Figurative Language in O. Henry's Story
The short story by O. Henry is a staple in middle and high school English classes, and the worksheet that comes with it usually asks students to identify and explain figurative language devices found throughout the text. The most common types covered are irony, symbolism, foreshadowing, imagery, and occasionally hyperbole or personification. I have gone through these worksheets enough times to know what teachers are looking for and where students tend to go off track. Most worksheets focus on a handful of key passages. Below are the standard figurative language devices students are expected to identify, along with the kind of explanation that actually scores well. Ironic situation (situational irony)
This is the big one. Both Della and Jim sell their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other, only to find the gifts are now useless. Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim's watch. Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair. The irony is that their sacrifices, while love-filled, render the gifts impractical. Teachers want you to note that the outcome contradicts what the characters intended, which is the textbook definition of situational irony. Symbolism Della's hair symbolizes her beauty and pride. Jim's watch symbolizes his heritage and status as the descendant of Solomon. When they sell these items, they are sacrificing their most valued possessions out of love. The gold watch fob and the combs become symbols of that love, even though they can no longer be used for their original purpose. You should connect the physical objects to what they represent emotionally.
Imagery O. Henry uses visual and tactile imagery throughout. When Della looks at her reflection in the mirror, the description of her plain dress and shabby apartment establishes the setting through sensory detail. The passage describing the combs in the shop window appeals to sight — \"costly combs, rare and beautiful\" — creating a contrast with Della's financial situation. For worksheet purposes, point out which sense is being appealed to and what effect it creates. Foreshadowing
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Early in the story, O. Henry mentions that Della had saved every penny she could for months, which hints that money will be a central tension. The description of the sparse apartment and the mention of the broken blinds foreshadow the financial struggle that drives both characters to make their extreme choices. Some worksheets also note that the very first mention of the $1.87 establishes the stakes before Della even considers selling her hair. Hyperbole When Della counts her money and finds only $1.87, the narrative treatment of that small amount as a devastating tragedy leans into hyperbole. It emphasizes how desperately poor she is without stating it directly. This device amplifies the emotional weight of her sacrifice.
What Most Students Miss on These Worksheets
The most common mistake I see is identifying the irony but failing to explain why it matters to the theme. A worksheet answer that just says \"this is ironic because they bought useless gifts\" will get partial credit at best. The deeper answer connects the irony to the story's message about selfless love and the meaning of giving. O. Henry reframes the situation not as a tragedy but as a noble act, comparing the couple to the Magi from the Bible. That thematic link is what separates a good answer from a passing one. Another frequent gap is treating symbolism as decoration rather than as a structural element. The combs and the chain are not just symbolic; they are the mechanism that makes the irony work. Without those specific objects carrying meaning, the plot's twist would not land. Recognizing how the symbols and the irony interact is what shows genuine comprehension.
A Practical Note From Experience
One edge case that comes up frequently is when worksheets ask students to identify \"figurative language\" in the narrator's opening commentary about Solomon and the Magi. Some students mistakenly label this as symbolism when it is actually allusion. The reference to the Biblical Magi and King Solomon is an allusion, not a symbol. I ran into this with a student last year who lost points because she conflated the two. The workaround is to remind students that an allusion references an external work or figure, while a symbol is an object within the text that represents something else. Keeping that distinction clear prevents that error entirely. Read the story once before touching the worksheet. Mark passages that stand out as emotionally charged or unusually descriptive. On a second read, focus specifically on language that goes beyond literal meaning. When you encounter a device, ask yourself what the author is using it to communicate about the characters or the theme. That second question is what turns a correct identification into a complete answer. For irony questions, always note the gap between expectation and reality. For symbolism questions, name the object and what it represents, then tie it back to character motivation. For imagery questions, identify the sense involved and the mood or contrast it produces. This framework covers roughly ninety percent of the questions on any standard worksheet for this story.
