1. Give a brief summary of the story, 'The Gift of the Magi.
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What is the signi cance of the title of the story?
Answer: “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry is a story about a young,
poor couple, Della and Jim, who want to buy each other meaningful
Christmas gifts but lack the money to do so. To buy a special gift for
Jim, Della sells her long, beautiful hair to a wig maker, and with the
money, she buys him a ne chain for his prized pocket watch.
Meanwhile, Jim sells his pocket watch to buy Della a set of ornate
combs for her hair. When they exchange gifts, they realize that each has
sacri ced their most valuable possession for the other, making their
gifts ironically unusable. However, their love for each other is evident
in their willingness to make such sacri ces.
The title, “The Gift of the Magi,” refers to the biblical Magi, or Wise
Men, who brought valuable gifts to honor the birth of Jesus. In the
story, Jim and Della’s gifts, though now impractical, are rich in meaning
because they demonstrate sel ess love and sacri ce, much like the gifts
of the Magi. Their willingness to give up their most treasured items for
each other highlights the depth of their love, suggesting that their true
“gifts” are love and sacri ce, not material objects.
3."Millionaire models are rare but model millionaires are rarer
still." Elaborate.
Answer: In Ten Mighty Pens, the phrase “Millionaire models are rare,
but model millionaires are rarer still” appears in the context of Oscar
Wilde’s story “The Model Millionaire.” This story re ects Wilde’s
perspective on the true nature of wealth and generosity. In the tale,
Hughie Erskine, a charming but poor young man, encounters an old
beggar who is actually a wealthy baron in disguise. When Hughie, out of
pure kindness, gives the “beggar” a sovereign despite his own limited
means, the baron is deeply touched and later rewards him with a large
sum of money. Through this story, Wilde conveys that true generosity
and compassion are rare qualities, especially among the wealthy.
Wilde suggests that while there are people who acquire riches or fame,
few among them truly embody the spirit of kindness, humility, and
generosity. Millionaires who act as role models, giving freely without
expecting anything in return, are much rarer than those who simply
accumulate wealth. Wilde’s story argues that wealth alone does not
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make one “great”; instead, it is the character and moral integrity with
which one uses wealth that distinguishes a “model millionaire.”
Thus, Wilde’s statement serves as both a compliment and a critique:
while it recognizes the rarity of nancial success, it calls for a higher
standard—one where wealth is paired with virtue and sel ess
generosity.
4. Mention di erent kinds of bores discussed in the essays,
‘Bores.'
Answer: In Ten Mighty Pens, the essay “Bores” by E.V. Lucas categorizes and
humorously describes various types of “bores,” or people who are unintentionally
dull and exhausting to be around. Each type of bore brings their own unique way of
being tiresome in social interactions. Here are some types of bores Lucas discusses:
1. The Persistent Bore: This bore monopolizes conversations, often
repeating the same stories or ideas without regard for the interest of others. They
are relentless in their need to speak, often leaving others mentally drained.
2. The Boastful Bore: This type is always focused on themselves, boasting
about their accomplishments, possessions, or connections. They fail to realize that
their self-centered tales of success are not as impressive or entertaining to others as
they believe.
3. The Humorous Bore: These individuals tell the same jokes repeatedly,
regardless of whether anyone laughs or nds them funny. They believe themselves
to be amusing but often lack self-awareness, which makes their humor tiresome
rather than entertaining.
4. The Argumentative Bore: This bore enjoys picking ghts over trivial
matters, often contradicting others just to spark a debate. Their constant need for
confrontation makes it di cult to enjoy a peaceful conversation in their presence.
5. The Specialist Bore: Known for an intense focus on a speci c subject,
the specialist bore will speak endlessly about their niche interest, assuming
everyone else shares the same passion. They ignore the signals that others are
uninterested or bored by the topic.
6. The Pity-seeking Bore: These bores constantly seek sympathy by
discussing their personal troubles, misfortunes, or grievances. They draw people
into a cycle of empathy, often exhausting listeners with their perpetual complaints
and self-pity.
7. The Well-Informed Bore: This person overwhelms conversations with
facts, data, or “intellectual” talk, often lecturing others on topics in which they
consider themselves experts. They can be condescending and rarely allow others to
speak, making their presence sti ing.
Lucas humorously critiques these types, encouraging readers to re ect on their
own social behaviors and be considerate of others in conversation. Each type of
bore serves as an exaggerated example of social faux pas, underlining the
importance of self-awareness and empathy in social interactions.
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