A.A.C.T.+-+Mark+Schmidt

[]

[]

[]

[]

-They had given up their greatest possesions for each other. Della gave her hair away to pay for the watch chain, and Jim gave away his watch to pay for the combs for Della. Now their corresponding gifts were **Ironic** because they didn't have what they needed for them.
 * An implied paradox in the story is that Della and Jim Young are both poor and rich—poor in material things but rich in love. Explain how a related figure of speech, irony, plays a role in the story. (See definition of irony in literature on [|dictionary.com - definition of irony].) Write at least 2 sentences to explain your thoughts.

- Della's...hair fell around her like a cascade of brown waters. simile -...The next two hours tripped on like rosy wings. Personification. -...a gray cat walking on a gray fence in a gray backyard.alliteration
 * “Sudden serious sweetness” is an example of alliteration in the story. An example of a simile is “Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail.” List 3 other figures of speech Porter uses and tell how each of them enhances his narrative.

-Had king Solomon been the janitor...Jim would have pulled out his watch everytime he passed=he is very proud of his watch. -Della, lets put our presents away until next year=he has some sense of optimism. -You say your hair is gone?=he doesn't belive things until it is very evident.
 * Several passages in the story give subtle clues about the kind of person Jim is. Identify at least three passages and explain what each passage tells the reader about him.

-She was very bleak thoughted and depressed. She couldn't think of any gift for Jim and she thought it was hopeless.
 * Comment on the meaning of the following sentence in the fifth paragraph of the story: “She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard.” Write at least 2 sentences to explain your thoughts.

-King Solomon was a very rich and wise king. The Queen of Sheba gave 3gifts to King Solomon because she was very rich too.
 * Porter refers to the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon in Paragraph 8. Who were they?

-No, I think that the chops have little significance. They are merely there three times... like some other things in the story.
 * Three times in the story, the narrator mentions the chops that the Youngs will be having for dinner. Are the chops significant in any way?