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    7. The Last Leaf - Class 9 - Moments

    Updated: May 30


    Author: O. Henry

    Textbook: Moments

    Genre: Short Story / Realistic Fiction



    📝 Summary


    “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry is a touching story about hope, friendship, and the healing power of selfless sacrifice. It revolves around two young artists, Sue and Johnsy, who live together in a small flat. Johnsy falls seriously ill with pneumonia and becomes hopeless, convinced she will die when the last leaf on an ivy creeper outside their window falls.


    Sue, worried about her friend, tries to cheer her up but fails. She seeks help from an old painter, Behrman, who has always wanted to paint a masterpiece. On a stormy night, when the last real leaf falls, Behrman paints a lifelike leaf on the wall to give Johnsy hope.


    Seeing the leaf still clinging to the vine the next morning, Johnsy regains her will to live and recovers. However, Behrman falls ill and dies of pneumonia, having risked his life to paint the masterpiece — the fake leaf that saved Johnsy. The story ends with the revelation of his sacrifice and leaves a lasting message about love, art, and selflessness.


    👤 Character Sketches


    Johnsy

    • A young artist who loses hope due to pneumonia.

    • Becomes mentally depressed and links her life to the falling leaves.

    • Regains her will to live after seeing the last “leaf” survive the storm.

    • Realizes the value of life and the care of her friends.


    Sue

    • Loyal, optimistic, and deeply caring friend.

    • Constantly tries to support and uplift Johnsy.

    • Shows maturity and emotional strength in a crisis.

    • Reflects the power of friendship and perseverance.


    Behrman

    • A sixty-year-old unsuccessful artist.

    • Dreams of painting a masterpiece.

    • Fulfills this dream by painting the last leaf that saves Johnsy’s life.

    • Sacrifices his life for the sake of hope and love — symbol of selfless heroism.


    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Hope and Willpower

    The last leaf gives Johnsy a reason to hope and fight her illness.

    Sacrifice

    Behrman gives up his life to help someone else survive.

    Friendship and Care

    Sue and Behrman both show deep love and care for Johnsy.

    Power of Art

    Art becomes a life-saving force when Behrman paints the leaf.

    Depression and Recovery

    The story explores mental health and the journey from despair to hope.

    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example / Function

    Symbolism

    The last leaf symbolises hope, strength, and survival.

    Irony

    Behrman dies to save someone else, yet achieves his masterpiece.

    Imagery

    Descriptions of the leaf and storm create vivid mental pictures.

    Foreshadowing

    Johnsy counts the leaves backward, showing her mental state.

    Personification

    The leaf “clinging” to the vine gives it a human-like strength.

    📖 Title Justification


    The title “The Last Leaf” is symbolic and central to the plot. It represents Johnsy’s will to live, which is directly connected to the survival of the last ivy leaf. The painted leaf gives her strength and restores her desire to survive. The leaf is also Behrman’s masterpiece, painted with courage and sacrifice. Thus, the title perfectly captures the emotional and symbolic core of the story.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions


    Q1. Who were Sue and Johnsy?

    👉 Sue and Johnsy were two young artists who lived together in a small flat in an old building.


    Q2. What illness did Johnsy suffer from?

    👉 Johnsy suffered from pneumonia and became mentally weak and depressed during her illness.

    Q3. What did Johnsy link her life with?

    👉 Johnsy believed that she would die when the last leaf on the ivy creeper outside her window fell.


    Q4. Who was Behrman?

    👉 Behrman was a sixty-year-old failed artist who lived on the ground floor and always talked about painting a masterpiece.


    Q5. What made Johnsy regain her will to live?

    👉 Seeing the last leaf still holding on after the storm gave Johnsy new hope and made her want to live.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions


    Q1. How did Behrman help save Johnsy’s life?

    👉 Behrman painted a realistic leaf on the wall when the last real leaf fell during the storm. The painted leaf gave Johnsy the false belief that the leaf had survived, which revived her hope and helped her recover.


    Q2. Why did Behrman call Johnsy “foolish”?

    👉 Behrman called Johnsy foolish because she had given up hope and believed that her life was dependent on a leaf falling. He thought it was irrational and wanted her to fight her illness instead.


    Q3. What happened to Behrman after he painted the leaf?

    👉 Behrman caught pneumonia after being out in the storm at night to paint the leaf. He was found cold and shivering the next day and died shortly afterward, sacrificing his life to save Johnsy.


    🧠 Value-Based Question


    Q. What message does the story "The Last Leaf" give to readers?

    👉 The story teaches that hope and the will to live can help overcome even the worst situations. It also shows that selfless acts of kindness, like Behrman’s sacrifice, can bring about life-changing results. It reminds us of the power of art, love, and human compassion in healing others.


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