Class 9 English - RAJASTHAN
Supplementary: The Last Leaf
Supplementary: The Last Leaf by O. Henry is a touching story set in Greenwich Village, New York, focusing on two young artists, Sue and Johnsy. Johnsy falls seriously ill with pneumonia and develops a fatal delusion that she will die when the last ivy leaf falls from the creeper outside her window. Old Behrman, a poor failed artist, saves her life by painting a lifelike leaf on the wall in the freezing rain, sacrificing his own life to pneumonia. For Rajasthan (RBSE) Class 9 students, this chapter is crucial for board exams as it tests reading comprehension, character analysis, and themes of sacrifice, hope, and friendship.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Friendship and Care
Sue and Johnsy's bond highlights true friendship, where Sue tirelessly cares for Johnsy during her illness and seeks ways to bring back her will to live.
The Power of Hope and Willpower
The story emphasizes that mental strength and a positive attitude are as important as medical treatment in overcoming life-threatening diseases.
Old Behrman's Masterpiece
Behrman, an aging artist who always dreamed of painting a masterpiece, finally creates his greatest work of art on the wall—the painted ivy leaf that saves Johnsy.
Theme of Ultimate Sacrifice
Behrman paints the leaf in a terrible storm, catching pneumonia and dying so that Johnsy could live, showing the ultimate sacrifice of love and art.
Irony and Twist Ending
O. Henry's signature twist ending reveals that the last leaf was actually a painting, and the person who painted it died of the same disease Johnsy suffered from.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Rajasthan (RBSE) Class 9 English examination, supplementary reader chapters generally carry around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include short-answer questions testing character traits of Behrman or Sue, extract-based questions from the text, and long-answer questions focusing on the central theme of sacrifice and hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Johnsy associate her life with the falling ivy leaves?
Johnsy was suffering from severe pneumonia and depression, leading her to believe that she would die as soon as the last ivy leaf fell from the vine outside her window.
What was Behrman's lifelong dream?
Behrman's lifelong dream was to paint a masterpiece, which he finally achieved by painting a realistic ivy leaf on the brick wall during a stormy night.
Why is the story called 'The Last Leaf'?
The title refers to the final ivy leaf on the creeper, which symbolizes hope, survival, and Behrman's ultimate sacrifice to save Johnsy's life.
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