the last leaf 最后一片叶子

What was the relationship between the characters?
According to the doctor, how would Johnsy be able to recover from pneumonia?
Why did Johnsy count the ivy leaves?
Scenes Paragraphs Characters
Events
Sue,
Sue’s roommate Johnsy
1
Paras 1-2 Johnsy. caught pneumonia
the doctor, The doctor told Sue that
2
Paras 3-8 Sue
Johnsy needed a strong
Unit 6
The Human Touch
The LasFra Baidu bibliotek Leaf
外国语学院 孟昕
William Sydney Porter (1862 –1910), known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American writer.
O. Henry's short stories are known for their wit, warm characterization, ironic plot twists and surprise endings.
The doctor told Sue that Johnsy would recover, but Behrman caught pneumonia himself and his case was hopeless.
Sue, Paras 38-39 Johnsy
Sue told Johnsy that Behrman had performed a kind deed without any thought of self.
1.Johnsy refused to take any soup when she decided to die with the fall of the last leaf. (LL. 44~47)
2. When she was shaken alive again by that undying last leaf, one of her first desires was to drink some soup. (L. 101)
Clue 4: the Bay of Naples
1. Before she fell ill, Johnsy had wished to paint the Bay of Naples. (L. 16)
2. Inspired by the last leaf, Johnsy again looked forward to painting it. (L. 105)
Clue 1: the last ivy leaf Clue 2: the doctor’s three visits
Clue 3: soup
Clue 4: the Bay of Naples
Clue 5: Behrman’s masterpiece
Clue 2: the doctor’s three visits 1. Johnsy was seriously ill. (LL. 11~23)
Scenes
5 6 7
Paragraphs Characters
Events
Sue, Paras 22-33 Johnsy
the doctor, Paras 34-37 Sue
As Johnsy was encouraged by the last leaf that wouldn’t give in to the weather, her will to live returned.
Clue 5: Behrman’s masterpiece
1. Old Behrman was a failure in art. He had always talked about a masterpiece, yet he was unable to deliver it. (LL. 56~58)
2. Johnsy had a 50-50 chance for survival and death while Old Behrman was incurably sick. (LL. 106~114)
3. Johnsy was sure to recover. (LL.115~116)
Clue 3: soup
Sacrifice is the essence of love. Love means giving up —yielding my preference, comfort, goals, security, money, energy and time for the benefit of someone else.
2. “Someday I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away.” (LL. 73~74)
3. Finally, Old Behrman painted his masterpiece at the cost of his life. (LL. 119~128)
Assignment
1.Retell the short story “The Last Leaf”.
2.Find out good expressions in “The Last Leaf”.
Thank you
What impresses you and
touches you most in the
short story
?
humanity
love
help
Sacrifice The human concern
touch
Selflessness
kindness
Sympathy
faithfulness
thoughtfulness
Who was Behrman? What kind of person was Behrman?
What encouraged Johnsy to regain the will to live?
According to the doctor, would Johnsy recover from pneumonia?
◆How come old Behrman caught pneumonia too? ◆Why did Sue call "The Last Leaf" Behrman's masterpiece?
Skimming
Skim Text A and find out other clues besides “the last ivy leaf”, which help organize the story into a whole.
will to live on.
3
Johnsy, Paras 9-17 Sue
Johnsy decided that she would die when the last
ivy leaf fell.
Behrman, She told Behrman
4
Paras 18-21 Sue
about Johnsy’s fancy.