1、Contents,Introduction,O.Henry (1862-1910) was a productive American short-story writer, a master of surprise endings, who wrote about the life of ordinary people. Although his plot is full of coincidence, the surprise ending is his feature and appeals very much to the reader. He is one of three shor
2、t story masters in the world.(O.Henry, Maupassant（莫泊桑）, Chekhov（契科夫）),His life,1. Birthplace: Greensboro, North California 2. Family Background: his father, a physician 3. Education: did not receive much formal schooling 4. Working Experience: did a variety of odd jobs,Pen name : O.HenryAnother pen
3、name : Olivier HenryHis primitive name : Williams Sydney Porter,His life,Major Works,The GiftOfTheMagi - 麦琪的礼物AServiceOfLove- 爱的奉献TheLastLeaf - 最后的常春藤叶TheCopAndTheAnthem - 警察和赞美诗LostonDressParade- 华而不实 AnUnfinishedStory - 没有完的故事TheManHigherUp- 黄雀在后 AfterTwentyYears- 二十年以后,The GiftOfTheMagi meidai,It
4、s about the young couple who are short of money but want to buy each other Christmas gifts. Unbeknown to Jim, Della sells her most valuable possession, her beautiful hair, in order to buy a platinum fob chain for Jims watch; while unbeknown to Della, Jim sells his own most valuable possession,his watch, to buy jewelled comb for Dellas hair.,The GiftOfTheMagi,The young couple sacrifice for each other their greater treasures ，but neither has practical need for the others gift any more. But in the last paragraph the author concludes that “these two were the wisest”!,Thank you !,
