"A Tale of Two Gifts" Summary (English)
"A Tale of Two Gifts" is a touching story about a young couple, Della and Jim, who are deeply in love but very poor. As Christmas approaches, Della has saved only $1.87 to buy a gift for her husband Jim. She wants to buy something worthy of him. Della and Jim each possess one treasured item: Della has beautiful long hair that reaches below her knees, and Jim has a gold watch that belonged to his father and grandfather. To buy Jim a perfect gift, Della sells her beautiful hair for twenty dollars and purchases a platinum watch chain for his precious watch. Meanwhile, Jim sells his gold watch to buy beautiful jewelled combs for Della's lovely hair. When they exchange gifts on Christmas, they discover the irony: Della has no hair to wear the combs, and Jim has no watch to use with the chain. Despite this twist, their love for each other remains unchanged. The story teaches us that true love and sacrifice are more valuable than any material possession. The author calls them the wisest gift givers because they gave up their most precious possessions out of love for each other.
സംഗ്രഹം (Malayalam)
"എ ടെയിൽ ഓഫ് ടു ഗിഫ്റ്റ്സ്" അഗാധമായി സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നുവെങ്കിലും വളരെ ദരിദ്രരായ ഡെല്ലയും ജിമ്മും എന്ന യുവ ദമ്പതികളെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള ഹൃദയസ്പർശിയായ കഥയാണ്. ക്രിസ്മസ് അടുക്കുമ്പോൾ, ഭർത്താവായ ജിമ്മിന് ഒരു സമ്മാനം വാങ്ങാൻ ഡെല്ല വെറും $1.87 മാത്രമേ സൂക്ഷിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളൂ. അവനു യോഗ്യമായ എന്തെങ്കിലും വാങ്ങാൻ അവൾ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു. ഡെല്ലയ്ക്കും ജിമ്മിനും ഓരോ വിലപ്പെട്ട വസ്തു ഉണ്ട്: ഡെല്ലയ്ക്ക് കാൽമുട്ടിന് താഴെ എത്തുന്ന മനോഹരമായ നീണ്ട മുടിയും ജിമ്മിന് അച്ഛനും മുത്തച്ഛനുമുള്ള സ്വർണ്ണ വാച്ചുമുണ്ട്. ജിമ്മിന് അനുയോജ്യമായ സമ്മാനം വാങ്ങാൻ ഡെല്ല തന്റെ മനോഹരമായ മുടി ഇരുപത് ഡോളറിന് വിൽക്കുകയും അവന്റെ വാച്ചിന് ഒരു പ്ലാറ്റിനം ചെയിൻ വാങ്ങുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. അതേസമയം, ഡെല്ലയുടെ മനോഹരമായ മുടിക്ക് രത്നങ്ങൾ പതിച്ച മനോഹരമായ ചീപ്പുകൾ വാങ്ങാൻ ജിം തന്റെ സ്വർണ്ണ വാച്ച് വിൽക്കുന്നു. ക്രിസ്മസിൽ അവർ സമ്മാനങ്ങൾ കൈമാറുമ്പോൾ വിരോധാഭാസം കണ്ടെത്തുന്നു: ചീപ്പുകൾ ധരിക്കാൻ ഡെല്ലയ്ക്ക് മുടിയില്ല, ചെയിൻ ഉപയോഗിക്കാൻ ജിമ്മിന് വാച്ചുമില്ല. ഈ വഴിത്തിരിവ് ഉണ്ടായിട്ടും പരസ്പര സ്നേഹം മാറ്റമില്ലാതെ തുടരുന്നു. യഥാർത്ഥ സ്നേഹവും ത്യാഗവും ഏതൊരു ഭൗതിക സ്വത്തിനേക്കാളും വിലപ്പെട്ടതാണെന്ന് കഥ നമ്മെ പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. പരസ്പര സ്നേഹത്തിനായി തങ്ങളുടെ ഏറ്റവും വിലപ്പെട്ട വസ്തുക്കൾ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചതിനാൽ അവരെ ഏറ്റവും ജ്ഞാനികളായ സമ്മാന ദാതാക്കൾ എന്ന് രചയിതാവ് വിളിക്കുന്നു.
About the Author - O. Henry
- O. Henry is the pen name of William Sydney Porter. He was born in 1862 and died in 1910.
- He was a famous American short story writer.
- O. Henry became well known for his clever stories that have surprise endings, often called "twist in the tail". His most famous stories include "The Gift of the Magi" (the original title of this story), "The Cop and the Anthem", and "The Last Leaf".
- His stories are about ordinary people and their daily lives.
- He wrote with humour and irony, making his stories interesting and memorable.
- His unique way of storytelling has influenced many writers.
- Every year, the O. Henry Award is given to honour the best short stories, keeping his memory alive in the world of literature.
While We Read (2 Mark Questions and Answers)
Question 1: How much money did Della save to buy Jim a gift? Do you usually save money for a specific purpose? Share your experience in class.
Answer: Della saved only one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy Jim a gift. (Students should share their personal experiences about saving money in class discussion)
Question 2: Which of their possessions were Della and Jim especially proud of?
Answer: Della and Jim were proud of two things. Della was proud of her beautiful long hair that reached below her knees. Jim was proud of his gold watch that belonged to his father and grandfather.
Question 3: Jim's watch was a valuable heirloom which he cherished very much. Do you have any such objects of sentimental value? Share your thoughts about them.
Answer: (This is a personal response question. Students should share their own experiences about objects they value for sentimental reasons in class discussion)
Question 4: Why did Della think that the gold watch chain was a suitable gift for Jim?
Answer: Della thought the gold watch chain was suitable because Jim's precious gold watch did not have a fine chain. The chain was simply made with rich and pure material, which matched Jim's quiet and valuable nature.
Question 5: What was Jim's initial reaction when he saw Della without her flowing hair?
Answer: Jim stood still and looked at Della with a strange expression that she could not understand. He was quiet and seemed unable to understand what had happened. His reaction filled Della with fear.
Question 6: What is $1.87 worth in Indian rupees today?
Answer: (Students should calculate this using current exchange rates. Approximately $1.87 would be around 155-160 rupees depending on the exchange rate)
Question 7: Why did Della cry when she opened Jim's gift?
Answer: Della cried because Jim had bought her beautiful jewelled combs that she had admired for a long time, but now she had sold her hair and could not use them.
Question 8: "You'll have to look at your watch a hundred times a day now." Why does Della say so?
Answer: Della says this because she believes Jim will be so happy with the beautiful watch chain she bought that he will want to look at his watch repeatedly to admire how good they look together.
Question 9: Why did Jim and Della decide to put their gifts aside for some time?
Answer: They decided to put the gifts aside because they were too nice to use at that moment. Della had no hair to use the combs and Jim had no watch to use with the chain.
Let's Rewind (4 Mark Questions and Answers)
Question 1: In what way does the story challenge traditional notions of poverty and wealth?
Answer: The story challenges traditional notions of poverty and wealth in several ways:
- It shows that material poverty does not mean poverty of spirit or love
- Della and Jim, though financially poor, are rich in love and devotion
- Their willingness to sacrifice proves that true wealth lies in relationships, not possessions
- The story demonstrates that the greatest gifts come from the heart, not from money
- Poor people can be generous and wise in ways that wealthy people may not understand
- Real value is measured by love and sacrifice, not by money or expensive things
- The couple's happiness comes from their love, not from material comforts
Question 2: Irony is the contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs. How does the author bring a touch of irony to the story?
Answer: The author brings irony to the story through several elements:
- Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim's watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair
- Each gift becomes useless immediately after being given
- They sacrificed their most precious possessions to buy gifts that cannot be used
- Both wanted to give the perfect gift, but the gifts turn out to be temporarily useless
- The title "A Tale of Two Gifts" is ironic because both gifts cannot serve their intended purpose
- Despite making their gifts useless, their sacrifice makes them the wisest gift-givers
- The situation that seems foolish on the surface is actually the wisest act of love
Question 3: How does the unexpected twist in the tail-end of the story emphasise the value of love over material possessions?
Answer: The unexpected twist emphasises the value of love over material possessions by showing:
- Both Della and Jim willingly gave up their most treasured possessions for each other
- The gifts became unusable, but their love remained strong and unchanged
- Material things can be lost or become useless, but true love endures
- The sacrifice itself mattered more than the actual gifts
- They found happiness in knowing how much they loved each other, not in using the gifts
- The twist reveals that the act of giving with love is more valuable than the gift itself
- Despite losing their prized possessions, they gained something greater: proof of their mutual devotion
- True wealth lies in selfless love, not in material things
Question 4: Why does the author consider Della and Jim the wisest among those who exchange gifts?
Answer: The author considers Della and Jim the wisest gift-givers because:
- They understood the true meaning of gift-giving: sacrifice and love
- They gave up their most precious possessions without hesitation for each other
- Their gifts came from deep love, not from obligation or expectation
- They demonstrated that the value of a gift lies in the sacrifice made, not its price
- They showed wisdom by putting love above material possessions
- Unlike others who give gifts they can afford, they gave beyond their means
- They proved that selfless love is the greatest wisdom
- Their actions reflected the spirit of the Magi (wise men) who brought gifts to baby Jesus
- True wisdom lies in understanding that love and sacrifice are more valuable than any material object
Additional Practice Questions
Question 5: What does the description of their home tell us about Della and Jim's financial condition?
Answer: The description reveals their poverty clearly. They lived in furnished rooms costing only eight dollars per week. The letterbox was too small to hold a letter, and the electric bell could not make any sound. These details show they lived in a poor, poorly maintained building. Jim earned only twenty dollars a week, which was barely enough. Despite careful spending, Della could save only $1.87 in months of effort. Jim needed a new coat and had nothing to cover his cold hands, showing they struggled with basic necessities.
Question 6: How does the story demonstrate that true giving requires sacrifice?
Answer: The story demonstrates that true giving requires sacrifice through Della and Jim's actions. Both gave up what they valued most: Della sacrificed her beautiful hair, her crowning glory, while Jim sacrificed his family heirloom watch. Neither gift was convenient or easy to part with. They did not give from their surplus but from their poverty. The pain of losing these treasures was real, yet they willingly accepted it. This shows that meaningful gifts involve personal cost and demonstrate genuine love. The value of their gifts lay not in what was given but in what was given up.
Key Vocabulary
Heirloom: A valuable object passed down through generations in a family
Distinctive: Unique and easy to recognise
Sentiment: Feelings or emotions attached to something
Irony: A situation where the outcome is opposite to what was expected
Sacrifice: Giving up something valuable for someone else
Poverty: The state of being poor with little money
Treasure: Something very valuable or precious