Chapter TwoThe masterpiece
Old Behrman was a German painter who lived on the ground floor beneath them. He was past sixty and had a beard like Michael Angelo’s Moses curling down from his wide head.1 Behrman was a failure in art. He had been painting for forty years, but he had never produced anything noteworthy.2 He had always been ready to paint a masterpiece, but he never actually started one. For several years, he had painted nothing except a small graphic now and then for an advertisement.
He earned a little money by serving as a model to young artists in the colony who could not afford a professional model.3 He drank a lot of gin and still talked about the masterpiece he would paint one day. He was a fierce little old man, who se-verely criticized softness in anyone. He regarded himself as a bulldog ready to protect the two young artists in the studio above.4
Key Words
masterpiece (n): kiệt tác
ground floor (n): tầng trệt
beneath (prep): bên dưới
beard (n): râu quai nón
curl (adj): quăn, xoắn
failure (n): người thất bại
produce (v): tạo ra, sản xuất
noteworthy (adj): đáng chú ý
except (prep): ngoại trừ
now and then (idiom): thỉnh thoảng
advertisement (n): tờ quảng cáo
earn (v): kiếm (tiền)
colony (n): cụm, khu
professional (adj): chuyên nghiệp
gin (n): rượu gin
fierce (adj): dữ tợn
severely (adv): gay gắt
criticize (v): chỉ trích
softness (n): tính nhu nhược
protect (v): bảo vệ
Key Sentences
1 He was past sixty and had a beard like Michael Angelo’s Moses curling down from his wide head.
2 He had been painting for forty years, but he had never produced anything noteworthy.
3 He earned a little money by serving as a model to young artists in the colony who could not afford a professional model.
4 He regarded himself as a bulldog ready to protect the two young artists in the studio above.
Sue found Behrman smelling strongly of wine in his dimly lit den below. In one corner was a blank canvas on an easel that had been waiting for twenty-five years to receive the first line of a masterpiece.1 She told him of Johnsy’s idea. She explained how she feared that Johnsy would indeed float away herself like a leaf when she became too weak.2 Old Behrman’s eyes were dripping with tears, but he shouted his contempt for such idiotic thoughts.
“What!” he cried. “Are there people in the world with the foolishness to die because leaves drop off from a simple vine?3 I have never heard of such a thing. No, I will not pose as a model for you. Why do you allow such silly thoughts to come into Johnsy’s brain? Oh, the poor little Miss Johnsy.”
“She is very ill and weak,” said Sue, “and the fever has left her mind gloomy and full of strange ideas.4 Very well, Mr. Behrman, if you do not care to pose for me, you don’t have to. But I think you are a terrible old man.”
Key Words
dimly (adv): lờ mờ
light (v): chiếu sáng (light - lit - lit)
den (n): căn phòng nhỏ
easel (n): giá vẽ
line (n): nét vẽ
explain (v): giải thích
fear (v): lo sợ
indeed (adv): quả thực (là)
float (v): trôi nổi
drip with (idiom): ướt đẫm
contempt (n): sự coi khinh/
lời khinh thường
idiotic (adj): xuẩn ngốc
thought (n): suy nghĩ
foolishness (n): sự xuẩn ngốc
drop off (phrasal verb): rơi khỏi
pose (v): tạo tư thế
brain (n): não
fever (n): cơn sốt
gloomy (adj): buồn rầu/ảm đạm
care (v): thích, muốn
Key Sentences
1 In one corner was a blank canvas on an easel that had been waiting for twenty-five years to receive the first line of a masterpiece.
2 She explained how she feared that Johnsy would indeed float away herself like a leaf when she became too weak.
3 Are there people in the world with the foolishness to die because leaves drop off from a simple vine?
4 “She is very ill and weak,” said Sue, “and the fever has left her mind gloomy and full of strange ideas.
“You are just like a woman!” yelled Behrman. “Who said I will not pose? Go on. I come with you. For half an hour, I have been trying to say that I am ready to pose.1 God! This is not a place in which one so good as Miss Johnsy should lie sick. Some day I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away. God, yes.”
Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shade down to the window sill and motioned to Behrman to come into the other room.2 From there, they looked out the window fearfully at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other for a moment without speaking. A persistent, cold rain was falling, mingled with snow. Behrman, in his old blue shirt, took his seat as the Western miner.
When Sue awoke from an hour’s sleep the next morning, she found Johnsy with dull, wide-open eyes staring at the drawn green shade.3
Key Words
go away (phrasal verb): đi khỏi
window sill (n): ngưỡng cửa sổ
motion (v): chỉ (hướng, đường)
fearfully (adv): đầy sợ hãi
for a moment (idiom): một lúc
without (prep): không
persistent (adj): dai dẳng
mingled with (v): trộn lẫn với
take one’s seat (idiom): ngồi
awake (v): thức dậy
(awake - awoke - awoken)
dull (n): thẫn thờ
stare at (phrasal verb): nhìn
chằm chằm vào
Key Sentences
1 For half an hour, I have been trying to say that I am ready to pose.
2 Sue pulled the shade down to the window sill and motioned to Behrman to come into the other room.
3 When Sue awoke from an hour’s sleep the next morning, she found Johnsy with dull, wide-open eyes staring at the drawn green shade.
“Pull it up. I want to see,” Johnsy ordered, in a whisper.
Wearily Sue obeyed. But, wait! After the beating rain and fierce gusts of wind that blew through the entire night, there yet remained against the brick wall one ivy leaf.1 It was the last on the vine. Still dark green near its stem, but with its serrated edges tinted with the yellow of dissolution and decay, it hung bravely from a branch some twenty feet above the ground.2
“It is the last one,” said Johnsy. “I thought it would surely fall during the night. I heard the wind. It will fall today, and I shall die at the same time.”
“Dear, dear!” said Sue, leaning her worn face down to the pillow, “Think of me if you won’t think of yourself. What would I do?”
But Johnsy did not answer. The loneliest thing in all the world is a soul when it is making ready to go on its final mysterious, far journey.3 The idea seemed to possess her more strongly as one by one, the ties that bound her to friendship and to earth were loosened.
Check up
Write down the closest meaning with “The idea” in “The idea seemed to possess...”.
_______________________
Key Words
pull up (phrasal verb): đẩy lên (cửa sổ)
order (v): yêu cầu
wearily (adv): một cách mệt mỏi
obey (v): nghe lời
beat (v): gõ nhịp (beat - beat - beaten)
gust (n): cơn gió mạnh
stem (n): cọng lá, cuống lá
serrated (adj): hình răng cưa
edge (n): rìa (lá)
tinted with (adj): nhuốm màu
dissolution (n): sự tan rã
decay (n): sự phân hủy
hang (v): treo (hang - hung - hung)
bravely (adv): một cách dũng cảm
at the same time (idiom): cùng
thời gian, cùng lúc
lean (v): ngả người
worn (adj): mệt mỏi
pillow (n): cái gối
lonely (adj): cô đơn
soul (n): tâm hồn
mysterious (adj): bí ẩn
possess (v): ám ảnh
tie (n): sợi dây
bind (v): ràng buộc
(bind - bound - bound)
loosen (v): nới lỏng
Key Sentences
1 But, wait! After the beating rain and fierce gusts of wind that blew through the entire night, there yet remained against the brick wall one ivy leaf.
2 Still dark green near its stem, but with its serrated edges tinted with the yellow of dissolution and decay, it hung bravely from a branch some twenty feet above the ground.
3 The loneliest thing in all the world is a soul when it is making ready to go on its final mysterious, far journey.
The day wore away, and even through the twilight they could still see the lone ivy leaf clinging to its stem against the wall.1 And then, with the coming of the night, the north wind again howled, while the rain still beat against the windows and dripped down from the low eaves.2
When it was light enough, Johnsy mercilessly commanded that the shade be raised.
The ivy leaf was still there. Johnsy lay for a long time looking at it. And then she called to Sue, who was stirring her chicken soup over the gas stove.
“I’ve been a bad girl, Susie,” said Johnsy. “Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how bad I was.3 It is a sin to want to die. You may bring me a little soup now, and some milk with a little wine in it. Wait, pack some pillows about me, and I will sit up and watch you cook.”
An hour later, she said, “Susie, some day I hope to paint the Bay of Naples.”
Check up
Choose to complete the following sentence.
The last leaf gave Johnsy _______.
a. sorrow and despair
b. hope to succeed
c. the will to live
Key Words
wear away (phrasal verb): trôi qua
chậm chạp (wear - wore - worn)
twilight (n): lúc xẩm tối
lone (adj): cô đơn
cling to (v): bám vào
howl (v): gào thét
drip down (phrasal verb): chảy nhỏ giọt
eaves (n): mái hiên
mercilessly (adv): không thương tiếc
command (v): ra lệnh
raise (v): gọi về
stir (v): khuấy trộn
(stir - stired - stired)
sin (n): tội ác
pack (v): xếp
Key Sentences
1 The day wore away, and even through the twilight they could still see the lone ivy leaf clinging to its stem against the wall.
2 And then, with the coming of the night, the north wind again howled, while the rain still beat against the windows and dripped down from the low eaves.
3 Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how bad I was.
The doctor came in the afternoon, and Sue went into the hallway with him as he left.
“Even chances,” said the doctor, taking Sue’s thin, shaking hand in his.1 “With good nursing, you’ll win. And now I must see another case I have downstairs.2 Behrman, his name is – some kind of an artist, I believe. Pneumonia, too. He is an old, weak man, and the attack is severe. There is no hope for him, but he goes to the hospital today to be made more comfortable.”3
The next day, the doctor said to Sue, “She’s out of danger. You’ve won. Nutrition and care now – that’s all.”
And that afternoon, Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, happily knitting a very blue and very useless woolen scarf.4 Sue put one arm around Johnsy, pillows, and all.
Check up
Based on the story, write down “T” if true or “F” if false.
a. The doctor asked Sue to look after Behrman. _____
b. Behrman got pneumonia because of a lack of nutrition. _____
Key Words & Sentences
even (adv): ngay cả
shaking (adj): run rẩy
nursing (n): sự chăm sóc
attack (n): tấn công
comfortable (adj): thoải mái
out of danger (idiom): thoát khỏi nguy hiểm
win (v): chiến thắng (win - won - won)
nutrition (n): sự dinh dưỡng
care (n): sự chăm sóc
knit (v): đan (knit - knitted - knitted)
useless (n): vô dụng
woolen (adj): làm bằng len
1 “Even chances,” said the doctor, taking Sue’s thin, shaking hand in his.
2 And now I must see another case I have downstairs.
3 There is no hope for him, but he goes to the hospital today to be made more comfortable.
4 And that afternoon, Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, happily knitting a very blue and very useless woolen scarf.
“I have something to tell you, white mouse,” she said. “Mr. Behrman died of pneumonia today in the hospital. He was ill only two days. The janitor found him on the morning of the first day in his room downstairs helpless with pain.1 His shoes and clothing were completely wet and icy cold. They couldn’t imagine where he had been on such a dreadful night. And then they found a lantern, still lit, and a ladder that had been dragged from its place, and some scattered brushes, and a palette with green and yellow colors mixed on it,2 and – look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn’t you wonder why it never fluttered or moved when the wind blew?3 Ah, darling, it’s Behrman’s masterpiece – he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell.”
Check up
Choose to complete the following sentence.
The last leaf did not move because it was _____ on the wall.
a. pasted
b. painted
c. put
Key Words & Sentences
die of (phrasal verb): chết vì
(nguyên do gì đó)
janitor (n): người trông nhà
(khi chủ đi vắng), người gác cổng
helpless: không giúp đỡ được gì
pain (n): sự đau đớn
completely (adv): hoàn toàn
imagine (v): tưởng tượng
dreadful (adj): khủng khiếp
lantern (n): đèn xách
ladder (n): cái thang
drag (v): kéo lê
(drag - dragged - dragged)
scatter (v): rải rác
brush (n): cọ vẽ, chổi sơn
mix (v): trộn lẫn
flutter (v): lung lay
1 The janitor found him on the morning of the first day in his room downstairs helpless with pain.
2 And then they found a lantern, still lit, and a ladder that had been dragged from its place, and some scattered brushes, and a palette with green and yellow colors mixed on it,
3 Didn’t you wonder why it never fluttered or moved when the wind blew?
Comprehension Quiz
A. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. What was old Behrman’s masterpiece?
(a) He never painted a masterpiece.
(b) He painted a leaf on the wall of the building.
(c) He painted a very realistic painting of an old miner.
2. How did Behrman die?
(a) He died of old age.
(b) He drank too much wine and fell down.
(c) He got very cold and wet when he painted outside.
B. Match the characters with their actions.
1. Johnsy • • a. spoke in terms of probability.
2. Sue • • b. showed contempt for people who were weak.
3. The doctor • • c. knitted a very blue and very useless scarf.
4. Behrman • • d. stirred chicken soup on the stove.
C. Based on the story, mark “T” if true or “F” if false.
1. Behrman was very protective of Sue and Johnsy.
2. The doctor did not put all his faith in medicine alone.
3. Behrman would not pose for Sue.
4. Two leaves remained on the ivy branch for many days.
D. Connect the beginning and the end of the sentences.
1. The last leaf hung bravely from the branch
2. Even after the strong gusts of wind,
3. They couldn’t imagine where he had been
4. Pack some pillows around me,
5. The rain still beat against the windows
a. and I will watch you cook.
b. on such a cold and windy night.
c. and dripped down from the eaves.
d. against the brick wall.
e. one leaf remained on the branch.
Understanding the Story
O. Henry is known as a master of humor, wit, and pathos. What characteristics do his works have?
Unexpected Humanity
Although O. Henry certainly did not invent the short story, he mastered this form and perfected the technique of the surprise ending. O. Henry became a master at doing this by laying the construction for these endings in the story itself. He gives hints to his readers of the endings to come by briefly including details that seem unimportant at first mention, but become immensely important when the surprise ending is “revealed”. An example of this is in the story “The Last Leaf” where the reader sees clues of what the old artist living downstairs has done to save the life of the girl upstairs.
We know the old man has been waiting his whole life to paint his masterpiece, but we don’t expect him to. Not until the very ending do we realize that the old artist has indeed fulfilled his dream while at the same time, fatally injuring himself in a selfless act of kindness. O. Henry is a master at leading the reader down one path of expectation, and then shattering these expectations at the surprising conclusion of the story. However, just as in “The Last Leaf”, these endings are rarely random acts of cruel fate. Instead, they are carefully constructed by the masterful author to show the reader the humanity of our frail and sometimes foolish, but also generous and kind nature.
invent (v): sáng chế, sáng tạo
master (v): làm chủ, là bậc thầy
perfect (adj): hoàn hảo
construction (n): cấu trúc (văn học),
sự xây dựng (kiến trúc) → động từ là “construct”
mention (v): đề cập
immensely (adv): rất, vô cùng
clue (n): manh mối
fulfill (v): hoàn tất
fatally (adv): không tránh được
selfless (adj): quên mình, vị tha
shatter (v): làm vỡ
conclusion (n): kết luận, kết thúc
random (adj): bất ngờ
frail (adj): yếu đuối
generous (adj): bao dung
nature (n): bản tính, bản chất