The Last Leaf

Good morning, my dear students. I hope you are all doing well and are ready for today's English lesson. Today we are going to study a very beautiful and emotional short story titled "The Last Leaf" from your NCERT textbook Moments. This story is written by a famous American writer named O. Henry. Now, let me tell you something interesting about O. Henry before we begin. His real name was William Sydney Porter, and he was born in 1862 in America. He wrote many short stories that are famous all over the world for their clever plots and unexpected endings. You might have also read "The Gift of the Magi" which is another famous story by him. So students, let's dive into this touching story together.

The story begins with a description of autumn. Students, can you imagine the scene? It is autumn, the wind is blowing hard and it is raining heavily. All the leaves on an ivy creeper have fallen except one. Now the question arises - why doesn't the last leaf fall? This is exactly what the story is about, and by the end of today's lesson, you will understand not just why the last leaf doesn't fall, but also the deeper message that the author wants to convey.

Let me now introduce you to the two main characters of our story. There are two young artists named Sue and Johnsy. They shared a small flat together. Now students, when we say they shared a flat, it means they lived together and split the rent and other expenses. This was on the third storey of an old house. Now, in old houses in India too, we often see creepers and vines growing on the walls, isn't it? Just like that, there was an ivy creeper growing on the wall opposite their window.

Now comes a very sad part of the story. In November, Johnsy fell very seriously ill. She had pneumonia. Students, pneumonia is a serious infection that affects the lungs. In earlier times, before modern medicines and hospitals, pneumonia could be a life-threatening disease, especially for young people who were weak. So Johnsy was very ill. She would lie in her bed without moving, just gazing out of the window. Can you imagine how worried her friend Sue must have been? Sue became very worried indeed. She sent for the doctor. Although the doctor came every day, there was no change in Johnsy's condition. The illness was not getting better.

One day, the doctor took Sue aside - that means he called her to a private place away from Johnsy's ears - and asked her, "Is anything worrying Johnsy?" Now students, this is a very important question. The doctor is asking because he suspects that Johnsy's illness might have a psychological component - something that is troubling her mind. Sue replied, "No," and asked, "But why do you ask?" The doctor then said something very significant. He 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." Students, this is a crucial point in the story. The doctor is telling Sue that Johnsy has lost the will to live. She has given up in her mind, and that is why the medicine is not working. This happens in real life too, you know. When a person loses hope and thinks they cannot get better, sometimes their body also gives up. This is why having a positive mindset and the will to live is so important.

Now Sue tried her best to make Johnsy take an interest in things around her. She talked about clothes and fashions - you know how girls your age love talking about new fashion trends and clothes - but Johnsy did not respond. She continued to lie still on her bed. Then Sue brought her drawing-board into Johnsy's room and started painting. To take Johnsy's mind off her illness - that means to distract her from thinking about her sickness - she whistled while working. Now students, whistling is a way of making music without singing. It shows that Sue was trying to keep the atmosphere light and cheerful.

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". Students, can you guess what Johnsy was counting? She was counting the leaves on the ivy creeper outside! 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. The word "shedding" means losing or dropping. So the leaves were falling down one by one.

Now Sue asked, "What is it, dear?" Johnsy whispered, "Six. They are falling faster now. Three days ago there were almost a hundred leaves. There are only five left now." Students, notice how Johnsy has been keeping track of every single leaf. She knows exactly how many leaves were there three days ago and how many are left now. This shows that she has been watching the leaves very carefully, and this has become very important to her.

Now Sue said, "It is autumn, and the leaves will fall." This is a natural thing that happens every year in autumn. The leaves change color and then fall from the trees and creepers. But Johnsy said something very alarming. She said, "When the last leaf falls, I will die. I have known this for the last three days." Students, can you imagine thinking something like this? Johnsy has connected her life to the last leaf on the creeper. She believes that when the last leaf falls, she will die too. This is a sign that she has lost all hope and has given up on living.

Sue replied, "Oh, that's nonsense. What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? The doctor is confident that you will get better." Students, notice how Sue is trying to reason with Johnsy. She is saying that the leaves have nothing to do with her recovery. The doctor is confident - that means the doctor believes - that she will get better. But Johnsy did not say anything. She didn't argue, but she also didn't change her mind.

Now Sue went and brought her a bowl of soup. In Indian households too, when someone is sick, we often give them hot soup - whether it's chicken soup or vegetable soup - because it is easy to digest and gives strength. But Johnsy said, "I don't want any soup. I am not hungry." Students, this is another sign of depression and giving up. When a person is depressed, they often lose their appetite and don't feel like eating. Then Johnsy said, "Now there are only four leaves left. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I will sleep forever." The phrase "sleep forever" is a poetic way of saying she will die. She wants to watch the last leaf fall before dark, and then she will die.

Now 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." Students, notice how Sue is trying to protect Johnsy from seeing the leaves fall. She wants to draw the curtain - that means close the curtain - but she says she needs the light to paint. This is her way of trying to keep Johnsy from watching the leaves. She is also working on a painting to earn money for them, because as artists, they need to sell their paintings to earn a living.

Johnsy said, "All right. 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." Students, this is very sad, isn't it? Johnsy has made up her mind completely. She thinks of herself as one of those tired leaves that will fall and die. She is tired of waiting for the last leaf to fall.

Now Sue said, "Try to sleep. I have to paint an old miner. I will call Behrman up to be my model." Students, a miner is a person who works in mines, digging for coal or other minerals. Sue is planning to paint a picture of an old miner, and she wants Behrman to be her model - that means she wants Behrman to pose for her so she can paint him.

Now Sue rushed down to find Behrman. He lived on the ground floor of the building. Let me tell you about Behrman now. He was a sixty-year-old painter. His lifelong dream was to paint a masterpiece but that had remained a dream - it had never come true. Students, can you imagine working on something for your whole life and never achieving it? That must be very frustrating. Behrman had been trying to create a masterpiece for many years but had not succeeded yet.

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?" Students, this shows that Behrman initially thinks Johnsy is being silly and unreasonable. He cannot understand how someone could believe that a leaf falling would cause their death.

But Sue explained, "She is running a high temperature," complained Sue. "She refuses to eat or drink and that worries me a lot." Students, "running a high temperature" means she has a very high fever. This is a symptom of pneumonia. And refusing to eat or drink is very dangerous because the body needs food and water to fight the illness and recover.

Now Behrman said, "I will come with you and see Johnsy." They tiptoed into the room - that means they walked very quietly, trying not to make any sound, because they didn't want to wake Johnsy if she was sleeping. Johnsy was sleeping. Sue drew the curtains together - she closed the curtains - 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. Students, notice that Behrman didn't say anything. He just went back to his room. This silence is important, and we will understand why later in the story.

Now the next morning, Johnsy woke up. In a feeble voice - that means a very weak voice - she asked Sue to draw the curtains. Sue was nervous. She drew back the curtains very reluctantly - that means she opened them slowly and unwillingly, because she was afraid of what Johnsy might see. Then, "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." Students, can you imagine their surprise? The leaf was still there! It had survived the storm and the fierce winds. It looked green and healthy, not wilted or dried up.

Now Johnsy said, "I heard the wind last night. I thought it would have fallen. It will surely fall today. Then I'll die." Students, even though the leaf is still there, Johnsy still believes it will fall and she will die. She hasn't changed her mind yet.

But Sue said energetically, "You won't die. You have to live for your friends. What would happen to me if you die?" Students, this is Sue trying to give Johnsy a reason to live - her friendship. She is saying "think about me, think about your friends who need you."

Now 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 - that means it was holding on tightly, not falling.

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. Students, now comes the turning point of the story. Listen carefully.

Johnsy said, "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." Students, this is a very important moment. Johnsy has had a change of heart. She realizes that wanting to die is wrong - it is a sin. She sees the last leaf clinging on despite the storm, and this inspires her to also fight for her life. The leaf has become a symbol of hope and determination for her. She realizes that she has been unfair to Sue who has been taking such good care of her. She has been depressed and gloomy, but now she wants to live.

Now Sue hugged Johnsy. Then she gave her lots of hot soup and a mirror. Johnsy combed her hair and smiled brightly. Students, notice the change in Johnsy's behavior. She is now eating, she is looking at herself in the mirror, she is combing her hair, and she is smiling. These are all signs that she wants to live and is recovering.

In the afternoon, the doctor came. After examining his patient - that means checking Johnsy's health - 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." Students, the doctor confirms that Johnsy will recover because she now has the will to live. But he also says something very sad - Behrman has pneumonia too, and there is no hope for him. This is shocking news.

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." Students, this is very sad. Behrman has died. He was found with wet clothes and shoes, shivering in the cold. He had been out in the storm. But why? Why would he go out in such terrible weather?

Then they found some important things near his bed. There were 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. Students, can you guess what happened now? This is the twist in the story - the unexpected ending that O. Henry is famous for.

Sue said, "Johnsy dear, 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." Students, can you believe this? The last leaf was not a real leaf at all! It was a painting! Behrman had gone out in the storm, climbed up on a ladder, and painted a leaf on the wall. That is why the leaf never fell, no matter how hard the wind blew. It was painted! And that is why Sue calls it Behrman's masterpiece - his greatest work of art. He finally achieved his lifelong dream of creating a masterpiece, but at the cost of his own life. This is truly heartbreaking, but also incredibly noble.

Now let me summarize what we have learned so far. The story is about two artists, Sue and Johnsy, living together. Johnsy becomes ill with pneumonia and loses the will to live. She believes she will die when the last leaf on the ivy creeper falls. The last leaf doesn't fall because it is actually a painting by their neighbor Behrman, who painted it during a storm to give Johnsy hope. Behrman catches pneumonia and dies, but his painting saves Johnsy's life. She recovers when she realizes she wants to live. The story teaches us about the power of hope, friendship, and sacrifice.

Now students, let me explain some important vocabulary words from the story. These are the words given in your glossary. The word "janitor" means a person whose job is to look after a building. In India, we might call such a person a "caretaker" or " chowkidar". The janitor is the one who found Behrman in his room.

Now let's move on to the questions at the end of the chapter. First, we have "Think About It" questions. Let me answer each one carefully.

Question 1: What is Johnsy's illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?

Students, Johnsy's illness is pneumonia, which is a serious lung infection. But the doctor tells us that medicine alone cannot cure her. What she really needs is the willingness to live. When she has the will to live, when she wants to get better, then the medicine can work. When she gave up hope and thought she would die, no medicine could help her. So the answer is that both medicine and willingness to live are important, but the willingness to live is what truly cures her in the end.

Question 2: Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers?

Students, this is a very relevant question for all of you. Yes, depression can affect people of any age, including teenagers. In fact, many teenagers experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and depression at some point. This could be due to various reasons - academic pressure, relationship problems, family issues, or just general stress. It is important to remember that feeling sad sometimes is normal, but if these feelings last for a long time and affect daily life, it could be depression and one should seek help. The story shows us how dangerous depression can be - Johnsy almost died because she lost the will to live. So we should always talk to our friends, family, or teachers if we are feeling low or depressed. Never keep such feelings inside.

Question 3: Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?

Students, Behrman's dream was to paint a masterpiece. He had been trying for his whole life to create a great work of art, but he never succeeded. But in the end, his dream does come true, albeit in a tragic way. The painting of the last leaf - that one leaf that never falls - becomes his masterpiece. Everyone admires it, and Sue calls it his masterpiece. So yes, his dream does come true, but he has to sacrifice his life for it. This is both beautiful and sad at the same time.

Question 4: What is Behrman's masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?

Students, Behrman's masterpiece is the painted leaf on the wall of the building opposite Johnsy and Sue's window. It looks exactly like a real ivy leaf - green and healthy, clinging to the creeper. Sue says it is his masterpiece because it is so realistic and beautiful that it fooled everyone, including Johnsy. It looked so real that it survived the storm and the wind, just like a real leaf would. And most importantly, this painting gave Johnsy the hope to live. It saved her life. So in a way, this painting is greater than any other artwork Behrman could have created, because it has true meaning and purpose - it gave someone the will to live.

Now we have the "Talk About It" question. Have you ever felt depressed and rejected? How did you overcome such feelings? Share your experience with your classmates.

Students, this is a personal question that I want you to think about. Everyone feels sad or depressed sometimes. It could be when you fail in an exam, or when your friends don't include you, or when someone says something mean to you. These feelings are normal, but it's important to overcome them. Some ways to overcome depression and feelings of rejection include talking to friends and family, doing things you enjoy, exercising, helping others, and if needed, seeking professional help. I want you to discuss this with your classmates and share your experiences. Remember, you are not alone, and there is always help available.

Now students, before we end today's lesson, let me talk about some important themes and literary aspects of this story.

The first theme is the power of hope and the will to live. The story shows us that having hope and wanting to live is very important for recovery from illness. Johnsy was physically sick, but her mind had given up. When she regained hope by looking at the last leaf, she recovered. This is a powerful message about the mind-body connection.

The second theme is friendship and sacrifice. Sue is a true friend. She takes care of Johnsy, tries to cheer her up, and does everything she can to help her recover. But the greatest sacrifice comes from Behrman. He paints the leaf in the middle of a storm, risking his own health and life, just to give Johnsy hope. This is the ultimate act of friendship and compassion.

The third theme is the difference between real art and true art. Behrman had been trying to paint a masterpiece for years, but he never succeeded. But when he painted the last leaf, he created something truly meaningful - something that had the power to save a life. This shows us that art is not just about technical skill or fame; it's about creating something that touches people's hearts and makes a difference in the world.

The story also has a beautiful use of symbolism. The last leaf symbolizes hope, life, and the will to survive. It also symbolizes Behrman's final masterpiece and his sacrifice. The autumn setting represents the end of life, but the last leaf that doesn't fall represents hope even in the darkest times.

Now students, let me give you a quick recap of everything we learned today.

We started by understanding the setting of the story - autumn, with leaves falling from an ivy creeper. We met the two main characters, Sue and Johnsy, who are artists living together. We learned about Johnsy's illness - pneumonia - and how she lost the will to live. We saw how she became obsessed with counting the leaves and believed she would die when the last leaf fell. We learned about Behrman, the old painter who had a dream of creating a masterpiece. We discovered the twist in the story - that the last leaf was actually a painting by Behrman, done in the storm to give Johnsy hope. We saw how Johnsy recovered when she realized she wanted to live, and how Behrman unfortunately died from pneumonia. We answered all the "Think About It" questions, discussing Johnsy's illness, depression among teenagers, Behrman's dream, and his masterpiece. We also thought about the "Talk About It" question regarding dealing with depression and feelings of rejection.

Students, this story teaches us many important lessons. It teaches us about the power of hope, the importance of friendship, and the beauty of sacrifice. It shows us that one small act of kindness can make a huge difference in someone's life. Behrman painted just one leaf, but that leaf saved Johnsy's life. This is the magic of compassion and love.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson and understood the story well. Remember to read the story again on your own and think about its deeper meanings. And always remember, no matter how difficult life gets, never lose hope. Just like the last leaf that clung on through the storm, we too must keep fighting and never give up.

Thank you for listening attentively. Have a great day, students, and see you in the next lesson!