The Gift of the Magi: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Gift of the Magi · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “One Dollar and Eighty-Seven Cents” (pages 1–4, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 4, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What are the two treasures the Youngs are proud of?
   The story's answer: Della's hair and Jim's gold watch
2. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
3. The part we just read is called "One Dollar and Eighty-Seven Cents". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 The Gift of the Magi · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “Madame Sofronie” (pages 5–7, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 7, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
2. The part we just read is called "Madame Sofronie". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
3. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 The Gift of the Magi · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Magi” (pages 8–13, about 8 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 13, the end of the story.

1. How much money does Della have on Christmas Eve?
   The story's answer: One dollar and eighty-seven cents
2. Why does Jim stare at Della with a look she cannot read?
   The story's answer: He has just sold his watch to buy combs for the hair she no longer has
3. What does Jim give Della?
   The story's answer: A set of tortoise-shell combs
4. Why does the narrator call Della and Jim the wisest givers of all?
   The story's answer: Each gave up their greatest treasure out of love for the other
5. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
6. The part we just read is called "The Magi". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
7. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. Which character changed the most from the beginning to the end?
   Listen for: Ask what changed them.
2. Which scene would you put on the poster if this were a film?
   Listen for: A way to find the scene that mattered most to each reader.
3. Is there a line or a moment you will remember? Why that one?
   Listen for: Let readers find it in the book and read it aloud.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.