What do you think is the concept of

friendship?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department of Department
Secondary Languages & Literature
(English)
What kind of friend are you?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department of Department
Secondary Languages & Literature
(English)
If you only have one hour to live, how
would you spend in a meaningful way?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department of Department
Secondary Languages & Literature
(English)
The Last
Leaf
COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
AUTHOR
William Sydney Porter also known as
O. Henry was a renowned American
author known for his short stories. His
work, celebrated for its wit, smart
wordplay, and surprising twist endings.

He was born on September 11, 1862, in

Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S., and
passed away on June 5, 1910, in New
York, due to cirrhosis of the liver,
complications of diabetes, and an
enlarged heart.
AUTHOR
When William was three his mother died
and he was raised by his grandmother
and aunt. He left school at the age of 15
and then had a number of jobs, including
bank clerk.

His short story masterpieces, The Gift of

the Magi, The Skylight Room, The Green
Door, Roads of destiny, The well
furnished Room, and one of his last
stories, “The Ransom of Red Chief"
AUTHOR
O. Henry died in New York City in 1910,
prior to his forty-eighth birthday. His
legacy continues in the O. Henry Award,
one of the most prestigious short story
prizes in America.
 PLOT
CLIMAX

FALLING ACTION
RISING ACTION

RESOLUTION
EXPOSITION

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department of Department
Secondary Languages & Literature
(English)
SETTING

It is set in Greenwich
Village, in New York City,
during the late 19th century.
The story takes place in a
small apartment building that
is home to two young
women
 PLOT
CLIMAX

FALLING ACTION
RISING ACTION

RESOLUTION
EXPOSITION

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department of Department
Secondary Languages & Literature
(English)
CHARACTERS

SUE JOHNSY MR. BEHRMAN

The squatty pumpkin looked adorable sitting on the porch
with its round and stubby shape.

a) Tall
b) Short
c) Wide
d) Slim
EXPOSITION
In a little district west of Washington Square, there is a place called
Greenwich Village where the streets are oddly shaped and artist soon
settled because they were drawn to its distinctive architecture and
affordable rents. At the top of a squatty, three-story brick building, Sue
and Johnsy had their studio. "Johnsy" was a nickname for Joanna. One
of them was from Maine, while the other was from California. They had
met at a restaurant and discovered that they shared similar artistic tastes,
such as enjoying chicory salad and bishop sleeves. This led to them
deciding to share a studio space together.
COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
Metropolitan Museum of Art

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
PLOT
CLIMAX

FALLING ACTION
RISING ACTION

RESOLUTION
EXPOSITION

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department of Department
Secondary Languages & Literature
(English)
UNLOCKING DIFFICULT TERMS

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
1. The invading army sent a ravager to plunder and destroy the village.
a. A person who protects and defends.
b. A person who builds and constructs.
c. A person who causes extensive damage and destruction.

2. The hero swung his mighty sword, smiting the evil dragon with a single powerful
blow.
a. Defending
b. Attacking
c. Healing

3. The knight's chivalric behavior earned him respect and admiration.

a. Dishonorable and disrespectful
b. Honorable and Respectful
c. Unkind and Rude
4. The storm was so loud that we could scarcely hear anything outside.
a. Barely
b. Loudly
c. Clearly

5. The rockstar swaggered onto the stage, captivating the audience with their charismatic
presence.
a. walked confidently
b. walked nervously
c. walked slowly

6. Eca was so engrossed in her new book that she didn't notice the time passing by.
a. Eca was very bored with her new book
b. Eca was completely absorbed in her new book
c. Eca was confused by her new book
7. Dylan looked at his friend solicitously, offering a comforting hand and asking if there
was anything he could do to help.
a. Dylan looked at his friend with anger and frustration.
b. Dylan looked at his friend with curiosity and confusion.
c. Dylan looked at his friend with care and concern.

8. Maria, a talented artist, effortlessly wielded her paintbrush to create a masterpiece on

the canvas.
a. Emma struggled to use her paintbrush effectively.
b. Emma skillfully and effortlessly used her paintbrush.
c. Emma was unable to control her paintbrush.

9. She looked at him with contempt, unable to hide her hatred for his actions.
a. A feeling of strong dislike or disdain towards him
b. A feeling of respect and admiration towards him.
c. A feeling of sympathy and understanding towards him
10. The comedian's joke fell flat, resulting in loud derision from the audience
a. A feeling of amusement and enjoyment
b. A feeling of strong disapproval
c. A feeling of indifference and neutrality
 RISING ACTION
In November a cold, unseen stranger, whom the
doctors called Pneumonia, stalked about the colony,
touching one here and there with his icy fingers. On
the east side, this ravager confidently moved, smiting
his victims by score.
Mr. Pneumonia was not what you would call a
chivalric old gentleman. he attacked Johnsy, leaving
her lying still on her bed, scarcely moving, on her
painted iron bedstead, looking through the small
Dutch window-panes at the blank side of the next
brick house.

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
Who got sick in the story?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
RISING ACTION

One morning the doctor invited Sue into the hallway with a shaggy grey
eyebrow. He expressed concern about Johnsy’s chances of recovery, saying
that she only has a slim chance, maybe one in ten. He mentioned that for
her to have a better chance, she needs to have the desire to live.
After the doctor had gone Sue went into the workroom and cried, she
swaggered into Johnsy's room with her drawing board, whistling ragtime.
Johnsy lay in bed, barely moving, facing the window. Thinking that Johnsy
was asleep. Sue set up her drawing board and began sketching.
What did the doctor say to her friend
Sue?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
RISING ACTION
While Sue was engrossed in her
drawing, she suddenly heard a faint
sound that repeated itself multiple
times. This caught Sue's attention.
Johnsy's eyes were wide open, and she
was staring out the window, counting
in reverse. "Twelve," "eleven,"
followed by "ten," "nine," "eight," and
"seven" in quick succession.
 RISING ACTION

Sue look solicitously out of the

window and asked Johnsy what was
there to count when all that she could
see was an old ivy vine decayed at the
roots, climbed half way up the brick wall
twenty feet away. The autumn chill had
stripped the leaves from the vine,
leaving its skeletal branches clinging.
RISING ACTION

Sue: What is it, dear"

Johnsy: Six, they're falling faster now. Three days ago, there were
almost a hundred. There goes another one. There are only five left now."
Sue: Five what, dear? Tell your Sudie.
Johnsy: Leaves. On the ivy vine. When the last one falls, I must go,
too. I've known that for three days. Didn't the doctor tell you?
What did Johnsy say about the
falling leaves?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
What actions do you anticipate Sue will
take in response to this intriguing
occurrence?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
RISING ACTION
Sue dismisses Johnsy's belief “Oh, I never heard of such nonsense,"
complained Sue. She mentions the doctor's optimistic diagnosis for
Johnsy's recovery, emphasizing the favorable odds given by the doctor.
Despite Sue's reassurances that the doctor had given her good odds of
recovery, Johnsy remained fixated on the leaves, refusing to eat and waiting
for the last leaf to fall. Sue asks Johnsy to keep her eyes closed and not
look out the window while she works on some drawings. Johnsy suggests
that Sue could work in another room, but Sue prefers to be with Johnsy.
"I'd rather be here by you," said Sue. "Beside, I don't want you to keep
looking at those silly ivy leaves."
 RISING ACTION

Sue informs Johnsy that she plans to ask

their neighbor, Behrman, Old Behrman was a
painter who lived on the ground floor beneath
them. Behrman was a failure in art. Forty years
he had wielded the brush without getting near
enough to touch the hem of his Mistress's robe.
After hearing Johnsy’s fancy, old Behrman, with
his red eyes plainly streaming, shouted his
contempt and derision for such idiotic
imaginings.
 RISING ACTION

Despite initially refusing, Behrman

eventually agrees to pose for Sue.
While Johnsy is asleep, Sue and
Behrman observe the ivy vine in the
rain and snow, and Behrman poses for
Sue's drawing.
PLOT CLIMAX

FALLING ACTION
RISING ACTION

RESOLUTION
EXPOSITION

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department of Department
Secondary Languages & Literature
(English)
CLIMAX

The following morning, Johnsy insists on seeing the vine and asked sue
to open up the windows. To their surprise, despite the heavy rain and
strong winds that lasted all night, there is still one ivy leaf clinging to the
vine.
As the day passes, the leaf remains. Johnsy eventually realizes her desire
to die was wrong and starts to regain her will to live, even expressing a
future painting aspiration.
CLIMAX
How does the presence of the leaf impact
Johnsy's mindset and her desire to live?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
PLOT CLIMAX

RISING ACTION FALLING ACTION

RESOLUTION
EXPOSITION

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department of Department
Secondary Languages & Literature
(English)
FALLING ACTION

The doctor arrived at their art studio. He said that Johnsy's

condition is improving at a very good rate. However, the doctor
said that Behrman is also having difficulty because of pneumonia.
He went on to Behrman's studio and tried to treat him. The next
day, the doctor came once again and said to Sue : "She's out of
danger. You won. Nutrition and care now -- that's all."
PLOT CLIMAX

RISING ACTION FALLING ACTION

RESOLUTION
EXPOSITION

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department of Department
Secondary Languages & Literature
(English)
RESOLUTION
Before the doctor goes, he talks to Sue for a while. Sue looked shocked.
Johnsy asked what happened and Sue said:
“Mr. Behrman had a severe case of pneumonia. A janitor had found
him with pain, and his clothes were icy cold. The janitor did not know
where he was during that stormy night, but saw a ladder, some brushes
and paint that was green and yellow.”
Look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn’t you
wonder why it never fluttered or moved when the wind blew? Ah, darling,
it’s Behrman’s masterpiece—he painted it there the night that the last leaf
fell.
Why did Sue refer to the last ivy leaf as
Behrman's masterpiece?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
Who are the characters of the story?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
CHARACTERS

• Johnsy
• Sue
• Mr. Behrman
• Doctor
CONFLICT
A conflict in a story refers to the problem or struggle that the main characters
face. It is the central issue that drives the plot and creates tension.

INTERNAL -where the character faces a struggle within themselves, such as

a difficult decision or conflicting emotions.

EXTERNAL -where the character faces obstacles or conflicts with other

characters, society, or the environment.
What is the conflict of the story
The Last Leaf?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
CONFLICT
Internal Conflict

Man vs Self

External Conflict

Man vs Pneumonia
What are the themes of the story?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
THEMES

HOPE FRIENDSHIP SACRIFICE

In what ways does the theme of friendship
and support resonate throughout the
story ?

COLLEGE OF ARTS
COLLEGE & SCIENCES
OF TEACHER EDUCATION Department ofDepartment
Secondary Languages & (English)
Literature
SYMBOLISM

Symbolism is a literary technique where objects, characters, settings, or events are

used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. It involves the use of symbols to convey
deeper meanings and create layers of interpretation within a story.

Symbols can be tangible objects, such as an item or a color, or they can be more
abstract, like a gesture or an action. They go beyond their literal meaning and carry
additional symbolic significance that adds depth and complexity to the text.
ACTIVITY
Identify all the possible symbols showed in the story the last
leaf and provide a brief and concise explanation only. Write it
in a ½ sheet of paper. Do it in 5 minutes only.
 What does the last leaf
symbolize in the story? How
does it affect the characters and
their beliefs?

COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF&TEACHER
OF ARTS SCIENCES Department ofDepartment
Languages & (English)
Literature
Secondary
SYMBOLISM