Last Leaf Questions

The Last Leaf Questions

Probing for Theme

Read the three statements below. Which one best captures the theme of “The Last Leaf”?

1. It is better to die for a dream than to live without hope.

2.   Life can be sustained when a desire to live exists in the heart.

3.    Every artist must paint a masterpiece before dying.

In Search of Meaning

1.    What does the last leaf symbolize in this story? How does Johnsy compare herself to the leaf? In what ways are other characters like the leaf? The leaf symbolizes the last hope before death. The characters are like the leaf because Johnsy compares herself to the leaf, and two days before Mr. Behrman paints the last leaf as his masterpiece he dies.

2.    Why does the doctor want to know if Johnsy has a man on her mind? Why does he suggest a discussion about fashion? What aspects of Johnsy’s disease do you think the doctor understands best? Worst? Explain. He wants to know if she has a man on her mind because maybe that’s why she thinks she isn’t going to get well because she doesn’t think she has anything to live for. Also, he thinks she may have a will to live if she was involved in something like fashion to keep her going. I think he understands best that if she has something worth living for than she will get better.

3.    What is Behrman’s reaction when Sue tells him Johnsy’s thoughts about the leaf and her death? Why does he react in this manner? How do his feelings change and why do you think they change? His reaction is very over protected because he thinks of Johnsy as his own daughter and does not want her to feel like she is relying on a leaf to live. He thinks her relating to the leaf is ridiculous and wants her to have faith to live.

4.    Why does Johnsy decide that she wants to live? How do you respond to this change in attitude as a reader? She decides she wants to live after she saw that the last leaf stayed on the ivy vine after two harsh storms so she took it as a sign saying that she will live and to a more positive attitude. This story surprised me because the whole time I thought she was going to die for sure but she turned her whole attitude around and wanted to live.

How does O. Henry prepare you for the surprise at the end of the story? Would you have preferred a different ending? Explain. O. Henry kind of theories how Mr. Behrman got pneumonia and dies so that’s how he prepares you. I wouldn’t have preferred a different ending because it was really shocking and made sense if you really thought about it. Especially since Mr. Behrman told Johnsy that after he painted his masterpiece he was going to go away, he going away way meant his death.