Full name: Nguyễn Mai Chi

Student’s code: 20128158

Subject: Introduction to Literature
EXERCISES
1. REFLECTION of The last leaf – O. Henry
 I am interested in Behrman most (I was touched by his sacrifice for just a stranger.
Perhaps in real life, there are rarely people who are ready to help strangers
unconditionally as Behrman).
 I learned the following lessons :
 Don't lose hope even in difficult situations. Because Johnsy was hopeless
and pessimistic all the time => no longer believe in living anymore though
Sue’s caring. Therefore, let’s view the world by the positive attitude and go
easy on ourselves=> nothing makes us hopeless.
 Our hopelessness that could affect another. Because Johnsy despaired,
Behrman was dead. In real life: a student was dead by jumping from
 If I were Behrman, I would do the same action. Now that I was old as well as got
pneumonia, the chances are I have a 100% chance to live is 0. Therefore, I would
sacrifice my whole life to the happiness of Johnsy- a young girl who has more
chance to live than me.
 Question :
 What if Johnsy realized that it was just a painting in the end, whether or not she
would be hopeless and pessimistic again?
+ Perhaps, she would continue living to make Behrman’s sacrifice worthy (the
last leaf may be merely an excuse for the heartlessness of her life => no chance she
would be silly again.)
+ Or she would be despaired and pessimistic again due to being deceived by
Behrman.
 What if both Johnsy and Sue realized it was merely a painting, but still acting
like they didn't figure it out?
+ Sue didn’t say because she didn't want to make Johnsy despaired.
+ She was by the death of Behrman, so she holds a belief that the last leaf was
in honor of loving that Behrman gave her and believed that it was a real leaf at
least in her mind.
 Even though Behrman looks fierce, rude, and unfriendly; he is literally a good
person “…a fierce little, old man with red eyes….”.
 Perhaps his old age made him lonely when no one stood by him, so he considered
Sue and Johnsy as his daughters=> he cared about them. “What!” he cried…“Are there
such fools? Do people die because leaves drop off a tree?”
  He was angry when knowing about Johnsy’s stupid idea about her life=> Because
he loves Johnsy so he reacted like that “Old Behrman was angered at such an idea. “Are
there people….{… }…is not any place in which one so good as Miss Johnsy shall lie
sick,” yelled Behrman.”
 Behrman said “No, I will not come up and sit while you make a picture of
me”, maybe he might think that he would both sit and think to find the way to help
Johnsy (by drawing the last leaf) while Sue was drawing him instead of just sitting.
 Perhaps after hearing the story’s Johnsy, Behrman may decide that it’s time to start
drawing his own masterpiece, so he may know that the last leaf was his masterpiece, “…
God! This is not any place for someone so good as Johnsy to lie sick. Some day I shall
paint my masterpiece, and we shall all go away from here. God! Yes….”.
 Behrman may not know about his serious illness “Some day I shall paint my
masterpiece, and we shall all go away from here”.
 He didn’t talk to Sue about his idea, perhaps because
 There is one thing that I found interesting is the relationship between Sue and
Johnsy. They may be a couple because of the way Sue talked to Johnsy “Johnsy, dear,
said Sue,“ and her behaviors “I’d rather be here by you,” said Sue”; “A man?” said
Sue. “Is a man worth—No, doctor. There is not a man.”

2.REFLECTION of A very short story - Ernest Hemingway

 I find the soldier quite interested. Maybe the writer named him by “he” because he
was in the name of American soldiers in the war period. Their love is temporary, easily
changeable.” A short time after he contracted gonorrhea from a sales girl... while riding
in a taxicab...”
 “He didn't want to see his friends or anyone in the States” perhaps at that time he
loved her so bad. Therefore, he wouldn't meet anyone except Luz.
 Even though Luz is in love with the soldier, Luz places great value on stability
and financial security. She is not willing to risk her future in an uncertain situation. This
is why she refuses to accompany the soldier to America and promises she will join him
there once he manages to get a good job to support them both (ll. 17-18). This leads to the
couple’s first conflict (ll. 19-22), which highlights their incompatibility. In choosing the
major over the soldier...
