Process Task

INSTRUCTIONS
Read the story, The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry.
Answer the process questions below.

PART 1 – Character Analysis

Analyze the characters of Jim and Della individually. How do their personalities, struggles,
and actions contribute to the story's central themes of sacrifice and love?
(Answer in 5-10 sentences)
Jim is an affectionate and devoted husband to Della. Affectionate and devoted because of the time he
knows that Della cut her hair instead of nagging Della for doing so, he wraps his arm around her,
emphasizing that his love for his wife doesn't depend on her appearance. On the other hand, Della is
caring, sensitive, and devoted like Jim. Their personalities, struggles, and actions contributed to the
central themes of the story in a way that they responded to the situation that they both sacrificed
their only treasure to bring a Christmas present for their loved ones. Jim and Della express their love
through sacrifices, Jim sells his watch to buy Della a comb, and Della cuts her hair and sells it to buy
Jim’s a chain.
Strong claim or thesis statement – 5 pts
Content (concrete discussion) – 10 pts
Grammar and structure – 5 pts

PART 2 – Theme of Love and Sacrifice

How does the theme of love manifest through the sacrifices made by Jim and Della?
Analyze their actions and motivations, discussing the depth of their love and its
impact on the story's outcome. (Answer in 5-10 sentences)

The theme of love manifests through the sacrifices made by Jim and Della in a way that they are
willing to give up the most valuable thing that they had. As we can reflect on their actions in the
story, Della felt bothered because she could not afford to buy Jim a present that she thought suited
the most for Jim’s value. That’s why she decided to cut her hair and sell it, it didn’t matter how
valuable her hair was for her what she thought was to have enough money to buy a present for Jim.
On the other side, Jim’s love for Della leads him to sell his watch to buy hair combs for Della. Della
and Jim love each other so much that they sacrifice their most prized possessions to give each other
a Christmas gift although the gifts that they purchased for each other cannot be used. Their love for
each other impacted the story’s outcome the way how affectionate and devoted they are.

Strong claim or thesis statement – 5 pts

Content (concrete discussion) – 10 pts
Grammar and structure – 5 pts

SCHOOL OF TEACHER EDUCATION HOLY CROSS OF DAVAO COLLEGE

PART 3 – Theme of Love and Sacrifice

Explore how the cultural and historical context of the early 20th century influences
the narrative. How do societal norms, values, and economic conditions depicted in the
story reflect the time period in which it was written?

"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry reflects the societal norms, values, and economic conditions of the
early 20th century. The story takes place during a time of significant societal changes caused by
industrialization and urbanization, which is evident in the characters' lives. Despite being poor, Jim
and Della prioritize love and sacrifice over material possessions, representing the economic
struggles and moral values of that era. The traditional roles of Jim as the breadwinner and Della as
the homemaker highlight the societal norms. The central theme of the story is self-sacrifice for loved
ones, a common value during that time. Both characters sell their most cherished belongings to buy
gifts for each other, only to realize that their gifts are useless without the items they sell.

Strong claim or thesis statement – 5 pts

Content (concrete discussion) – 10 pts
Grammar and structure – 5 pts

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SCHOOL OF TEACHER EDUCATION HOLY CROSS OF DAVAO COLLEGE