AP BIOLOGY

PLANTS

THE LEAF

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
In the beginning of the story, what does the last leaf symbolize?
A
despair
B
hope
C
anger
D
love
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Answer: Johnsy sees the last leaf as a symbol of her hold on life; when it falls to the ground she thinks that she too will “go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor tired leaves.” By contrast, both Sue and their downstairs neighbor Mr. Behrman deny that the leaf has any symbolic value at all.

Detailed explanation-2: -Behrman sacrifices his own life in order to give some hope to Johnsy. He is aware that Johnsy thinks when the last leaf falls, she will die. So, he sacrifices his own life to paint the last masterpiece of his life. The ivy leaf on the tree was painted by him so that Johnsy could live her life and have hope.

Detailed explanation-3: -For Johnsy, watching the leaves of the ivy vine fall becomes an obsession. She watches them obsessively and becomes convinced that she will die once the last leaf falls. For Johnsy, then, the ivy leaf comes to symbolize death and giving up, while it can also come to symbolize will to live and hope.

Detailed explanation-4: -Friendship. The central theme of the story is the friendship between Sue and Johnsy. They both love their art and share similar passions. When Johnsy falls ill, Sue manages all her care.

Detailed explanation-5: -“The Last Leaf” concerns Johnsy, a poor young woman who is 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, an artist, tricks her by painting a leaf on the wall. Johnsy recovers, but (in a twist typical of O.

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