1. The title performs the function of expressing the main idea of the story - sacrifice. And also it is a symbol.
2. The short story is written by O. Henry. His real name is William Sydney Porter. He is an American writer, known by his short stories. They are always wit, full of wordplay and trick endings. He lived in poverty and suffered a lot of it. But he didn't give up. That's why in this story he shows us that it's possible to be happy even with lack of money.
3. The functional style is belles-letters style; emotive prose substyle.
4. The genre is epic, the subgenre is short story.
5. The theme is the poor life of a young couple.
6. The idea is to sacrifice the most valuable things to make the dearest persons happy.
7. The main characters are Jim and Della. The minor character is Mrs. Sofronie. Delta and Jim are both protagonists and dynamic characters. Mrs. Sofronie is antagonist, static and flat character. The protagonists really love each other, because they've sold the most valuable things to make each other happy. About Mrs. Sofronie it's just possible to say that she is very greedy. She estimated Della's beautiful hair, her "brown waterfall", just in 20 dollars. The narrator is subjective.
8. Plot structure:
Exposition: Della's despair because of lack of money.
Complication: Della sells her hair to Mrs. Sofronie.
Climax: The appointment of Jim and Della.
Denouement: The exchange of gifts. The boy and the girl realize that they love each other more than their things.
9. Summary:
Della and her husband live in poverty. She cries about lack of money for Christmas present. The girl decides to sell her beautiful hair to Mrs. Sofronie. Delta buys a gold chain for Jim. Jim comes back from work. He is shocked about Della's
