Introduction
O. Henry’s short story “The Last Leaf” brilliantly illustrates human emotions like hope, despair, and courage through the life-threatening illness of a young artist named Johnsy and her desire to see the last remaining ivy leaf still on the bare vine outside her window. This essay will analyze some potential essay questions one might encounter in an exam on this short story. It will discuss sample thesis statements, topics of analysis, and evidence from the text to support points for each question.
Sample Essay Question 1: Discuss how O. Henry uses symbolism and imagery in “The Last Leaf” to develop themes.
Potential Thesis: O. Henry employs vivid symbolism and imagery surrounding the ivy vine and its remaining leaf to represent Johnsy’s fragile health, hopes for recovery, and eventual triumph over despair.
Analysis:
The ivy vine symbolizes Johnsy’s life as it gradually loses its leaves during a plague. As each leaf falls, Johnsy loses more hope that she will survive.
The last ivy leaf clinging to the bare vine comes to symbolize Johnsy’s own desperate clinging to life. She believes that if the last leaf falls before dawn, so too will she pass away.
When Behrman paints a leaf on the wall to trick Johnsy, it represents keeping hope alive through imagination and kindness even in the darkest of times. His act of deception shows the power of the human spirit to overcome despair with creativity.
Once Johnsy sees the real last leaf has not fallen after all, it signifies her belief in miracles and renewed will to live being restored. The leaf coming to symbolize the small wonders and joy in life worth fighting for.
Thus through vivid symbols like the ivy vine and its leaves, O. Henry is able to develop profound themes about the resilience of the human spirit and how hope, imagination and love can triumph over even death itself.
Sample Essay Question 2: Analyze how O. Henry develops Johnsy and Sue’s relationship and attitudes.
Potential Thesis: O. Henry portrays Johnsy and Sue’s close friendship to evolve from mutual care and support to Johnsy finding renewed purpose in living for Sue’s sake, demonstrating the power relationships have to heal or inspire hope.
Analysis:
Initially, Johnsy and Sue care for each other, with Sue nursing Johnsy through her illness. Sue worries for Johnsy and tries keeping her spirits up.
As Johnsy’s health deteriorates further, their dynamic shifts to one of deeper codependence. Johnsy fixates on the ivy leaf as her sole reason for living while Sue feels increasingly helpless.
When Behrman gives Johnsy renewed hope by painting the leaf, it lifts Sue’s spirits too. They emotionally support each other through shared hope.
After witnessing the real leaf, Johnsy finds new resolve – no longer living to see the leaf but to care for Sue instead. Their relationship becomes one where Johnsy now wishes to comfort Sue.
This evolution portrays how even in dark times, close human bonds have tremendous power to uplift each other through compassion. Johnsy is inspired to live for Sue’s sake, rather than death.
Sample Essay Question 3: Discuss the character of Behrman and his significance in “The Last Leaf”.
Potential Thesis: Behrman, though a grizzled and loner artist, emerges as the story’s hero through his timely intervention that restores Johnsy’s will to live, demonstrating how unexpected acts of kindness can make all the difference.
Analysis:
Behrman is introduced as a recluse who rarely socializes or speaks. He keeps to himself and seems indifferent.
When he overhears Johnsy’s belief that the leaf’s fall means her death, Behrman’s humanity is stirred. He wishes to help through his art.
In a daring act of deception that could end in arrest, Behrman risks all to paint a new leaf and save Johnsy. It is a selfless gesture of compassion.
Thanks to Behrman’s leaf painting, Johnsy’s hope and will returns in full force. Her recovery begins from that moment on.
Behrman emerges as an unlikely hero – a loner who understands life’s beauty and finds purpose in small acts of goodness. His timely intervention makes all the difference to Johnsy.
This highlights how genuine kindness and humanity can come from unexpected places and how one good deed really can give someone renewed hope in their darkest hour.
Conclusion
This essay has analyzed various potential essay questions one might encounter in an exam on O. Henry’s short story “The Last Leaf” through developing thesis statements, discussing topics of analysis and providing textual evidence. It demonstrates how the story’s profound themes around hope, human empathy and the power of inspiration can be explored in depth.