us. Trust not only them, but have faith also in God. Even if there are times that things happen not the way we expect, don’t doubt His love. R emember that when trials go worst, He has a purpose for that and He’s planning the best for you!。

《麦琪的礼物》英语3篇《麦琪的礼物》英语篇1“Love is the best gift.”O.Henry told us,in oneof his most famous novels,The Gift of The Magi.O.Henry is said to be the most gifted and famous American short-story novelist in the world.As one of his major works,The Gift of The Magi tells us a story about a couple in the low social class.With the ing of Christmas，both of them want to give the other agift.As a result,the young wife,Della,sells her beautiful long hair to buy a platinum fob chain to descorate the watch of her husband,Jim.While at the same time,Jim sacrifice his most valuable golden watch to buy his wife a jewelled b.To be honest,we have to say that it is an unfortunate accident.Both of them sacrifice their most treasured things for the other.But when things turn out,it seems that what they have done is meaningless.However,in the other way,although theydon’t receive the gift they need,they receive the love from the other.And no matter what will happen in the future,they will remember that the most valuableis neither the long beautiful hair nor the golden watch,but the people who live with us.”Love is the best gift.”That is what the writer wants to tell us.《麦琪的礼物》英语篇2The Gift of the Magi is a short story wrote byO.Henry.This story tells that in the day before Christmas,a poor young couple exchanged gifts by sold the most precious thing of each,but resulted ordetracted, the two precious gifts all became useless things.While they got the most precious thing than any material objects——love.After read this story,I learned how to respect others’ love and how to love others.In thisstory,they all lost the most valuable things——Jim’s golden watch and Della’s beautiful hair. Behind this, I saw they loved each other infinitely.They lovedtheir family, they let me feel that cold Christmas Evehas bee the warm heaven just because of their gifts.If Della only took one dollar and eighty-seven centsto pick gift,this story will probably lacking of shocking, and also cannot cause readers’ thinking.In this materialistic society, people often use money to measure gifts.When bags of gifts which are packaging delicately in front of us,what can we see except empty and blank? Parents feel happy because of our simple greeting cards in their birthday,because of a few words of blessing.These gifts,simple but true.It can’t be pared with those which built with a lot of money, outlined by luxuriance. What clever gifts! In some sense, they are invaluable.Maybe some people will pour scorn on it and cannot understand what their done. If there is a good fortune and a sincere feeling in front of you at the same time, which one will you choose? I wouldn't hesitate to choose the later, because sincere feeling is priceless!I believe that true pay will have sincere return finally, and the one who have true love can have hisor her happiness.Nowadays,more and more people have been pressed to lose their breath by the reality.They forgot the persons they love,and the persons who love them.We need to care about others,no matter how much money we have.What our loved one need is how our concern about him or her. In some important days,don’t forget to bring him or her some gifts.No matter what is it,how valuable is it,he or she would like it anyway.Because it is the gift of the Magi.《麦琪的礼物》英语篇3“Gift of the Magi” is the O. Henry wrote an interesting article. It is mainly about the day before Christmas, the poor living in the apartment of la would like to give her husband Jim a surprise, but she is only one dollar octagonal seven, she knew it wasnot enough money to buy any good gift, so she cited to be proud of brown hair cut down like a waterfall, sell, and in exchange for the 20 U.S. dollars. Exhausted all of the individual shops, De la spent 21 dollars, and finally bought a simple white gold watch chain, whichcan be acpanied by a piece of Jim's gold watch. And Jim also wanted to give his wife a surprise, he also sold proud gold watch.Bought a la the envy of the long-awaited full set of beautiful bs for Christmas gifts.。

The story opens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas. Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other.Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents.With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable (with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner.Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means.After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della's combs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi.Book Review of The Gift of the MagiⅠ.About the author: This book waswrote by O. Henry (1862~1910), whose real name was William Sydney Porter, and was born in North Carolina. His schooling was rudimentary, and after working in a drug store, he went to Texas in 1882; he became a rancher for a time, then a bank teller and journalist, founding a comic weekly magazine, The Rolling Stone (1894~1895) before being employed by the Houston Post to write a humorous daily column. In 1896 he was indicted for alleged embezzlement by the bank for which he had worked, and fled to Honduras. He returned three years latter to be with his dying wife, was arrested and spent three years in the federal penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. Here Porter started to write short stories under the pseudonym of O. Henry, thought to be adopted from a French pharmacist mentioned in the USDispensary, a reference book which Porter came across in his work in the prison pharmacy. His collections of stories include The Four Million(1906), Heart of the West (1907), The Trimmed Lamp(1907), The Gentle Grafter(1908), The Voice of the City(1908), Options(1909), Roads of Destiny(1909), Whirligigs and Strictly Business(1910).Ⅱ.Background: The extraordinary lifeand experiences of O. Henry inform all his stories. He is at home describing life south of the Rio Grande as he is with ‘the four million’-the ordinary inhabitants of teeming, tern-of the century Now York. Although he has been criticized for relying too much coincidence and contrived circumstance, O. Henry had a genuine sympathy for the down-trodden and oppressed which was unusual in writers of his era. And it is an era that he depicts with remarkable clarity; though some of the reportage some of theconversations may grate on those whose consciousness is attuned to political attitudes of the late twentieth century rather than the realities of the early twentieth century, the stories are valuable examples of how life was lived at a time when slavery and the Indian Wars were only a generation or so in the past.The Brief Introduction of people in story: The two protagonists are Jim andDella, and there is also a costar, Mme. Sofronie. Jim, who was called in that way only between he and his wife, and his real name was James Dillingham Young. He was a people loved his wife very much, and he had to burden a family in his twenty’s. And he needed a new coat and a pair of gloves because of the tough living condition. He was very punctual to go home, so his wife wouldn’t wait long. His payment was $30 per week, and at that time, he and his wife lived in a furnished flat at $8 per week, and towardIII.which was a letter-box, and an electric button. Also there was a card bearing the name ‘Mr. James Dillingham Young.’ So the led a happy life then. But, as times we nt by, his salary went to $20 per week, and no letter would go into it, no moral finger could hoax a ring with the electric button, the letters of ‘Dillingham’ looked blurred. Della, Jim’s wife, was a beautiful girl with long hair, which rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters, and it reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. Della complained about the reality and was anxious about the present she would give to Jim in Christmas. Also she loved her husband deeply. Mme. Sofronie, the manager of a barbershop, had much rich experience.IV.About the story: The storyopens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas.Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other. Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents. With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable(with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner. Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means. After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della'scombs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi.V.Writing Skills: There's not awhole lot of imagery or metaphor in this story. That makes the few Bible allusions stand out all the more. There's the whole "magi" reference. The last paragraph compares Jim and Della to the three wise men who, according to the Christian New Testament, delivered gifts to Jesus on the first Christmas (see "What's Up with The Title" for more on this comparison). In addition, there are two other Biblical allusions, both made in connection with Jim and Della's prize possessions. Della's hair is said to be so gorgeous that it would inspire envy in the Queen of Sheba. Jim's watchwould have been the envy of King Solomon. Both the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon are famous figures from the Old Testament. What do all three of these references have in common, besides being Biblical figures Well, they're all royal, very rich Biblical figures. The magi are often said to be kings, and brought Jesus three very expensive gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), while Sheba and Solomon were both powerful monarchs renowned for their wealth and splendor. The comparison of Jim and Della's possessions to those of Biblical figures helps bring out how precious those two items are to their owners; to Jim and Della they're treasures, which they giveaway. But that's not all the images of Solomon and Sheba do. By bringing them up, and by mentioning the magi, O. Henry creates a sharp contrast between their spectacular riches and the obvious poverty and Jim and Della. We have to wonder why O. Henry would dothat. Because ultimately the story wants us to think about what it means to be truly rich. Where it really counts, Jim and Della are as rich as Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and the magi, because they love each other. Just like the magi and Solomon (both figures famous for their wisdom), they're also wise, as the last paragraph tells us. The Biblical imagery also beefs up the story's credibility as a parable. By invoking the Bible at moments, O. Henry makes "Gift of the Magi" feel more morally weighty.VI.After reading: Have you ever lovedsomeone and wanted to find him or her just the perfect present Our bet is you have. Could be your mom, could be your significant other. And once you're in that gift-giving frame of mind, you're in the situation of Della, the main character from "The Gift of the Magi." That's why whenever the Christmas season rolls around; people (and television networks) go infor this story big time. You'll probably also face the same questions Della did. What is a perfect gift And how much (money, time, etc.) are you willing to give up to finding something that would really matter to that person You might even be lead to some surprisingly large questions. What really matters, and what's really valuable For a short, simple, and delightful way of assuring yourself that "all you need is love," this story's hard to beat. Read it to get a major case of the warm and fuzzies. Though it might also make you think more carefully about just what "love" means. Besides all that, to be honest, you've probably encountered this story somewhere even if you didn't know it. You might have seen it filtered through Sesame Street (which lodged it forever in your child subconscious), or you might have seen it recently parodied while watching The Simpsons. "The Gift of theMagi" is the original, though, and in our opinion, nothing's really touched it. It's hard not to be charmed by O. Henry's storytelling style.The Gift of the Magi is more than a nice Christmas story. It is a classic tale of sacrifice, irony, and wisdom gained. The story takes place on the day before Christmas, when a newlywed husband and wife long to buy the perfect holiday gifts for one another. Unfortunately, they have very little money, but they are determined. Della makes the difficult decision to sacrifice something of great value in order to raise the money to buy Jim a chain for his inherited gold pocket watch. Jim comes up with a similar solution so that he can buy a lovely set of ivory combs for his wife’s beautiful long hair. The conclusion of the story is poignant and touching, as realization sets in as to what they have done. In their efforts to please one another, they have lost two of the mostvaluable objects they owned, yet in the process may have gained something of much greater value. It is thought that this stor y reflects somewhat on the author’s own relationship with his wife as she struggled with poor health, even while he fled the country to avoid arrest for bank embezzlement. In spite of his problems, he returned to be with her in her final days. The Gift of the Magi is one of the most well-known stories of O. Henry, a pen name for William Sydney Porter.A definitive master of the short story, his tales tell of love and loss, deception and truth, loyalty and betrayal. He breathes life into his characters, who are rich and poor, young and old, the best and the worst of humanity… Through believable conversation and vivid description, he tells amazing, witty, and appealing stories that are inevitably peppered with twists of fate, chance encounters, and unavoidable meetings with destiny. Many editions of The Gift of the Magi have been published since it was written at the turn of the century, including children’s picture books. The story is most commonly ifound in various collected works of the author.“The Gi ft of the Magi”Title By O. Henry Author Important Characters: *Della- has a very beautiful long hair. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. *Jim- husband of Della. He has a golden wrist watch which was used to own by his grandfather and father. Synopsis: It was Christmas Day tomorrow, but Della had only $1.87 to buy Jim a special present. And the only precious thing they had was Jim’s golden wrist watch; in addition, was her beautiful long brown hair which reached to her knees. But she really wanted to buy a gift for Jim so she went to a hair and beauty parlor. She sold her hair for $20. And she bought a platinum fob chain for Jim’s wrist watch. When she got home, she fixed herself wondering if Jim would still love her. After forty minutes, she heard his footsteps. She whispered a silent prayer. She wished that she would still be looked pretty for him. The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. His coat and gloves were worn out. She became conscious because of the way he stares at her. Without asking why, she explained the reason why she had to do that because she wanted to buy him a special gift. And she told him that she really loved him. Then he asked why she would have to do that. But sh e thought that Jim wasn’t loved her because she has now a short hair, so Jim told her that before she doubt his love for her, he told her to unwrapped the package he brought. She saw beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jeweled rims—just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair that Della had worshipped for long. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone, but she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and said to him that her hair grew fast.Then she gave to him the platinum fob chain. She proudly told him that she had searched for it all over the town. She asked him to put it on to his watch but instead of obeying, Jim smiled and said that put their Christmas presents away and keep them a while because they''re too nice to use just at present because he sold the watch to get the money to buy her combs. Comments/reaction: The magi, as we know, were wise men that brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here the author have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. The story contains Porter’s characteristic ironic plot twists and surprise ending. And I have learned that we always need trust our love ones, because sometimes we misunderstood the way they react to such situations. Always put in mind that they want the best for us. Trust not only them, but have faith also in God. Even if there are times that things happen not the way we expect, don’t doubt His love. R emember that when trials go worst, He has a purpose for that and He’s planning the best for you!。

the_gift_of_the_magi麦琪的礼物英文版欧亨利pT h e G i f t o f t h e M a g i O NE DOLLAR AND EIGHTY-SEVEN CENTS.That was all. She had put it aside, one cent and then another and then another, in her careful buying of meat and other food. Della counted it three times. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.There was nothing to do but fall on the bed and cry. So Della did it.While the lady of the home is slowly growing quieter, we can look at the home. Furnished rooms at a cost of $8 a week. There is lit-tle more to say about it.In the hall below was a letter-box too small to hold a letter. There was an electric bell, but it could not make a sound. Also there was a name beside the door: “Mr. James Dillingham Young.”When the name was placed there, Mr. James Dillingham Young was being paid $30 a week. Now, when he was being paid only $20 a week, the name seemed too long and important. It should perhaps have been “Mr. James D. Young.” But when Mr. James Dillingham Young entered the furnished rooms, his name became very short indeed. Mrs. James Dillingham Young put her arms warmly about him and called him “Jim.” You have already met her. She is Della.Della finished her crying and cleaned the marks of it from her face. She stood by the window and looked out with no interest. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a gift. She had put aside as much as she couldfor months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week is not much. Everything had cost more than she had expected. It always happened like that.Only $ 1.87 to buy a gift for Jim. Her Jim. She had had many happy hours planning something nice for him. Something nearly good enough. Something almost worth the honor of belonging to Jim.There was a looking-glass between the windows of the room. Per-haps you have seen the kind of looking-glass that is placed in $8 fur-nished rooms. It was very narrow. A person could see only a little of himself at a time. However, if he was very thin and moved very quickly, he might be able to get a good view of himself. Della, being quite thin, had mastered this art.Suddenly she turned from the window and stood before the glass. Her eyes were shining brightly, but her face had lost its color. Quickly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its complete length.The James Dillingham Youngs were very proud of two things which they owned. One thing was Jim’s gold watch. It had once belonged to his father. And, long ago, it had belonged to his father’s father. The other thing was Della’s hair.If a queen had lived in the rooms near theirs, Della would have washed and dried her hair where the queen could see it. Della knew her hair was more beautiful than a ny queen’s jewels and gifts.If a king had lived in the same house, with all his riches, Jim would have looked at his watch every time they met. Jim knew that no kinghad anything so valuable.So now Della’s beautiful hair fell about her, shining like afalling stream of brown water. It reached below her knee. It almost made itself into a dress for her.And then she put it up on her head again, nervously and quickly. Once she stopped for a moment and stood still while a tear or two ran down her face.She put on her old brown coat. She put on her old brown hat. With the bright light still in her eyes, she moved quickly out the door and down to the street.Where she stopped, the sign said: “Mrs. Sofronie. Hair Articles of all Kinds.”Up to the second floor Della ran, and stopped to get her breath.Mrs. Sofronie, large, too white, cold-eyed, looked at her.“Will you buy my hair?” asked Della.“I buy hair,” said Mrs. Sofronie. “T ake your hat off and let me look at it.”Down fell the brown waterfall.“Twenty dollars,” said Mrs. Sofronie, lifting the hair to feel its weight.“Give it to me quick,” said Della.Oh, and the next two hours seemed to fly. She was going from one shop to another, to find a gift for Jim.She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. There was no other like it in any of the shops, and she had looked in every shop in the city.It was a gold watch chain, very simply made. Its value was in its rich and pure material. Because it was so plain and simple, you knew that it was very valuable. All good things are like this.It was good enough for The Watch.As soon as she saw it, she knew that Jim must have it. It waslike him. Quietness and value—Jim and the chain both had quietness and value. She paid twenty-one dollars for it. And she hurried home with the chain and eighty-seven cents.With that chain on his watch, Jim could look at his watch and learn the time anywhere he might be. Though the watch was so fine, it had never had a fine chain. He sometimes took it out and looked at it only when no one could see him do it.When Della arrived home, her mind quieted a little. She began to think more reasonably. She started to try to cover the sad marks of what she had done. Love and large-hearted giving, when added together, can leave deep marks. It is never easy to cover these marks, dear friends—never easy.Within forty minutes her head looked a little better. With her short hair, she looked wonderfully like a schoolboy. She stood at the looking-glass for a long time.“If Jim doesn’t kill me,” she said to herself, “before he looks at me a second time, he’ll say I look like a girl who sings and dances for money. But what could I do—oh! What could I do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents?”At seven, Jim’s dinner was ready for him.Jim was never late. Della held the watch chain in her hand and sat near the door where he always entered. Then she heard his step in the hall and her face lost color for a moment. She often said little prayers quietly, about simple everyday things. And now she said: “Please God, make him think I’m still pretty.”The door opened and Jim stepped in. He looked very thin and he was not smiling. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two—and with a fam-ily to take care of! He needed a new coat and he had nothing to cover his cold hands.Jim stopped inside the door. He was as quiet as a huntingdog when it is near a bird. His eyes looked strangely at Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not understand. It filled her with fear. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor anything she had been ready for. He simply looked at her with that strange expression on his face.Della went to him.“Jim, dear,” she cried, “don’t look at me like that. I had my hair cut off and sold it. I couldn’t live through Christmas without giving you agift. My hair will grow again. You won’t care, will you? My hair grows very fast. It’s Christmas, Jim. Let’s be happy. You don’t know what a nice—what a beautiful nice gift I got for you.”“You’ve cut off your hair?” asked Jim slowly. H e seemed to labor to understand what had happened. He seemed not to feel sure he knew.“Cut it off and sold it,” said Della. “Don’t you like me now? I’m me, Jim. I’m the same without my hair.”Jim looked around the room.“You say your hair is gone?” he said.“You don’t have to look for it,” said Della. “It’s sold, I tell you—sold and gone, too. It’s the night before Christmas, boy. Be good to me, because I sold it for you. Maybe the hairs of my head could be counted,” she said, “but no one could ever cou nt my love for you. Shall we eat dinner, Jim?”Jim put his arms around his Della. For ten seconds let us look in another direction. Eight dollars a week or a million dollars a year— how different are they? Someone may give you an answer, but it will be wrong. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. My meaning will be explained soon.From inside the coat, Jim took something tied in paper. Hethrew it upon the table.“I want you to understand me, Dell,” he said. “Nothing like a haircut c ould make me love you any less. But if you’ll open that, you may know what I felt when I came in.”White fingers pulled off the paper. And then a cry of joy; and then a change to tears.For there lay The Combs—the combs that Della had seen in a shop window and loved for a long time. Beautiful combs, with jewels, perfect for her beautiful hair. She had known they cost too much for her to buy them. She had looked at them without the least hope of owning them. And now they were hers, but her hair was gone.But she held them to her heart, and at last was able to look up and say: “My hair grows so fast, Jim!”And then she jumped up and cried, “Oh, oh!”Jim had not yet seen his beautiful gift. She held it out to him in her open hand. The gold seemed to shine softly as if with her own warm and loving spirit.“Isn’t it perfect, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You’ll have to look at your watch a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch.I want to see how they look together.”Jim sat down and smiled.“Della,” said he, “let’s put our Christmas gifts away and keep them a while. They’re too nice to use now. I sold the watch to get the money to buy the combs. And now I think we should have our dinner.”The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men— who brought gifts to the newborn Christ-child. They were the first to give Christmas gifts. Being wise, their gifts weredoubtless wise ones. And here I have told you the story of two children who were not wise. Each sold the most valuable thing he owned in order to buy a gift for the other. But let me speak a last word to the wise of these days: Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the most wise. Everywhere they are the wise ones. They are the magi.。

麦琪的礼物原文麦琪的礼物读后感英文作文It’s a short story by O.Henry that has moved me for a long time.Maybe most of you are familar with its name,that is,The Gift of the Magi.I have read it many times but every time I like to read it slowly and deliberately.I think “The Gift of the Magi”is meant to be savored.Maybe there is no necessity for me to repeat the main idea of the story.But I’mso fascinated with the short story that I want to retell it yo you,and to myself.It happened to a very poor but blissful young couple named Jim and Della in the end of 18th century in England.Because of the maladies of that society and the effect of economic crisis,they worked hard but earned little.Life is very hard for them.Despite of this,their love to each other and the enthusiasm for life didn’t changed at all.When Chrismas day was approuching ,Della used the money she got from selling her beautiful hair which she treasured very much to give Jim a fob for his grandfather’s pocketwatch.But Jim had already sold that watch to buy Della t ortoiseshell bs to wear in her long hair,not knowing she’d cut it off.It appears that the gifts they gave each other have been useless.But I think they gave each other the best of what they had to make the other happy.Isn’t that true love?We can image,in such rough conditions,as it said in the story,”Life is made up of sobs,sniffles,and smiles,with sniffles predominating.”Its’t absolute reasonable for them to be beaten by the misery.But the fact is that no matter how tough life had been,they would’t lo se heart.With strong faith and their love ,they did their best to make the other pleased.”Whennever Mr. James came home and reached his flat ,above he was called ‘Jim’and greatly hugged by Mrs. James.”Maybe this account is the best description of their love and struggle against hard life.It was said that the povertier life is ,the firmer and truer love is.”Actually,they’d given the very best they had out of love.“They are too foolish children in a flat,who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house.But in a last word,to the wise of these days,let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest.”Said the writer in the lastparagraph.Yes,they are wisest.They are the magi.Are there any reasons for us not to show respect for the young couple?I remind my grandparents.They have spent fifty years together.No romantic words,no stirring behaviours,just man even pedestrian life.But I can say love exists in every detail of their life.They have gone through war period,three years’ natural disasters,cultural revolution and so on.But no matter what happens,they are always considering for the other.Even now both of them have e old step by step,they still cared about each other.My grandparents,in my opinion,is a pair of lovers forever.Love has nothing to do with money,possession or status.It’s consideration,tolerance and respect.It’s giving one’s best to the other even it means sacrifice.It’s affection which connects two persons’ hearts,and it’s reinforced by ad versities.Struggle against adversities.Nothing did they have,at least they owened love.Never give up as long as love exists.From”The Gift of the Magi”,from Jim and Della and from my grandparents,I have learned a lot about love,life and hope.。

the gift of the magi 赏析英文原版小说“The gift of the Magi”（麦琪的礼物）中，女主Della卖掉自己视若珍宝的长发为心爱的丈夫换来“宝贵”的圣诞礼物，丈夫深深地将其拥入怀中。

在这里，作者留给男女主人公一些空间享受温存的同时，带领读者做了些深层次的思考：For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight dollars a week or a million a year---what is the difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark assertion will be illuminated later on.让我们先花10秒钟时间换个角度审视一些小问题。

一周8美元或一年100万----有什么区别呢？数学家或者机智风趣的人给出的答案可能是错误的。

麦琪（为耶稣）带来了宝贵的礼物，但这却无关乎财富的多与少。

稍后你就会明白我为什么这么说了。

这段内容的难点在最后两句话：“The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark ass ertion will be illuminated later on.”the Magi：指的是耶稣诞生时，过来送礼物的三个贤人（wise men)，有时也被说成是三个国王；他们送给耶稣的礼物有黄金、乳香和殁药（分别象征尊贵、圣洁和希望），有人说他们开创了圣诞节送礼物的传统。

The Gift of the MagiThe Gift of the Magi is a short story by O. Henry which has moved people for a long time throughout the world. And it is beyond controversy that it will be impressed by more people in the coming centuries.It happened to a very poor but blissful充满喜悦的 young couple named Jim and Della in the end of 18th century in England. Because of the maladies(腐败；疾病) of that society and the effect of economic crisis, the poor couple worked hard while earned little. Life is exceedingly hard for them. In spite of the difficulties in their everyday life, their love to each other and the enthusiasm for life didn't change at all. When Christmas day was around the corner, Della used the money she got from selling her beautiful hair which she treasured very much to give Jim a fob for his grandfather's pocket watch. While at the same time Jim had already sold exactly that watch to buy Della tortoiseshell combs to wear in her long beautiful hair, not knowing that she had just cut it off.It appears that the gifts they gave to each other became useless. However the fact is that no matter how tough life had been, they wouldn't lose heart.With strong faith in life and their love to each other, they did their best to make the other pleased."Whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called ‘Jim’ and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young." Maybe this account is the best description of theirlove and their struggling against hard life. It was said that the poverties life is what the firmer and truer love is. Actually, they'd given the very best they had out of love."They are too foolish children in a flat, who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word, to the wise of these days,let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest." Said the writer O. Henry in the last paragraph ofthis short story. Yes, they are wisest. They are the magi.Love has nothing to do with money, possession or status. It's consideration, tolerance and respect. It's giving one's best to the other even it means sacrifice. It's affection which connects two individuals' hearts, and it's reinforced by adversities.Jim and Della, though they are only the small potatoes who live in the lower classes, they never lose their fervency to their lives and love each other deeply, penury(贫困) is so insignificant when it is in this warm sentiment. At the Christmas' Eve, they were still thinking about the presents they should give to each other, how romantic it is! Even though it seemed that these presents isn't useful anymore, they have been the most costful one in the world, like a sincere love to each other. Jim and Della immolated（牺牲）their most precious things for the other unadvisably. Amongall the people who gave presents this young couple was the most brilliant one. Among all the people who not only give but also receive, this young couple was also the most brilliant one. This invaluable无价的 thing, however, any of the personwho always thinks he is the most brilliant or richest could not has it, and could never give it to others either.It is not surprising that The Gift of the Magi still enjoys such widespread fame, for in this trite（平庸的）little tale of mutual self-sacrifice between husband and wife, O. Henry crystallized（使具体化；使结晶） dramatically what the world in all its stored-up wisdom knows to be of fundamental value in ordinary family life. Unselfish love shared, regardless of the attendant difficulties or distractions--this is the idea repeatedly implied as a criterion in his fictional treatment of domestic affairs. If such love is present, life can be a great adventure transcending all drabness; if it is absent, nothing else can take its place.小说以礼物作为叙事发展线索，分为三个部分：第一部分：主要叙述女主人公德拉为丈夫买礼物的事。