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SAI International School
Class IX-English
Chapter -The Last Leaf
Lesson notes

Introduction:

The last leaf is a touching story of how a painter inspires a girl to
live and in the process, loses his life. Two friends Sue and Johnsy
live together in a rented apartment. Johnsy contracts pneumonia
and loses her desire to live. She announces that she would die
when the last leaf falls off the ivy creeper that could be seen from
the room’s window. When the last leaf falls off, their neighbour, Mr
Behrman goes out in the storm to paint one. This gives hope to
Johnsy. On the other hand, Mr Behrman contracts pneumonia and
dies.

About the Author:

O. Henry, pseudonym of William

Sydney Porter was born on
September 11, 1862
in Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S
and died on June 5, 1910 in New
York. He was an American short-
story writer whose tales romanticized
the commonplace in particular, the
life of ordinary people in New York
City. His stories expressed the effect of coincidence on character
through humour, grim or ironic, and often have surprise endings.

Theme:

The story is based on the theme that life is precious and faith and
hope should never be lost. We come across many hindrances in life
and they should be overcome by fighting back in high spirits.
Depression can lead to disaster even when the situation is not bad.

Very often, we find people having negative attitude towards life.
They lose interest in life and these causes suffering to people