AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Answer: Johnsy, his neighbour who had been suffering from pneumonia, had developed a strong belief that she would die the day the last leaf of the creeper outside her window fell. Behrman felt that he had to paint the leaf that night in order to save her life, as all the leaves had fallen off in the storm.

Detailed explanation-2: -Berhman’s masterpiece is the last leaf on the ivy creeper. Sue calls it a masterpiece because this painting rekindled the willingness to live in Johnsy’s heart and she was able to recover from her illness.

Detailed explanation-3: -Ans: 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 painted it overnight to help save Johnsy’s life.

Detailed explanation-4: -He is initially dismissive of the idea that leaves on a vine could have anything to do with Johnsy’s health, but ultimately goes outside on a cold and rainy night to paint a realistic-looking leaf onto the wall outside her window so that she will think one last leaf has miraculously survived the storm.

Detailed explanation-5: -Behrman painted the last leaf to save Johnsy’s life. His painted leaf succeeded in reviving Johnsy’s faith in life. Behrman himself died while painting it. His sacrifice and the message of optimism conveyed by the last leaf prove it to be his masterpiece.