CBSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LITERATURE

Detailed explanation-1: -It becomes a symbol of hope, because Johnsy becomes convinced that God wants her to survive just like He wanted the leaf to survive the storm. Since the leaf had been painted, it becomes a permanent piece of art, which further signifies that hope is also a permanent part of human existence.

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: -Vine Leaves (Symbol) The vine leaves around which the story revolves are a symbol of life. At the beginning of the story, Johnsy considers the rapidly falling leaves as ominous predictors of her own death, and she comes to believe that she will die when the last leaf falls.

Detailed explanation-4: -Henry’s “The Last Leaf” is a story of hope, friendship, and sacrifice because Sue and Mr. Behrman do not give up on restoring Johnsy’s will to live. Instead, they offer their loving efforts to help Johnsy regain her health, and Mr. Behrman even sacrifices his life for Johnsy.