Class 9 English Notes Chapter 7 (The Last Leaf) – Moments Supplimentary Reader Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 7 of your 'Moments' book, 'The Last Leaf' by O. Henry. This is a poignant story with important themes, often tested in various exams. Pay close attention to these notes.

Chapter 7: The Last Leaf by O. Henry

About the Author:
O. Henry (pen name of William Sydney Porter) was a famous American short story writer known for his witty narratives, surprise endings (often called "O. Henry endings"), and sympathetic portrayal of ordinary people.

Setting:
The story is set in Greenwich Village, a neighbourhood in New York City known for being an artists' colony. The time is autumn, transitioning into winter.

Characters:

1. Sue: A young artist, practical, caring, and deeply devoted to her friend, Johnsy. She works hard to support them both and tries desperately to keep Johnsy's spirits up.
2. Johnsy (Joanna): Another young artist who shares an apartment (a "studio") with Sue. She contracts pneumonia and loses her will to live, linking her fate to the falling leaves of an ivy vine outside her window. She is initially pessimistic and superstitious.
3. Behrman: An old, unsuccessful painter living on the ground floor of the same building. He is portrayed as gruff and critical but has a kind heart underneath. He dreams of painting a masterpiece but has never achieved it. He acts as a father figure to Sue and Johnsy.
4. The Doctor: A busy physician who diagnoses Johnsy's pneumonia. He emphasizes the importance of Johnsy's will to live for her recovery.

Plot Summary:

1. The Illness: Sue and Johnsy, two aspiring artists, live together. In November, a cold wave brings pneumonia ("Mr. Pneumonia") to Greenwich Village, and Johnsy falls seriously ill.
2. Loss of Hope: The doctor tells Sue that Johnsy's chances of recovery are slim (one in ten) mainly because she has lost the will to live. Medicine alone won't work if the patient doesn't want to get better.
3. The Ivy Vine: Johnsy develops a morbid fancy. She watches the leaves falling from an old ivy vine clinging to the brick wall opposite her window. She believes that when the last leaf falls, she too will die.
4. Sue's Efforts: Sue tries everything to distract Johnsy – she talks cheerfully, brings her drawing board into Johnsy's room to work, whistles, and tries to counter Johnsy's pessimism, but fails to break her friend's fixation on the leaves.
5. Behrman's Introduction: Worried, Sue goes downstairs to seek help from old Behrman. She tells him about Johnsy's strange belief. Behrman, though initially scornful of such "idiotic imaginings," is deeply concerned about Johnsy, whom he loves like a daughter.
6. The Storm and the Last Leaf: A fierce storm rages through the night with strong winds and heavy rain. Sue is terrified that the last leaf will surely fall. The next morning, Johnsy insists on seeing the vine. To their astonishment, one single ivy leaf remains clinging stubbornly to the branch against the wall.
7. Renewed Hope: Seeing the persistent leaf day after day, despite the wind and rain, inspires Johnsy. She realizes how wicked she has been, wanting to die. She recognizes the leaf's resilience as a sign that she too should fight to live. Her will to live returns.
8. Recovery: Johnsy starts recovering rapidly. She asks for broth, a mirror, and talks about painting the Bay of Naples someday. The doctor confirms her recovery, stating her will to live has made the difference.
9. Behrman's Sacrifice: The doctor informs Sue that Behrman has also contracted pneumonia and his condition is critical; he is old and weak. Later, the janitor finds Behrman ill in his room. His shoes and clothes were wet and icy cold, and a lantern, a ladder, and scattered brushes with green and yellow paint were found near his bed.
10. The Masterpiece Revealed: Two days later, Behrman dies. Sue gently reveals the truth to Johnsy: the last leaf she saw wasn't real. Behrman had gone out during the terrible storm and painted that single leaf onto the wall. That painted leaf – his long-awaited masterpiece – saved Johnsy's life by giving her hope, but the exposure to the cold and wet led to his own death.

Themes:

1. Hope vs. Despair: The central conflict revolves around Johnsy's despair and the eventual restoration of her hope, symbolized by the last leaf.
2. Friendship and Sacrifice: Sue's unwavering care for Johnsy and Behrman's ultimate sacrifice highlight the depth and power of true friendship and selfless love.
3. The Power of Art: Art, in this story, is not just about aesthetics but has the power to save a life. Behrman's painted leaf becomes a symbol of hope and endurance, his ultimate masterpiece.
4. Will to Live: The doctor emphasizes that the desire to live is crucial for recovery, a point proven by Johnsy's turnaround.
5. Appearance vs. Reality: Behrman appears as a failed, grumpy old man, but his final act reveals his true noble character. The painted leaf appears real, deceiving Johnsy but ultimately saving her.

Literary Devices:

• Symbolism: The ivy leaves symbolize Johnsy's fragile hold on life; the last leaf (painted) symbolizes hope, resilience, and sacrifice.
• Personification: Pneumonia is personified as "Mr. Pneumonia," an unwelcome visitor stalking the colony.
• Irony: Behrman, who always talked of painting a masterpiece but never did, finally paints one that saves a life, but it costs him his own. It's ironic that his greatest success leads to his death. Also, Johnsy links her life to a real leaf, but is saved by a painted one.
• Foreshadowing: Behrman's initial dismissal of Johnsy's fancy, coupled with his affection for the girls, subtly hints at his potential involvement.

Key Vocabulary:

• Studio: A room where an artist works.
• Pneumonia: A serious lung infection.
• Bohemian: Socially unconventional person, especially one involved in the arts.
• Vine: A climbing plant.
• Ivy: A type of evergreen climbing plant.
• Fancy: Imagination, whim, or notion (here, a morbid one).
• Masterpiece: An artist's greatest piece of work.
• Janitor: Caretaker of a building.
• Scornfully: With contempt or disrespect.
• Feeble: Weak.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. Where is the story 'The Last Leaf' set?
   a) Paris
   b) London
   c) Greenwich Village, New York
   d) Rome

2. What illness does Johnsy suffer from?
   a) Tuberculosis
   b) Typhoid
   c) Malaria
   d) Pneumonia

3. What did Johnsy believe would happen when the last ivy leaf fell?
   a) Winter would begin.
   b) She would die.
   c) Sue would leave her.
   d) Her painting would be finished.

4. Who is Behrman?
   a) A doctor
   b) Sue and Johnsy's landlord
   c) An old painter living downstairs
   d) A famous art critic

5. What was Behrman's lifelong dream?
   a) To travel to Italy
   b) To become rich
   c) To paint a masterpiece
   d) To teach art to Sue and Johnsy

6. How did Sue try to help Johnsy initially?
   a) By reading stories to her
   b) By taking her out for walks
   c) By talking cheerfully and bringing her drawing board into the room
   d) By calling Behrman immediately

7. What did Sue and Johnsy see on the wall after the stormy night?
   a) The vine had completely fallen.
   b) All the leaves had fallen.
   c) One single ivy leaf was still clinging to the vine.
   d) Behrman was painting the wall.

8. What caused Johnsy's will to live to return?
   a) The medicine finally started working.
   b) Sue's constant encouragement.
   c) Seeing the last leaf still hanging on after the storm.
   d) The doctor's stern warning.

9. How did Behrman die?
   a) Old age
   b) The same illness as Johnsy (pneumonia)
   c) An accident while painting
   d) A heart attack

10. What was Behrman's masterpiece?
    a) A portrait of Sue and Johnsy
    b) A painting of the Bay of Naples
    c) The painted ivy leaf on the wall
    d) A self-portrait

Answer Key:

1. c
2. d
3. b
4. c
5. c
6. c
7. c
8. c
9. b
10. c

Study these notes thoroughly. Understanding the characters' motivations, the plot's progression, and the underlying themes is crucial. Good luck with your preparation!