The Gift of the Magi Novel Study Guide (with full story)

This Novel Study Guide is for the short story The Gift of the Magi, written by O. Henry. This resource includes comprehension and critical thinking questions for the entire story.

Includes:

- Vocabulary words with definitions.

- Word puzzles: Word Decoder, Word Search, Word Scramble, Crossword, Hangman

- True or false.

- Multiple choice.

- Long answer questions.

- Answer keys.

- Essay prompts and rubrics.

Also included are Graphic Organizers:

- Plot Pyramid

- Theme Tree

- Irony

- Symbolism

- Answer keys

The resource finishes off with a complete copy of the short story. The 1906 version of this story, as depicted in this book study guide is in the Public Domain. No copyright laws have been violated in posting this material.

About this Resource:

This resource is a study of the story The Gift of the Magi, written by O. Henry. The Novel Study Guide includes vocabulary with definitions and comprehension questions in the form of true or false, multiple choice and long answer. Students are meant to read the entire story, then answer the provided questions. Teachers can choose to hand the questions out all at once, or group them into sections. The resource is grouped into natural sections, such as vocabulary, comprehension, critical thinking, writing activities, and graphic organizers.

About the Worksheets:

A series of comprehension-based worksheets make up this resource, along with Answer Keys.

Vocabulary: 59 words from the story are listed with their meanings in either the order they appear chronologically in the story, or in alphabetical order. The words were chosen by how difficult they were to understand based on context clues. Each word is then used in 1 of 5 vocabulary puzzle worksheets:

· Word Decoder: Use the legend to decode the word puzzle.

· Word Search: Find the vocabulary words hidden in the puzzle.

· Word Scramble: Unscramble the words to make the vocabulary words.

· Crossword: Solve each clue with the vocabulary word that matches. Write the vocabulary word in the

matching spot in the crossword puzzle.

· Hangman: Guess letters to fill in the hidden vocabulary words. Guess a wrong letter and fill in the

hangman. Finish the word before the hangman is done.

Short Answer: 17 True or False questions are provided. Students must answer each statement as True or False. 20 multiple choice questions are provided. Students must answer each question with the best answer option.

Long Answer: 25 comprehension and critical thinking questions are provided. Students answer each question with complete sentences on the lines provided.

Writing Activities: 5 end-of-unit essay prompts and rubrics are provided.

Graphic Organizers: 4 graphic organizers are provided, along with an answer key.

• Plot Pyramid: Write the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution to the story.

• Theme Tree: Find evidence for one of the themes from the story.

• Irony: Determine how specific ironic situations from the story contributes to its message.

• Symbolism: Identify the literal and deeper meaning of specific symbols from the story. With answer key.

Reading: A complete copy of the story is provided.