SUP.UNIT - 7 - The Last Leaf ENGLISH - SUP.UNIT - 7 - The Last Leaf

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?

What change came over Johnsy after the last leaf didn’t fall off the ivy creeper?

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."
Question:
Q.1. What did Sue and others find near Behrman's bed?
Q.2. What did Sue reveal about the ivy leaf outside Johnsy's window?

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 janitor found him on his bed. His clothes and shoes were wet and he was shivering. He had been out in that stormy night."
Question:
Q.1. What did the doctor say about Johnsy's condition after examining her?
Q.2. What happened to Behrman, according to Sue?

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.
"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.
Question:
Q.1. What did Johnsy realize after looking at the last leaf?
Q.2. How did Sue respond to Johnsy's realization?

"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.
Question:
Q.1. What did Sue notice about the last leaf on the creeper?
Q.2. How did Johnsy react when she saw the leaf still on the creeper every hour?

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.
Question:
Q.1. What did Sue do after Johnsy woke up and asked her to draw the curtains?
Q.2. How many leaves were left on the creeper when Sue peeped out through the window?

“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.'”
Questions:
Q.1. Why was Sue reluctant to open the curtains?
Q.2. What does Johnsy see as her symbol of coming death?
Q.3. Why did the leaf not fall despite a violent storm?

“SUE and Johnsy, two young artists, shared a small flat. The flat was on the third storey of an old house. 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.'”
Questions:
Q.1. Which disease did Johnsy suffer from?
Q.2. What did the doctor say about Johnsy’s condition?
Q.3. What did the two girls do for a living?

“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.”
Questions:
Q.1. List the things Sue did to divert Johnsy’s attention from her illness.
Q.2. Why did Sue come to Johnsy’s room?
Q.3. Why was Johnsy counting backwards?

“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.”
Questions:
Q.1. When did Sue hug Johnsy? Why?
Q.2. Why did Sue give her soup?
Q.3. Why did Sue give her a mirror too?

“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.”
Questions:
Q.1. What was his lifelong dream? Why has it remained unfulfilled so far?
Q.2. Why did Sue pour out her worries to Behrman?
Q.3. Why do you think Behrman listened to Sue?