In the space below, write a 500-word essay describing the theme of o. henry’s “the gift of the magi” (click here to read the short story). explain how the author uses irony as an essential tool in developing this theme.

O'Henry used irony in "The Gift of the Magi". This tool was essential to developing the story's theme by showing that the couple bought gifts for each other that they could not actually use at the moment. In addition, the author used this fact to show that people of the society should treasure the things they've received from others, because you may never know if they sacrificed THEIR most treasured possession to aquire the gift.

1. read the following excerpt from franklin d. roosevelt's "fireside chat 19":

on the other side of the picture, we must learn also to know that guerilla warfare against the germans in, let us say serbia or norway, us; that a successful russian offensive against the germans us; and that british successes on land or sea in any part of the world strengthen our hands.

remember always that germany and italy, regardless of any formal declaration of war, consider themselves at war with the united states at this moment just as much as they consider themselves at war with britain or russia. and germany puts all the other republics of the americas into the same category of enemies. the people of our sister republics of this hemisphere can be honored by that fact.  

the true goal we seek is far above and beyond the ugly field of battle. when we resort to force, as now we must, we are determined that this force shall be directed toward ultimate good as well as against immediate evil. we americans are not destroyers — we are builders.

analyze the effectiveness of this excerpt. how does it function within the speech as a whole? how does the structure of the excerpt to convey the speech's purpose and key points? support your argument with evidence from the speech. (10 points)