Class 9 English - PUNJAB
Supplementary: The Last Leaf
Supplementary: The Last Leaf by O. Henry is a touching story of friendship, sacrifice, and hope, prescribed for Class 9 Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) students. Set in a quaint artists' colony in Greenwich Village, it revolves around a young artist named Johnsy who falls severely ill with pneumonia and loses the will to live, linking her survival to the falling of ivy leaves outside her window. The story highlights themes of optimism and selfless love, embodied by an old failed artist, Behrman, who paints a masterpiece to save her life. For board exams, questions focus on character sketches, theme analysis, and textual comprehension.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Setting and Atmosphere
The story is set in an old Greenwich Village district during November, where a bitter cold and pneumonia epidemic create a gloomy, hopeless atmosphere that mirrors Johnsy's failing health.
Johnsy's Pessimism
Johnsy falls deeply ill with pneumonia and convinces herself that she will die when the last ivy leaf falls from the vine outside, surrendering completely to despair.
Sue's Role and Devotion
Sue is Johnsy's caring roommate and fellow artist who frantically tries to distract Johnsy from her morbid thoughts and seeks help from their neighbor, Behrman.
Behrman's Masterpiece
Behrman, an old struggling artist who always dreamed of painting a masterpiece, sacrifices his life by painting a hyper-realistic ivy leaf on the wall during a stormy night, which never falls.
The Twist Ending
The story concludes with an emotional irony: Johnsy recovers because the painted leaf gives her hope to live, while Behrman dies of pneumonia contracted while painting it in the cold rain.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Punjab (PSEB) Class 9 English board exams, this supplementary chapter typically carries around 3 to 5 marks. Common question types include short-answer questions about the plot, character sketches of Behrman or Sue, and value-based questions focusing on the importance of hope and friendship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Johnsy count the falling ivy leaves?
Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia and had lost her will to live. She linked her life to the ivy vine, believing that she would die as soon as the last leaf fell.
What was Behrman's masterpiece and why is it called so?
Behrman's masterpiece was the artificial ivy leaf he painted on the brick wall during a stormy, freezing night. It is considered his masterpiece because it looked completely real, saved Johnsy's life, and was created at the cost of his own life.
How does the story highlight the value of selflessness?
Behrman braved the freezing rain and cold winds at night to paint the leaf for Johnsy without telling anyone, ultimately sacrificing his life so that she could live.
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