Sup. Reader : Chapter 7 The Last Leaf English (Language & Literature) - Sup. Reader : Chapter 7 The Last Leaf

        “I have been a bad girl. You have looked after me so lovingly and I have not cooperated with you. I have been depressed and gloomy. The last leaf has shown me how wicked I have been. I have realised that it is a sin to want to die.”
        Sue hugged Johnsy. Then she gave her lots of hot soup and a mirror. Johnsy combed her hair and smiled brightly. In the afternoon the doctor came. After examining his patient he told Sue, “Johnsy now has the will to live. I am confident she’ll recover soon. Now I must go downstairs and see Behrman. He is also suffering from pneumonia. But I am afraid, there is no hope for him.”
       The next morning Sue came and sat on Johnsy’s bed. Taking Johnsy’s hand in hers she said, “I have something to tell you. Mr Behrman died of pneumonia this morning. He was ill for only two days. The first day the janitorfound him on his bed. His clothes and shoes were wet and he was shivering. He had been out in that stormy night.”
        Then they found a ladder and a lantern still lighted lying near his bed. There were also some brushes and green and yellow paints on the floor near the ladder. “Johnsy dear,” said Sue, “look out of the window. Look at that ivy leaf. Haven’t you wondered why it doesn’t flutter when the wind blows? That’s Behrman’s masterpiece. He painted it the night the last leaf fell.”

1. Why does Johnsy feel remorseful after realizing the significance of the last leaf?
a) She feels guilty for not cooperating with Sue
b) She regrets not appreciating Sue's efforts
c) She acknowledges her depression and gloominess
d) She realizes that wanting to die is sinful

2. Discuss the significance of Behrman's actions and the last leaf in the resolution of the story.

3. Read the following descriptions (a) - (c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract:
(a) Johnsy realizes the value of life after seeing the last leaf and expresses remorse for her previous attitude.
(b) The doctor informs Sue that Johnsy is recovering but Mr. Behrman, who was also ill, has passed away.
(c) Sue shares the news of Mr. Behrman's death with Johnsy and reveals that he painted the last leaf to give her hope.

4. What is the significance of the last leaf painted by Behrman?

        “Try to sleep,” said Sue. “I have to paint an old miner. I will call Behrman up to be my model.”
        Sue rushed down. Behrman lived on the ground floor. He was a sixty-year-old painter. His lifelong dream was to paint a masterpiece but that had remained a dream. Sue poured out her worries to Behrman. She told him how Johnsy was convinced that she would die when the last leaf fell.
      “Is she stupid?” asked Behrman. “How can she be so foolish?”
      “She is running a high temperature,”complained Sue. “She refuses to eat or drink and that worries me a lot.”
      “I will come with you and see Johnsy,” Behrman said.
      They tiptoed into the room. Johnsy was sleeping. Sue drew the curtains together and they went to the next room. She peeped out through the window. There was only one leaf on the creeper. It was raining heavily and an icy-cold wind was blowing. It seemed as though the leaf would fall any minute now. Behrman did not say a word. He went back to his room.
       Johnsy woke up next morning. In a feeble voice she asked Sue to draw the curtains. Sue was nervous. She drew back the curtains very reluctantly.
      “Oh!” Sue exclaimed as she looked at the vine creeper. “Look, there is still one leaf on the creeper. It looks quite green and healthy. In spite of the storm and the fierce winds, it didn’t fall.”
       “I heard the wind last night,” said Johnsy. “I thought it would have fallen. It will surely fall today. Then I’ll die.”
       “You won’t die,” said Sue energetically. “You have to live for your friends. What would happen to me if you die?”
       Johnsy smiled weakly and closed her eyes. After every hour or so she would look out of the window and find the leaf still there. It seemed to be clinging to the creeper. In the evening, there was another storm but the leaf did not fall. Johnsy lay for a long time looking at the leaf. Then she called out to Sue.

1. Why does Sue ask Behrman to be her model for painting?
a) Behrman is a professional model
b) Sue needs someone to talk to about Johnsy's condition
c) Behrman is a famous painter
d) Sue wants to distract herself from worrying about Johnsy

2. Discuss the role of the last leaf in Johnsy's recovery and the significance of Behrman's reaction to it.

3. Read the following descriptions (a) - (c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract:
(a) Sue and Johnsy watched the leaves falling off the creeper together, worrying about the last leaf falling.
(b) Behrman, a sixty-year-old painter, painted a masterpiece to give Johnsy hope, but the leaf he painted eventually fell in the storm.
(c) Sue and Behrman worried about Johnsy's belief that she would die when the last leaf fell; Behrman saw the leaf remaining on the creeper despite the storm.

4. What surprises Johnsy when Sue draws back the curtains the next morning?

            “What is it, dear?” Sue asked.
            “Six,” whispered Johnsy. “They are falling faster now. Three days ago there were almost a hundred leaves. There are only five left now.”
            “It is autumn,” said Sue, “and the leaves will fall.”
            “When the last leaf falls, I will die,” said Johnsy with finality. “I have known this for the last three days.”
            “Oh, that’s nonsense,” replied Sue. “What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? The doctor is confident that you will get better.”
             Johnsy did not say anything. Sue went and brought her a bowl of soup.
            “I don’t want any soup,” said Johnsy. “I am not hungry… Now there are only four leaves left. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I will sleep forever.”
            Sue sat on Johnsy’s bed, kissed her and said, “You are not going to die. I can’t draw the curtain for I need the light. I want to finish the painting and get some money for us. Please, my dear friend,” she begged Johnsy, “promise not to look out of the window while I paint.”
           “All right,” said Johnsy. “Finish your painting soon for I want to see the last leaf fall. I’m tired of waiting. I have to die, so let me go away peacefully like one of those poor, tired leaves.”

1. What belief does Johnsy hold regarding the falling ivy leaves?
a) Each leaf represents a day of her illness
b) When the last leaf falls, she will get better
c) The leaves falling signify the approach of winter
d) The number of leaves left determines her fate

2. Discuss Johnsy's belief about the falling leaves and its impact on her behavior.

3. Read the following descriptions (a) - (c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract:
(a) Johnsy counted the leaves falling outside and believed she would die when the last one fell, despite Sue's reassurances.
(b) Sue tried to distract Johnsy from her belief by painting a picture of the leaves, hoping it would cheer her up.
(c) Johnsy insisted on watching the leaves fall outside, convinced that her fate was tied to the last leaf, while Sue begged her not to look.

4. Why does Sue ask Johnsy not to look out of the window while she paints?

           Johnsy fell very seriously ill in November. She had pneumonia. She would lie in her bed without moving, just gazing out of the window. Sue, her friend, became very worried. She sent for the doctor. Although he came every day there was no change in Johnsy’s condition.
          One day the doctor took Sue aside and asked her, ”Is anything worrying Johnsy?”
          “No,” replied Sue. “But why do you ask?”
          The doctor said “Johnsy, it seems, has made up her mind that she is not going to get well. If she doesn’t want to live, medicines will not help her.”
          Sue tried her best to make Johnsy take an interest in things around her. She talked about clothes and fashions, but Johnsy did not respond. Johnsy continued to lie still on her bed. Sue brought her drawing-board into Johnsy’s room and started painting. To take Johnsy’s mind off her illness, she whistled while working.
        Suddenly Sue heard Johnsy whisper something. She quickly rushed to the bed and heard Johnsy counting backwards. She was looking out of the window and was saying, “Twelve!” After sometime she whispered “eleven”, then “ten”, then “nine”, “eight”, “seven”. Sue anxiously looked out of the window. She saw an old ivy creeper climbing half-way up the brick wall opposite their window. In the strong wind outside, the creeper was shedding its leaves.

1. Why was Sue worried about Johnsy's condition?
a) Johnsy had a fever
b) Johnsy had pneumonia
c) Johnsy was feeling lonely
d) Johnsy was unable to sleep

2. Describe Sue's attempts to help Johnsy recover and the turning point in Johnsy's condition.

3. Read the following descriptions (a) - (c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract:
(a) Johnsy's friend Sue tries to distract her from her illness by talking about clothes and fashion, but Johnsy remains unresponsive.
(b) Johnsy's condition worsens despite the doctor's daily visits, leading him to believe that Johnsy has lost her will to live.
(c) Sue hears Johnsy counting backwards while looking out of the window, observing the shedding leaves of an old ivy creeper.

4. What did Johnsy do that indicated a change in her condition?

What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?

Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?

Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers?

What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?

‘Sue is a true and faithful friend.’ Comment.

Have you ever felt depressed and dejected? How did you overcome such feelings? Share your experience with your classmates.

How did Behrman sacrifice his life?