The Last Leaf

Summary

The Last Leaf is a short story by O. Henry, published in 1907 in his collection The Trimmed
Lamp and Other Stories.
‘The Last Leaf’ concerns Johnsy and Sue two young struggling artists who live in a small
flat. Johnsy falls seriously ill with pneumonia. She believes that when the ivy vine on the
wall outside her window loses all its leaves, she will also die. Her neighbour Behrman, a
sixty year old struggling artist, tricks her by painting a leaf on the wall. He does so when it
was raining heavily and cold winds were blowing. Johnsy recovers, but Behrman, who
caught pneumonia while painting the leaf, dies.

Comprehension Questions:

Short Answer Questions (about 30 – 40 words each)

1. Who were Sue and Johnsy? Where did they live?
Sue and Johnsy were young artist friends who were struggling to establish themselves
in the world of art. Both shared a small flat which was on the third floor of an old
house.

2. Why was Sue worried when Johnsy fell ill?
Sue was worried because Johnsy had pneumonia and it seemed curable but her
condition indicated otherwise. Johnsy would lie in her bed without moving, just gazing
out of the window.

3. Why was Johnsy’s condition worrisome according to the doctor?
According to the doctor, Johnsy’s condition was worrisome because she did not show
any signs of improvement despite good treatment. He thought that perhaps she had
lost her will to live and no medicine could help her in this negative state of mind.

4. How did Johnsy associate herself with the falling leaves?
It was autumn and the leaves on the ivy creeper were falling gradually. This depressed
an already ill Johnsy and strangely enough she associated her falling health with the
leaves. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell.

5. Why did Johnsy keep looking out of the window?
There was a creeper on the wall facing Johnsy’s window. She had a fancy that she
would die when the last leaf of the creeper fell. So Johnsy kept looking out of the
window .The leaves were falling because it was autumn.

6. How did Sue help Johnsy during her illness?
Sue helped Johnsy by looking after all her needs. She would give her hot soup from
time to time and sit by her side and talk to her. She called the doctor and even sought
help from their neighbour Behrman. Sue talked about clothes and fashions to draw
Johnsy’s interest in things around her. She also moved her drawing-board to Johnsy’s
room and whistled as she painted, to keep Johnsy’s mind off her illness.

7. Why was Johnsy counting backwards while looking out of the window?
Johnsy kept looking out of the window and counted backwards to note the number of
leaves left on the ivy-creeper which was climbing half way up the brick wall opposite
their window. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell whereas the leaves
were falling in a normal process of nature during the autumn season.

8. How did Sue try to convince Johnsy that her belief about dying with the last leaf was
nonsense?
Sue immediately rubbished Johnsy’s belief as nonsense. She tried to convince her by
telling that old ivy leaves had nothing to do with her illness. The doctor too was
confident that she would get better.

9. Why did Sue seek promise from Johnsy not to look out of the window while she
completed her painting?
Sue sought this promise because she did not want Johnsy to go deeper into depression
on seeing the ivy leaves fall. Moreover, she could not even pull the curtains to stop
Johnsy from looking out as she needed the incoming light to complete her painting,
and get money for the two of them by selling it.

10. Who was Behrman? Why did Sue share her worry with him?
Behrman was a sixty-year-old painter who lived on the ground floor of the same
building as Sue and Johnsy. Sue shared her worry with him because Behrman was an
elderly person and his vast experience about life could be of great help.

11. ‘I’m tired of waiting.’ Why did Johnsy say so to Sue?
Johnsy wanted Sue to finish her painting quickly so that she could see the last leaf fall.
She believed that she would die with it but this was taking too long. She became tired
of waiting for the last leaf to fall.

12. What did Sue and Behrman see from the window of the room next to Johnsy’s?
Sue and Behrman saw that only one leaf was left on the ivy creeper that was fluttering
in the icy-cold wind accompanied with heavy rain. Under such conditions, it was bound
to fall anytime soon.

13. Why was Sue nervous and reluctant while drawing the curtains on the morning after
the storm?
Sue was nervous because she was certain that the last leaf from the ivy creeper had
fallen at night. This could make Johnsy quit all hope of survival as she had associated
her death with the falling leaves of the ivy creeper.

14. What made Sue exclaim on looking out of the window on the morning after the storm?
Sue exclaimed in amazement and delight because the last leaf was still there on the ivy
creeper. She pointed out to Johnsy that the leaf looked quite green and healthy. It had
not fallen in spite of the fierce winds and rain. This meant that Johnsy too could
recover.

15. How did Sue try to encourage Johnsy?
Sue tried to encourage Johnsy by telling her that she won’t die and that she had to live
for the sake of her friends. She further pleaded with Johnsy to spare a thought for her
as she could not live without Johnsy.

16. What did Johnsy admit to Sue when the last leaf did not fall? /
When did Johnsy realise her mistake?
Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia. There was a creeper on the wall facing her
window. Johnsy had a fancy that she would die when the last leaf fell. One night, there
was only one leaf left. She thought that she would also die with the falling of the leaf.
But that night, Behrman painted a leaf in its place. So it did not fall. When Johnsy saw
the last leaf intact, she admitted that Sue had looked after her so lovingly and she in
turn had been a bad and non-cooperative, depressed and gloomy. She had now
realised that it was a sin to want to die.

17. When and why was the doctor’s report encouraging about Johnsy’s condition?
The doctor gave an encouraging report about Johnsy’s condition after examining her in
the afternoon a day after the storm. He believed that the report was encouraging
because now Johnsy had regained her will to live.

18. What news about Behrman did the doctor convey to Sue when he came to examine
Johnsy?
When the doctor came to examine Johnsy, he told Sue that Behrman too was suffering
from pneumonia. He said that he was confident of Johnsy’s recovery but feared that
there was no hope for Behrman.

 19. What led to Behrman’s unfortunate death? /
Why did Behrman spend a night out in the storm and rain?
Behrman died because he had spent the entire stormy night painting a replica of the
last leaf on the ivy creeper and had caught pneumonia as a result. He was sixty year old
and was unable to recover. He did this to save Johnsy’s life. He did not want her to see
the creeper without its last leaf and lose the will to live.

 20. Which items were found near Behrman when he died? What did this signify?
A ladder and a lighted lantern were found near Behrman’s bed when he died. There
were also some brushes and green and yellow paints on the floor near the ladder. This
signified that Behrman had spent the stormy night painting the last green and fresh
leaf.

21. What saved Johnsy’s life?
The last leaf painted by Behrman on the wall opposite Johnsy’s window saved her life.The leaf was a true replica of the last leaf hanging on the ivy creeper. Johnsy mistook it
to be a real leaf and felt that she had been wicked and it was a sin to want to die.

22. ’It looks quite green and healthy’. What was the cause of the leaf’s colour and
freshness?
The last leaf on the ivy creeper looked quite green and healthy because it was not a
real leaf, but a painted one. Behrman had spent the stormy night painting the leaf to
help save Johnsy’s life.

Long Answer type Questions (100-150 words)

1. Write a brief character sketch of old Behrman. /
Write a few sentences on the looks and personality of old Behrman.
Old Behrman was a painter. He was past sixty. But he was a failure in art. He earned
very little through his paintings. He always said that he was going to paint a
masterpiece. But for the last forty years, he had not even begun it. He lived on the
ground floor beneath Sue and Johnsy’s flat. He considered himself their guardian. He
was very kind and helpful at heart. When he came to know of Johnsy’s fancy, he
decided to help her. He went out in rain and storm and painted a leaf on the wall. It
saved Johnsy’s life. But he caught pneumonia and died. He sacrificed his life and saved
Johnsy’s life.

2. Justify the title of the story ‘The Last Leaf‘.
Johnsy was a young artist girl. She and her friend Sue lived together. One day Johnsy
caught pneumonia. There was an ivy creeper on the wall of their flat. From her window
Johnsy watched that creeper. Its leaves were falling fast in the cold winds. Johnsy
believed that she would also die when the last leaf of the creeper fell. She lost the will
to live. Her condition worsened.
Behrman, an old painter came to know of this fancy. That night it rained heavily and
cold winds blew and the last leaf fell. But Behrman risked his life and painted a leaf on
the wall. It looked a real leaf. When Johnsy saw that leaf, her will to live returned. That
painted leaf saved Johnsy’s life. Thus the leaf plays an important role in the story. So
the title of the story ‘The Last Leaf’ is justified.

3. What was the reason for Johnsy’s deteriorating health?
Johnsy suffered an attack of pneumonia in the cold winter month of November. Her
illness made her so weak that she went into depression. She would lie still on her bed
and keep gazing out of the window. The autumn added to her gloom when she saw the
trees shedding leaves. She began to associate her death with the falling leaves and this
negative thought deteriorated her health. When she gave up all hope on life, she
refused to eat anything and medicines lost their effect. According to the doctor, her
recovery depended on her willingness to live. In the absence of determination to get
well soon even the medicines failed to react positively.

4. Sue is a true and faithful friend. Comment. /
What values of friendship are prominent in Sue’s character?
Sue displays the virtues of a true and faithful friend. She and Johnsy were young artist
friends who shared a small flat. When Johnsy fell ill, Sue did not spare any effort to
nurse her back to health. She exhibited the values of sincerity and commitment to her
friend by calling the doctor who would visit them daily to review Johnsy’s condition.
She tried to lift Johnsy’s spirits by talking cheerfully to her and thus exemplifying the
value of unwavering support to a depressed friend. She would sit beside Johnsy’s bed
and paint so that she could earn for herself and Johnsy. She comforted Johnsy and
dealt with her cranky behaviour very patiently. With her cheerful disposition and her
optimism, she tried her best to reassure Johnsy that the old ivy leaves had nothing to
do with her illness. Sensing the seriousness of Johnsy’s health and her state of mind,
she at once sought Behrman’s help. Thus, Sue proves to be a compassionate human
being and a true friend.

Answers to Textbook questions
Think About It

1. What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure - the medicine or the willingness to live?
Johnsy fell ill in November and developed pneumonia. It was autumn and the leaves on
the ivy creeper were falling gradually. This depressed an already ill Johnsy and strangely
enough she associated her falling health with the leaves. She believed that she would
die when the last leaf fell.
According to the doctor, Johnsy’s condition was worrisome because she did not show
any signs of improvement despite good treatment. He thought that perhaps she had
lost her will to live and no medicine could help her in this negative state of mind.

2. Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers?
Yes, the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers. It is so because,
like Johnsy, they too lack emotional maturity. They fail to understand that sorrows are
as much a part of our lives as joys are. Certain situations in life are unpredictable as well
as unavoidable. Teenagers become nervous while encountering such situations. They
begin to gather negative thoughts and have a fear of failures. Pessimism begins to
destroy their will-power. Another problem is that like Johnsy, teenagers take a lot of
time to get convinced. They are difficult to counsel and try their loved one’s patience a
lot.
Therefore, teenagers should inculcate positive values like optimism, strong will-power,
and faith through meditation and regular exercise in order to enjoy the blessings of a
sound mind in a sound body.

3. Behrman has a dream. What is it? How did it come true?
Behrman dreamt of painting a masterpiece someday. His dream did come true when he
painted a leaf that was a near replica of a real leaf. This masterpiece saved a young life
and fulfilled Behrman’s ambition too. Unfortunately, it cost him his life.

4. What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?
Behrman’s masterpiece was the leaf that he painted on the wall opposite Johnsy’s
window. He had braved icy winds and rains at night while painting the leaf. Sue called it
a masterpiece as it looked fresh and healthy like a real leaf. Besides, it had saved
Johnsy’ life by reviving her will to live. Thus, Behrman’s painting was a masterpiece in
the sense that it had saved a precious life.
Johnsy’s illness was serious but could be cured if she had the will to live. Her fallinghealth was more due to her state of depression than pneumonia. The sixty-year-oldpainter Behrman took upon himself the difficult responsibility of saving Johnsy.  He made a single-handed effort to brave the icy winds and rain to reach the window byclimbing a ladder and painting a fresh and green leaf. The readiness with which he gaveup his life shows his unparalleled commitment to art. He painted the leaf with such passion that it revived the sinking will of Johnsy. He thus saved Johnsy’s life by
sacrificing his own.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q 1 Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.

(a) She talked about clothes and fashions, but Johnsy did not respond. Johnsy continued

to lie still on her bed. She brought her drawing-board into Johnsy’s room and started

painting.

i. Why did Johnsy continue to lie still on her bed?

Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia and was weak and depressed. So she continued

to lie still in her bed.

ii. Why did Sue talk about clothes and fashion?

Sue talked about clothes and fashion because she was trying to cheer up Johnsy who

was depressed due to her illness.

iii. Why did Sue bring her drawing-board into Johnsy’s room?

Sue brought her drawing-board into Johnsy’s room to give her company and help her

not to feel lonely.

iv. Give the synonym of the word ‘respond’.

reply/ answer

(b) 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.

i. Who is ‘his’ in these lines?

‘His’ in these lines is Behrman, the sixty-year-old painter and neighbour of the young

artists, Sue and Johnsy.

ii. Why was the lantern still lighted?

The lantern was still lighted because Behrman had been painting the leaf outside

throughout the stormy night. He was completely wet and must have not had the

stamina to switch it off.

iii. Why were green and yellow paints and ladder there?

There were green and yellow paints because Behrman had painted a natural looking

ivy leaf using these colours. He had used a ladder to paint the leaf at the same high

spot where the last leaf had been - visible from Johnsy’s window.

iv. Give the antonym of the word-‘lighted’

extinguished

Q 2 Answer each of the following questions in about 30-40 words.

(a) Why did Sue call for the doctor?

Johnsy was down with Pneumonia. Her frail body was unable to cope with the severity

of the attack. She lay in her bed miserable, forlorn, just gazing out of the window.

There was no change in her condition. Alarmed at her friend’s plight, Sue had asked

the doctor to come and examine Johnsy.

(b) What report did the doctor about Johnsy’s condition after the storm?

The doctor gave an encouraging report about Johnsy’s condition after examining her

in the afternoon a day after the storm. He believed that the report was encouraging

because now Johnsy had regained her will to live.

(c) How did Johnsy associate herself with the falling leaves?

It was autumn and the leaves on the ivy creeper were falling gradually. This depressed

an already ill Johnsy and strangely enough she associated her falling health with the

leaves. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell.

(d) Why did Sue pour out her worries to Behrman?

Sue poured out her worries to Behrman because she was alarmed at her friend

Johnsy’s deteriorating condition and wanted guidance and support from the elderly

well-wisher. 

Q 3 Answer each of the following questions in about 100-150 words.

(a) What did Johnsy admit to Sue when the last leaf did not fall? Or When did Johnsy

realise her mistake?

Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia. There was a creeper on the wall facing her

window. Johnsy had a fancy that she would die when the last leaf fell. One night, there

was only one leaf left. She thought that she would also die with the falling of the leaf.

But that night, Behrman painted a leaf in its place. So it did not fall. When Johnsy saw

the last leaf intact, she admitted that Sue had looked after her so lovingly and she in

turn had been a bad and non-cooperative, depressed and gloomy. She had now realised that it was a sin to want to die.

(b) Describe Behrman as a person, and the way he saved Johnsy’s life.

Behrman was a man with a golden heart. Compassion and readiness for extreme

sacrifice were the hallmarks of his nature. When he realized that Johnsy would cling to

her life only as long as the last leaf remained in the creeper, he decided to outsmart

the destructive power of the night storm by painting an identical leaf. He had the

painting fixed in the window to make Johnsy feel that the night’s storm had failed to

dislodge the leaf. In the process, he saved a precious life, but lost his own. He

succumbed to the pneumonia attack triggered by exposure to the rain, wind and chill

of the night. The painting was, no doubt his master piece, which he had all along

dreamt of accomplishing. Unfortunately, he didn’t live to receive the admiration and

the result.