CBSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LITERATURE

Detailed explanation-1: -O. Henry personifies pneumonia, describing it as “a cold, unseen stranger” which “stalked about the colony.” The illness is “a ravager, ” and “his feet trod slowly.” “Mr. Pneumonia” is said not to be “chivalric”; he is called a “red-fisted, short-breathed old duffer” who would mercilessly kill a woman.

Detailed explanation-2: -In November a cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called 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."

Detailed explanation-3: -“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.

Detailed explanation-4: -Johnsy’s real name was Joanna. In November, a cold, unseen stranger came to visit the city. This disease, pneumonia, killed many people. Johnsy lay on her bed, hardly moving.