AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Behrman caught pneumonia because he was out in the cold, rainy night standing on a ladder and painting a leaf on the ivy on the wall across Johnsy’s window. The last leaf is not a leaf at all. But it pulls Johnsy out of her deep conviction that she is going to die.

Detailed explanation-2: -He had acquired the disease from being out in cold and wet weather and he had painted the last leaf to give Johnsy hope of survival. Finally, Behrman had successfully painted his masterpiece-the leaf that saved Johnsy’s life and gave her hope to live longer, while he sacrificed his own life in the process.

Detailed explanation-3: -Behrman had worked through the snow to paint the leaf outside Johnsy’s window. He died from pneumonia. He sacrificed his own life to save Johnsy’s life. Thus, the last leaf painted on the wall became his masterpiece.

Detailed explanation-4: -That afternoon, they came to know that old Behrman had died. Sue told Johnsy that he had painted the leaf on the wall when the last leaf fell. He had gone out in snow and rain in order to paint the leaf. He had caught pneumonia and died.

Detailed explanation-5: -The leaf painted by him was a masterpiece. He fulfilled his desire but as he had been out in the storm, he fell ill. He suffered pneumonia and could not fight it. Behrman lost his life in this process.