This beautifully inspirational tale deals with unselfish sacrifice - how one man

was prepared to sacrifice his own well-being and use his talent to save the life
of another.

Two artists, Johanna (Johnsy) and Sue share an apartment in an artists'

community which is soon invaded by a malicious disease which spreads its
deadly influence, mowing down many members in this struggling but
auspicious society. Johnsy is infected and soon gives up hope for survival.
She pins her destiny to the survival of one last leaf on a vine which she
perceives through her window whilst lying in bed.

The attending physician informs Sue that Johnsy's chance for survival is
limited unless she has something to hope for. Sue informs Mr Behrman, an
old fellow artist, who is their downstairs-neighbour, about this and he is
annoyed that Johnsy has such little hope. He is aware of her wish to die when
the last leaf falls.

The next morning, after a vicious storm, Johnsy sees the last remaining leaf
still clinging to life. She decides that she wants to continue living: there must
be a reason that the leaf has refused to die, and it is a sin to want to die.
Johnsy recovers from her illness.

Sue informs her some time later that Mr Behrman had died of pneumonia and
the medics had found a burning lamp, a ladder and a palette containing a
mixture of colours similar to that of a leaf, next to his completely wet,
collapsed body. He had contracted pneumonia and expired due to his frail
condition.

It becomes pertinently clear that Mr Behrman had finally painted his long-
promised masterpiece - the leaf which saved Johnsy's life, sacrificing his in
the process.

Word Inference
1. district |ˈdistrikt|-noun(abbr.: distr. )-an area of a country or city, esp. one regarded as a distinct unit
because of a particular characteristic: an elegant shopping district.
2. traverse |trəˈvərs|-verb [ with obj. ]- travel across or through: he traversed the forest.
3. quaint |kwānt|-adjective-attractively unusual or old-fashioned: quaint country cottages | a quaint old
custom.
4. congenial |kənˈjēnyəl|-adjective-(of a person) pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests
that are similar to one’s own: his need for some congenial company.
5. pneumonia |n(y)o͞oˈmōnēə, -ˈmōnyə|-noun-lung inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection,
in which the air sacs fill with pus and may become solid.
6. chivalry |ˈSHivəlrē|-noun-courteous behavior, esp. that of a man toward women: their relations with
women were models of chivalry and restraint.
7. swagger |ˈswagər|-verb [ no obj. ]-walk or behave in a very confident and typically arrogant or
aggressive way: he swaggered along the corridor | (as adj. swaggering) : a swaggering gait.
8. monocle |ˈmänikəl|-noun-a single eyeglass, kept in position by the muscles around the eye.
9. solicitous |səˈlisitəs|-adjective-characterized by or showing interest or concern: she was always
solicitous about the welfare of her students | a solicitous inquiry.
10. merciless |ˈmərsiləs|-adjective-showing no mercy or pity: a merciless attack with a blunt instrument |
figurative : the merciless summer heat.
1. Many would say that Mr. Behrman was the protagonist because he played a significant role in saving
Johnsy’s life.
2. The story takes place in Greenwich Village, which is in New York City.
3. The main characters are Johnsy, Sue, and Mr. Behrman.
4. Sue and Johnsy are artists.
5. Mr. Behrman painted the leaf on the wall to give Johnsy the will to live.
Questions for Reflection
1. Some of the themes are love, friendship, illness, sacrifice, poverty, hope, and survival.
2. One symbol in the story could be the falling leaves which symbolize both Johnsy’s failing health and
her diminishing will to live. Another symbol is the painting of the leaf on the wall, which could be
seen as symbolizing hope.
3. One example of imagery is the following paragraph. “Pneumonia, stalked about the colony, touching
one here and there with his icy fingers. Over on the east side this ravager strode boldly, smiting his
victims by scores, but his feet trod slowly through the maze of the narrow and moss-grown “places.”
4. Sue referred to The Last Leaf as Behrman’s masterpiece mainly because it looked so much like a
real leaf, it saved Johnsy’s life.
Questions and Answers

 1.

What disease does Johnsy have?

o A.

Autism

o B.

Cancer

o C.

Pneumonia

o D.

Antisocial

 2.
 What is the difference between Johnsy and Sue?

Discuss

o A.

Johnsy is a dreamer while Sue is a workaholic

o B.

Johnsy is a workaholic while Sue is a dreamer

o C.

Johnsy is ugly while Sue is pretty

o D.

Johnsy is a boy while Sue is a girl

 3.

Mr.Newman's dream is to paint a masterpiece

Discuss

o A.

True

o B.

False

 4.

Where does the story take place

o A.

California

o B.

Maine

o C.
 Italy

o D.

New york city

 5.

Mr.Behrman died because of cancer

Discuss

o A.

True

o B.

False

 6.

Johnsy is a boy

Discuss

o A.

True

o B.

False

 7.

They live in

o A.

Greenwich Village

o B.

Ideal Village

o C.
 Village of Miami

o D.

The NEW YORK village

 8.

Mr. Behrman loves them

Discuss

o A.

True

o B.

False

 9.

The story's theme is sacrifice

Discuss

o A.

True

o B.

False

 10.

Johnsy and Sue are enemies

o A.

True

o B.

False