- Della has $1.87 saved for Jim's Christmas present.
- She sells her beautiful long hair for $20 to buy him a gift.
- With the $20, she buys Jim a platinum fob chain for his watch.
- Jim's most prized possession is his gold watch, inherited from his father and grandfather.
- Jim sells his gold watch to buy Della a set of combs for her hair.
- The irony is that Della's gift (the chain) is useless without Jim's watch, and Jim's gift (the combs) is useless because Della has cut her hair.
- The story's title, "The Gift of the Magi," compares Della and Jim to the wise men who brought gifts to the Christ child, suggesting their selfless love makes them truly wise.
- The central theme is that the greatest gift is selfless love and sacrifice, not material value.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of gift of the magi worksheet.
