the last leaf lesson
TRANSCRIPT
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The Last Leaf
O. Henry
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Pneumonia
The Influenza Pneumonia Pandemic of 1918 killed 600,000 people in the United States and more than 25 million people worldwide.
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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.
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Literary Terms
PersonificationGiving human attributes to a nonhuman or nonliving thing
Surprise EndingAn ending to the story which is totally unexpected
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Literary Terms
Things we personify?animalsboatscars
other machinesother?????
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Literary Terms
Surprise EndingWho did you expect to die?
Who died?How did that make you feel?
Do you like surprises?
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Still Used Idioms
fair game something easy to conquerjoining the competition in some way
make up minddecidenegative- indecisive
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Vocabulary
Traverse
Quaint
Prowl
Walk Across
Charming, Old-fashioned
Wander, Roam
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Vocabulary
Congenial
Ravage
Smite
Chivalry
Sociable, Friendly
Destroy Violently
Attack, Strike
Gentlemanly Behavior
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Vocabulary
Idiomatic Expression
Chivalry is dead.
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Vocabulary
Swagger
Solicitous
Morbid
Walk in boastful manner, Strut
Concerned
Gloomy, Depressing
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Vocabulary
Idiomatic Expression
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
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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?
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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?
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Comprehension Questions
Why does Mr. Behrman help the girls?Why does Mr. Behrman get sick?Why is the last leaf Berhman’s masterpiece?
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Surprise Ending
What is the surprise?Were you surprised? Why or why
not?How did it make you feel?
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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…
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Some Themes
Winter, Sickness, and Death
Self-sacrifice
Friendship
Hard Work
A Day’s Wait
Thank You Ma’mThe Corn Planting
The Quickening
A Winter’s DayThe Corn Planting
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Characters
Joanna (Johnsy)
Sue (Sudie)
Old Behrman
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Dialogue / Dialect
Ln 75 Doctor’s Voice
Ln229 Behrman’s accent
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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…
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For More Information
Email Mrs. C [email protected]
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