The Last Leaf
The Last Leaf by O. Henry is a touching story about hope, friendship and an old artist's secret masterpiece. The page gives a clear summary, the theme, the characters and exam-style questions.
Learning objectives
- Recall the events of Johnsy's illness and recovery.
- Understand the theme of hope and sacrifice.
- Describe Sue, Johnsy and Behrman.
- Answer comprehension and exam questions.
Key concepts
Summary
Two young artists, Sue and Johnsy, share a studio. Johnsy falls seriously ill with pneumonia and loses the will to live, convincing herself that she will die when the last leaf falls from the old ivy creeper she can see outside her window. As the leaves drop one by one, her hope fades. Behrman, an old, gruff artist living downstairs who has long dreamed of painting a masterpiece, learns of Johnsy's strange belief from Sue. One stormy, freezing night the last leaf seems certain to fall — yet morning after morning it remains, clinging bravely to the vine. Seeing the leaf survive, Johnsy regains her will to live and slowly recovers. It is then revealed that the leaf never fell because Behrman painted it on the wall during that bitter night to give Johnsy hope. In doing so, the old man caught pneumonia from the cold and rain and died — and the painted leaf proved to be the masterpiece he had always wished to create.
Theme
The story's themes are hope and the will to live, and selfless sacrifice. Johnsy's recovery shows how powerful hope can be in fighting illness, while Behrman's act shows the greatest love — giving one's life so another may live. It also suggests that a true masterpiece can be born from love and sacrifice rather than fame.
Characters
Johnsy is a young artist who loses, then regains, the will to live. Sue is her caring, devoted friend who nurses her. Behrman is an old, failed artist, gruff on the outside but deeply kind, who sacrifices his life to save Johnsy and finally paints his masterpiece — the last leaf.
About the author
O. Henry was a famous American short-story writer renowned for his warm, humane tales and surprise endings. In this beloved story he combines a moving message about hope and sacrifice with his trademark twist at the close.
Key definitions
- Pneumonia
- A serious lung illness; both Johnsy and Behrman suffer from it.
- Ivy
- A climbing plant; Johnsy watches its leaves fall.
- Masterpiece
- A work of great skill; Behrman's painted leaf becomes his.
- Sacrifice
- Giving up something precious for another, as Behrman gives his life.
Solved examples
Q1. What strange belief does Johnsy have?
Solution: That she will die when the last ivy leaf falls.
Q2. Why does the last leaf never fall?
Solution: Because Behrman painted it on the wall.
Q3. What happens to Behrman?
Solution: He catches pneumonia from the cold night and dies.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking the last leaf was real (Behrman painted it).
- Forgetting that Behrman dies from the cold while painting it.
- Confusing Sue (the friend) with Johnsy (the ill one).
- Missing the themes of hope and sacrifice.
The Last Leaf — MCQ Quiz
10 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
The Last Leaf was written by:
Practice questions
Short answer
What does Johnsy believe about the last leaf?
That she will die when it falls.
Why does the last leaf never fall?
Because Behrman painted it on the wall.
What is Behrman's masterpiece?
The painted last leaf that saved Johnsy.
Long answer
How does the last leaf save Johnsy's life?
Johnsy, seriously ill with pneumonia, loses the will to recover and ties her fate to an old ivy creeper outside her window, believing she will die when its last leaf falls. As the leaves drop one by one in the autumn winds, her hope fades and she waits to die. Her friend Sue tries to encourage her, but Johnsy keeps her eyes on the dwindling vine. Then, after a fierce, stormy and freezing night, when the last leaf should surely have fallen, it is still there clinging to the wall — and it remains, day after day, through wind and rain. Seeing the leaf endure such harsh weather and refuse to give up, Johnsy is filled with new hope and is ashamed of her own wish to die. Her will to live returns, and she gradually recovers. The leaf's quiet courage thus rekindles Johnsy's spirit and saves her life — though the truth behind the leaf is even more remarkable.
How does Behrman's sacrifice show the greatness of selfless love?
Behrman's sacrifice is the heart of the story and a powerful example of selfless love. He is an old, poor and gruff artist who has spent his life dreaming of painting a masterpiece but has never succeeded. When he learns from Sue of Johnsy's strange and dangerous belief that she will die when the last ivy leaf falls, he is deeply moved. On a bitterly cold, stormy night, while the real leaves are being torn away, the old man goes out and paints a single, lifelike leaf on the wall so that Johnsy will always see a leaf clinging there and will not lose hope. His plan works: Johnsy, seeing the leaf survive, regains her will to live and recovers. But in painting the leaf through that freezing, wet night, Behrman himself catches pneumonia and dies. He gives his own life so that the young artist may live, and the painted leaf becomes the masterpiece he had always longed to create — a masterpiece born not of ambition but of love and sacrifice.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
Why is the painted leaf called Behrman's masterpiece?
Because it was so lifelike that it fooled everyone, and more importantly, it saved a life through love and sacrifice — making it his greatest and truest work of art.
What does Johnsy's recovery tell us about the power of hope?
It shows that hope and the will to live can be as important as medicine in fighting illness; once Johnsy regained hope, her body began to heal.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- Author: O. Henry; Sue and Johnsy are young artists.
- Johnsy, ill with pneumonia, believes she'll die when the last ivy leaf falls.
- Behrman secretly paints the last leaf on a stormy night so it never 'falls'; Johnsy recovers.
- Behrman catches pneumonia and dies; the painted leaf is his masterpiece. Themes: hope and selfless sacrifice.
Key takeaways
- Hope can restore the will to live.
- Behrman sacrifices his life to save Johnsy.
- A true masterpiece can be born of love.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote The Last Leaf?
O. Henry.
Why doesn't the last leaf fall?
Because Behrman painted it on the wall.
What is the theme?
Hope and the will to live, and selfless sacrifice.