The last Leaf
The Last Leaf
1)Answers to Textbook questions
What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure - the medicine or the willingness to live?
Ans)Johnsy fell ill in November and developed pneumonia. It was autumn and the leaves on the ivy creeper were falling gradually. This depressed an already ill Johnsy and strangely enough she associated her falling health with the leaves. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell. According to the doctor, Johnsy’s condition was worrisome because she did not show any signs of improvement despite good treatment. He thought that perhaps she had lost her will to live and no medicine could help her in this negative state of mind.
2)Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers?
Ans)Yes, the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers. It is so because, like Johnsy, they too lack emotional maturity. They fail to understand that sorrows are as much a part of our lives as joys are. Certain situations in life are unpredictable as well as unavoidable. Teenagers become nervous while encountering such situations. They begin to gather negative thoughts and have a fear of failures. Pessimism begins to destroy their will-power. Another problem is that like Johnsy, teenagers take a lot of time to get convinced. They are difficult to counsel and try their loved one’s patience a lot. Therefore, teenagers should inculcate positive values like optimism, strong will-power, and faith through meditation and regular exercise in order to enjoy the blessings of a sound mind in a sound body.
3)Behrman has a dream. What is it? How did it come true?
Ans) Behrman dreamt of painting a masterpiece someday. His dream did come true when he painted a leaf that was a near replica of a real leaf. This masterpiece saved a young life and fulfilled Behrman’s ambition too. Unfortunately, it cost him his life.
4)What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?
Ans) Behrman’s masterpiece was the leaf that he painted on the wall opposite Johnsy’s window. He had braved icy winds and rains at night while painting the leaf. Sue called it a masterpiece as it looked fresh and healthy like a real leaf. Besides, it had saved Johnsy’ life by reviving her will to live. Thus, Behrman’s painting was a masterpiece in the sense that it had saved a precious life. Johnsy’s illness was serious but could be cured if she had the will to live. Her falling health was more due to her state of depression than pneumonia. The sixty-year-old painter Behrman took upon himself the difficult responsibility of saving Johnsy. He made a single-handed effort to brave the icy winds and rain to reach the window by climbing a ladder and painting a fresh and green leaf. The readiness with which he gave up his life shows his unparalleled commitment to art. He painted the leaf with such passion that it revived the sinking will of Johnsy. He thus saved Johnsy’s life by sacrificing his own.
Long Answer type Questions (100-150 words)
Justify the title of the story ‘The Last Leaf‘.
ANS) Johnsy was a young artist girl. She and her friend Sue lived together. One day Johnsy caught pneumonia. There was an ivy creeper on the wall of their flat. From her window Johnsy watched that creeper. Its leaves were falling fast in the cold winds. Johnsy believed that she would also die when the last leaf of the creeper fell. She lost the will to live. Her condition worsened. Behrman, an old painter came to know of this fancy. That night it rained heavily and cold winds blew and the last leaf fell. But Behrman risked his life and painted a leaf on the wall. It looked a real leaf. When Johnsy saw that leaf, her will to live returned. That painted leaf saved Johnsy’s life. Thus the leaf plays an important role in the story. So the title of the story ‘The Last Leaf’ is justified.
1. Write a brief character sketch of old Behrman. / Write a few sentences on the looks and personality of old Behrman.
Ans) Old Behrman was a painter. He was past sixty. But he was a failure in art. He earned very little through his paintings. He always said that he was going to paint a masterpiece. But for the last forty years, he had not even begun it. He lived on the ground floor beneath Sue and Johnsy’s flat. He considered himself their guardian. He was very kind and helpful at heart. When he came to know of Johnsy’s fancy, he decided to help her. He went out in rain and storm and painted a leaf on the wall. It saved Johnsy’s life. But he caught pneumonia and died. He sacrificed his life and saved Johnsy’s life.
1)Answers to Textbook questions
What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure - the medicine or the willingness to live?
Ans)Johnsy fell ill in November and developed pneumonia. It was autumn and the leaves on the ivy creeper were falling gradually. This depressed an already ill Johnsy and strangely enough she associated her falling health with the leaves. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell. According to the doctor, Johnsy’s condition was worrisome because she did not show any signs of improvement despite good treatment. He thought that perhaps she had lost her will to live and no medicine could help her in this negative state of mind.
2)Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers?
Ans)Yes, the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers. It is so because, like Johnsy, they too lack emotional maturity. They fail to understand that sorrows are as much a part of our lives as joys are. Certain situations in life are unpredictable as well as unavoidable. Teenagers become nervous while encountering such situations. They begin to gather negative thoughts and have a fear of failures. Pessimism begins to destroy their will-power. Another problem is that like Johnsy, teenagers take a lot of time to get convinced. They are difficult to counsel and try their loved one’s patience a lot. Therefore, teenagers should inculcate positive values like optimism, strong will-power, and faith through meditation and regular exercise in order to enjoy the blessings of a sound mind in a sound body.
3)Behrman has a dream. What is it? How did it come true?
Ans) Behrman dreamt of painting a masterpiece someday. His dream did come true when he painted a leaf that was a near replica of a real leaf. This masterpiece saved a young life and fulfilled Behrman’s ambition too. Unfortunately, it cost him his life.
4)What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?
Ans) Behrman’s masterpiece was the leaf that he painted on the wall opposite Johnsy’s window. He had braved icy winds and rains at night while painting the leaf. Sue called it a masterpiece as it looked fresh and healthy like a real leaf. Besides, it had saved Johnsy’ life by reviving her will to live. Thus, Behrman’s painting was a masterpiece in the sense that it had saved a precious life. Johnsy’s illness was serious but could be cured if she had the will to live. Her falling health was more due to her state of depression than pneumonia. The sixty-year-old painter Behrman took upon himself the difficult responsibility of saving Johnsy. He made a single-handed effort to brave the icy winds and rain to reach the window by climbing a ladder and painting a fresh and green leaf. The readiness with which he gave up his life shows his unparalleled commitment to art. He painted the leaf with such passion that it revived the sinking will of Johnsy. He thus saved Johnsy’s life by sacrificing his own.
Long Answer type Questions (100-150 words)
Justify the title of the story ‘The Last Leaf‘.
ANS) Johnsy was a young artist girl. She and her friend Sue lived together. One day Johnsy caught pneumonia. There was an ivy creeper on the wall of their flat. From her window Johnsy watched that creeper. Its leaves were falling fast in the cold winds. Johnsy believed that she would also die when the last leaf of the creeper fell. She lost the will to live. Her condition worsened. Behrman, an old painter came to know of this fancy. That night it rained heavily and cold winds blew and the last leaf fell. But Behrman risked his life and painted a leaf on the wall. It looked a real leaf. When Johnsy saw that leaf, her will to live returned. That painted leaf saved Johnsy’s life. Thus the leaf plays an important role in the story. So the title of the story ‘The Last Leaf’ is justified.
1. Write a brief character sketch of old Behrman. / Write a few sentences on the looks and personality of old Behrman.
Ans) Old Behrman was a painter. He was past sixty. But he was a failure in art. He earned very little through his paintings. He always said that he was going to paint a masterpiece. But for the last forty years, he had not even begun it. He lived on the ground floor beneath Sue and Johnsy’s flat. He considered himself their guardian. He was very kind and helpful at heart. When he came to know of Johnsy’s fancy, he decided to help her. He went out in rain and storm and painted a leaf on the wall. It saved Johnsy’s life. But he caught pneumonia and died. He sacrificed his life and saved Johnsy’s life.
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