Crafting the Tale of the Last Leaf

Crafting the Tale of the Last Leaf 

Composing 'The Final Leaf', Short 1

Question 1.
- As the two ascended to the attic, Giôn xi was sleeping. Xiu silently drew the curtains tightly over the window and signaled for Mr. Bơ - men to move to the adjacent room. When they reached there, they cautiously peered out the window, gazing at the perennial tree, then exchanged a glance for a moment, saying nothing 🡪 Mr. Bơ - men's anxious concern for Giôn xi.
- Mr. Bơ - men quietly sketched a leaf on the cold, rainy night 🡪 Sacrifice and love for Giôn xi. He hoped that seeing the leaf still on Giôn xi's tree would provide additional motivation to fight the illness.
- The author does not mention Mr. Bơ - men's act of drawing the leaf 🡪 This very detail makes the ending of the story surprising. The leaf becomes a masterpiece of art, capable of stirring human vitality, especially Giôn xi's. 

Composing 'The Final Leaf', Short 2

I. COMPREHENDING THE TEXT

Question 1: Details in the text reveal the compassionate heart and noble actions of Mr. Bơ-men towards Giôn-xi:
- Mr. Bơ-men and Xiu 'cautiously peered out the window, gazing at the perennial tree...

Question 2: Details affirm Xiu was never informed by Mr. Bơ-men about replacing the last leaf:
- Previously, they remained silent as Mr. Bơ-men posed for Xiu to draw.
- When Giôn-xi demanded to draw back the curtain, Xiu complied wearily.
- Even Xiu was surprised along with Giôn-xi when they saw: 'After the relentless rain and fierce winds... there was still a perennial leaf clinging to the brick wall'.
- Only when the doctor spoke did Xiu learn that Mr. Bơ-men was ill.
If Xiu knew Mr. Bơ-men's intention beforehand, the story would lose its appeal as there would be no element of surprise.

Question 3:
Giôn-xi ordering Xiu to draw the curtain is a crucial detail. Giôn-xi waits until the last leaf falls before she too gives up, departing from life.
- The author leaves Giôn-xi's reaction unspecified. This leaves an echo in the story, leaving the reader with many thoughts and predictions.

Question 4: The excerpt 'The Last Leaf' features two surprising reversals:
- Giôn-xi is ill and utterly despairing, lying awaiting death. Yet she recovers.
- Mr. Bơ-men, healthy, falls ill for only two days, yet he passes away suddenly.
It's the artistic reversal of situations that captivates the reader's interest.

 

Continue reading the essays to study Grade 8 Literature well

- Compose Local Program, Vietnamese section
- Compose Outlining for Autobiographical Essay Combining Description and Expression

Composing 'The Final Leaf', Short 3

Structure:
- Part 1 (from the beginning… to Holland): Giôn-xi falls ill, she despairs awaiting death
- Part 2 (continued…caring- that's it): Giôn-xi triumphs over the illness.
- Part 3 (the rest) the truth about the masterpiece, the last leaf

Summary:
Xiu and Giôn-xi are two poor painters living harmoniously together in a boarding house. Mr. Bơ-men, an elderly painter, also lives there with them, his lifelong desire to paint a masterpiece unfulfilled. Giôn-xi contracts pneumonia, refusing treatment, desperate to end her life. Every day she gazes at the perennial leaves and waits for the last leaf to fall, signaling her own death. Aware of her intention, Mr. Bơ-men quietly paints the last perennial leaf on a stormy night. Seeing the last leaf still intact, Giôn-xi resolves to fight back, eventually recovering. As for Mr. Bơ-men, he dies from pneumonia while creating the masterpiece, the last leaf, which saves Giôn-xi's life.

Compose:
Question 1 (page 90, Vietnamese Literature textbook grade 8 volume 1):
- Details in the text reveal Mr. Bơ-men's loving heart for Giôn-xi:
+ Concern for Giôn-xi: anxious when seeing leaves falling continuously
+ Pondering how to save Giôn-xi
+ Silently drawing a leaf during stormy nights to save Giôn-xi
- The author skips recounting Mr. Bơ-men's act of drawing on the wall during the snowy night to create a surprise at the end of the story.
- The leaf Mr. Bơ-men drew can be considered a masterpiece because:
+ It looks lifelike
+ It shows Mr. Bơ-men's sacrificial heart
+ It saves Giôn-xi's life

Question 2 (page 90, Vietnamese Literature textbook grade 8 volume 1):
- Evidence proving Xiu was never informed by Mr. Bơ-men about the intention to draw a leaf instead of the last falling leaf:
+ When Giôn-xi demanded to draw back the curtain, Xiu complied wearily
+ Xiu was surprised just like Giôn-xi when they saw the last leaf still intact after the stormy night
+ Only when the doctor spoke did Xiu learn that Mr. Bơ-men was ill
- If Xiu knew beforehand, the story would be less appealing as readers would not fully see Xiu's care, concern, and love for Giôn-xi.

Question 3 (page 90, Vietnamese Literature textbook grade 8 volume 1):
- Reactions to pulling the curtain twice:
+ First time: Giôn-xi feared the last perennial leaf falling, Xiu worried
+ Second time: Both Giôn-xi and Xiu were stunned, surprised to see the leaf still on the tree
- The reason for Giôn-xi's revival:
+ Seeing the vibrant perennial leaf after the storm
+ Giôn-xi didn't want to disappoint Xiu and Mr. Bơ-men's kindness
- The story ends with the author leaving Giôn-xi silent without any psychological state:
+ Open ending for readers to imagine Giôn-xi's reaction
+ Creates lingering emotions for the story

Question 4 (page 90, Vietnamese Literature textbook grade 8 volume 1):
- Two contrasting unexpected events:
+ Giôn-xi falls ill, approaching death but doesn't die
+ Mr. Bơ-men, healthy, dies
- Effects:
+ Creates allure, surprise for the story
+ Affirms true art brings revival, life for humanity.

"""""---THE END"""""---

In the 8th-grade Vietnamese literature curriculum, the section Explanatory text about ballpoint pens stands as a pivotal topic for students to diligently prepare for.

Additionally, students can delve into Recounting an incident that pleased their parents to enhance their readiness for this lesson.