the last leaf is the title of what I have to do it also I attach the first part of my homework to use as a reference
Literary Analysis Worksheet 1
Literary Analysis Portfolio Project
Title:The Last Leaf
Author: O. Henry
Setting:
The main location the story is set in is Greenwich Village in NY. The time-
period is 1907. It occurs during the pneumonia epidemic. The main characters Sue
and Johnsy reside at the top of a squatty. The yard is dull and gloomy and is
situated adjacent to the dark side of the old brick home where the old ivy
flourished. The environment is cold and dreary as it is taken place during Winter.
Historical Context:
The historical event that took place during this period was the rapid increase
of European immigrants to New York. Overcrowding in the country led to
different diseases. The story draws on the concern of the Pneumonia disease
taking over the lives of Washington. The pneumonia disease was deadly in that day
and age being the leading cause of death. Pneumonia was labeled the “Cold,
unseen stranger, whom the doctors called Pneumonia, stalked about the colony,
touching one here and there with his icy fingers. stalked about the colony, touching
one here and there with his icy fingers.” (O.Henry,1907)
Plot:
Johnsy believes that when the last leaf drops from the tree she will die since
she was stuck with Pneumonia. Johnsy and Sue met Behrman, who is a failed
artist. Ironically, Behrman was failing at his passion to create art. They both helped
each other out in that Behram cared so much about Johnsy he sacrificed his own
life. He created a fake leaf and hung it on the tree to ignite Johnsy and give her
more hope. The sacrifice he made for Johnsy results in the great work of and he
found his masterpiece he was longing to create for years. Behrman's declaration to
Sue that he would one day create a masterpiece created a sense of foreshadow.
Entailing his valiant and unselfish act of painting the final leaf. This is illustrated
by Behrman and Sue's conversation about Johnsy. "Some day I vill baint a
masterpiece, and ve shall all go away. Gott! Yes.”(O. Henry, 1907). The events of
this story are believable because when an individual is given bad news and is
expecting something bad to occur anytime any glimpse of hope and superstition
will ease their mind.
Mood:
Because Johnsy believes she will die, "The Last Leaf" conveys a mood of
hopelessness. Johnsy’s death is linked to the fact that she sees her death to be tied
to the last ivy leaf outside her window. This shows the superstitious association of
her fate with that of the final ivy leaf on the vine, which will inevitably fall. There
is a sense of hopelessness for both Johnsy and Behrman. Through their bond
Johnsy magically sees hope where she was once hopeless. Similarly, Behrman was
failing at his passion to create art and lost his hope. He longed to create a
masterpiece, which he was able to through his selfless act of sacrifice. When
Johnsy notices that the leaf that is meant to determine her fate is not falling, she is
given new hope. Johnsy’s uplifting spirit can be depicted when speaking to Sue,
she stated “Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how wicked I
was. It is a sin to want to die. You may bring me a little broth now, and some milk
with a little port in it, and—no, bring me a hand-minor first, and then pack some
pillows about me, and I will sit up and watch you cook.”(O.Henry,1907). This
demonstrates how a person's optimism can be rekindled by a tiny act. Her whole
mindset was shifted since the leaf or so she thought never fell, it awakened a sense
of anticipation.