The Last Leaf

O. Henry
Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net
 Pneumonia

The Influenza Pneumonia

Pandemic of 1918 killed 600,000
people in the United States and
more than 25 million people
worldwide.

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Pneumonia

In the midst of the epidemic the

acting Surgeon General of the
Army noted the unusual character
of this epidemic: whereas influenza
normally was a mild disease that
killed only the very young and the
very old, this influenza was most
dangerous to people 21 to 29 years
of age. This influenza took the
strong and spared the weak.
Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net
 Literary Terms

Personification
Giving human attributes to a
nonhuman or nonliving thing

Surprise Ending
An ending to the story which is
totally unexpected

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Literary Terms

Things we personify?
animals
boats
cars
other machines
other?????

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Literary Terms

Surprise Ending
Who did you expect to die?
Who died?
How did that make you feel?
Do you like surprises?

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Still Used Idioms

fair game
something easy to conquer
joining the competition in some
way
make up mind
decide
negative- indecisive

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Vocabulary

Traverse Walk Across

Quaint Charming,
Old-fashioned

Prowl Wander, Roam

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Vocabulary

Congenial Sociable, Friendly

Ravage Destroy Violently

Smite Attack, Strike

Chivalry Gentlemanly
Behavior
Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net
 Vocabulary

Idiomatic Expression

Chivalry is dead.

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Vocabulary

Swagger Walk in boastful

manner, Strut

Solicitous Concerned

Morbid Gloomy,
Depressing

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Vocabulary

Idiomatic Expression

The road to hell is paved

with good intentions.

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Comprehension Questions

Where do the girls live?

Why is where the girls live
important to the story?
What relationship does Mr.
Behrman have with the girls?
How do the girls make a living?
What do they want to do with their
lives?
Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net
 Comprehension Questions

Why does the doctor think Johnsy

might not make it?
How does Sudie respond to the
news?
What kind of person is Behrman?

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Comprehension Questions

Why does Mr. Behrman help the

girls?
Why does Mr. Behrman get sick?
Why is the last leaf Berhmans
masterpiece?

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Surprise Ending

What is the surprise?

Were you surprised? Why or why
not?
How did it make you feel?

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Personification

Ln 32-36 The unseen stranger,

Pneumonia stalked about
touching one here and there with
his icy fingers
Ln 122 The cold breath of autumn had
stricken the leaves
Ln 277-281 It was the last on the vine
it hung bravely from a branch

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Some Themes

Winter, Sickness, A Days Wait

and Death
Thank You Mam
Self-sacrifice The Corn Planting

Friendship The Quickening

A Winters Day
Hard Work The Corn Planting
Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net
 Characters

Joanna (Johnsy)

Sue (Sudie)

Old Behrman

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Dialogue / Dialect

Ln 75 Doctors Voice

Ln229 Behrmans accent

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 Sensory Impressions

Ln 177 lying white and still as a

fallen statue

Ln 214 smelling strongly of juniper

berries in his dimly lighted den
below

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net

 For More Information

Email Mrs. C
ccoleman@clmn.net

Visit Colemans Classroom

www.clmn.net

Colemans Classroom www.clmn.net