178 Tone and Style QUESTIONS
1. How would you describe the style of this story? Does the author's tone
tell
about his attitude toward the characters and events of the narrative?
you anything
2. What do the details in paragraph 7 tell you about Della and Jim's financial situation?
3. O. Henry tells us that Jim "needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves" (paragraph
25). Why do you think Della didn't buy him these things for Christmas instead of a watch
chain?
4. "Eight dollars a week or a million a year-what is the difference? A mathematician or a
wit would give you the wrong answer" (paragraph 34). What, in your view, is "the wrong
answer," and why is it wrong? What might the right answer be?
5. What is ironic about the story's ending? Is this plot twist the most important element of
the conclusion? If not, what is?
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Ha Jin
C

1ans-Tone is expressed by your use of syntax, your point of view, your diction, and the level of formality in your writing. Examples of tone in a story include just about any adjective you can imagine

.2ans-The details in paragraph 7 provide further insight into Della and Jim's unfortunate financial situation by describing their lowly, inexpensive $8 apartment and cheap pier-glass, which Della can hardly observe her own reflection in.

3ans and 4ans-A wit would say that a million dollars a year is better than eight dollars a week because that would give you the most money and then the most joy to follow. However, the mathematician would reply something along the lines of “a million dollars a year is better because eight dollars a week is only 416 dollars and those two numbers are verydifferent.” Both of these answers are wrong because for Jim and Della itwas never about the money. From the very beginning of the story we see that money is nothing this couple has in excess. The point is that they gave up their most prized possessions to give their significant other a gift that would bring them joy. Even when that did not pan out and both of them had sold their most prized possessions for the other, they weren’t angry or upset. They were joyful anyway, because they had each other and their love for each other.

5ans-

overnment is strong when they have the ability to persuade those they govern to believe government has enough power to force them or should be forcing them to do government’s will.

when enough of the citizenry do not believe government can force them or should force them to do its bidding, government has lost or will lose its strength and power to coerce.

when enough of the citizenry do believe government can force or should force them to do its bidding, they become passive at the least or actively pro-government and repeat government’s own rhetoric to pass on what they have been persuaded by government’s propaganda.

a true majority isn’t always needed to govern or to stop government. many times all that is needed is a strong minority. if a determined 30% of the population rises up against government in a concerted effort to bring it down, this size minority usually will succeed as long as those actively opposing the minority are less in force than the minority. so if 41% of the population sits at home watching tv rooting for one side or the other, they don’t matter. it’s the active parties who make a difference.

the answer is a . the absence of love