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.