CHAPTER 08

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The Last Leaf

Bahasa Inggris

CHAPTER 8

Genre Connection

Short story is a form of literature that is written in narrative form. Short

story came into existence in the 17th century, although its origins are in

ancient story telling tradition. Short stories focus on small number of

characters with a self-contained incident that focuses on evoking a single

effect. Short stories have all the elements but to a lesser degree than a

novel. Short stories can be funny, dramatic, romantic, tragicomedy or satire.

There is no set length for short stories. Some of the examples of famous

short stories are:

The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant

Diamond as big as Ritz by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The country of the blind by H. G. Wells

In this chapter you will:

- Read a short story

- Learn all about Conditional sentences

- Write a text using conditional sentences

- Write a story using conditional sentences and publish it

- Work together with your classmate

Personal Connection

Have you taken care of a very sick person. How was it like? Describe your

experience.

Prereading Activities

46

The Last Leaf

Kelas XI SMA/MA/SMK/MAK

Semester 2

Many artists lived in Greenwich Village in New

York City. Sue and Johnsy, two artists also lived there in

a studio apartment. Their rooms were at the top of an

old building in Greenwich Village.

In November, it was very cold and with it a cold

unseen stranger, whom the doctors called Pneumonia,

stalked the city, touching one here and there with his

icy fingers. The icy fingers of Pneumonia also touched

Johnsy. She was very ill, lying in her bed and not moving

at all. A doctor visited her every day but Johnsy was not

getting better. One morning, the doctor spoke to Sue

outside Johnsy's room.

R e a d i n g A c t i v i t y

T h e L a st

Leaf

Picture 8.1 (Source: wattpad.com)

“I can' t help her,” the doctor said. “She is very sad and has no desire to

live. Someone must make her happy again. What is she interested in?”

“She is an artist,” Sue replied. “She wants to paint a picture of bay of Naples.”

“Painting!” said the doctor. “That won't help her!”

Sue was distressed by this news and didn't know what to do to help

Johnsy. She went into the workroom and cried and then she swaggered into

Johnsy's room with her drawing board, whistling ragtime. Johnsy lay silently in her

bed with her face towards the window. Sue stopped whistling, thinking Johnsy was

asleep.

Sue arranged her board and began drawing to illustrate a magazine story.

As Sue was sketching a figure of a hero, an Idaho cowboy, she heard a low sound,

several times repeated. She went quickly to the bedside.

Johnsy's eyes were open wide. She was looking out the window and

counting - counting backwards.

"Twelve," she said, and little later "eleven"; and then "ten," and "nine"; and then

"eight" and "seven", almost together.

Sue looked out of the window wondering what was there to count? There

was only a bare, dreary yard to be seen, and the blank side of the brick house

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Bahasa Inggris

was only a bare, dreary yard to be seen, and the blank side of the brick house

twenty feet away. An old, old ivy vine, gnarled and decayed at the roots, climbed

half way up the brick wall. The cold breath of autumn had stricken its leaves from

the vine until its skeleton branches clung, almost bare, to the crumbling bricks.

"What is it, dear?" asked Sue.

"Six," said Johnsy, in almost a whisper. "They're falling faster now. Three days ago

there were almost a hundred. My head ached when I was counting them but now

it's easy. There goes another one. There are only five left now."

"Five what, dear? Tell me."

"Leaves on the ivy vine. When the last one falls I must go, too. I've known that for

three days. Didn't the doctor tell you?"

"Oh, I never heard of such nonsense," complained Sue, with magnificent scorn.

"What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? Try to sleep," said Sue. "I

must call Behrman up to be my model for the old hermit miner. I'll not be gone a

minute. Don't try to move 'til I come back."

Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor of the same

building. He was sixty years old and had always dreamed of painting a

masterpiece, but unfortunately till now he was not able to fulfill his dream. Sue

found Behrman in his dimly lighted apartment sitting in his chair. She told him of

Johnsy's condition. Old Behrman, with his red eyes plainly streaming, shouted his

contempt and derision for such idiotic imaginings.

Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shade down

to the windowsill, and motioned Behrman into the other room. In there they

peered out the window fearfully at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other for

a moment without speaking. A persistent, cold rain was falling, mingled with snow.

When Sue awoke from an hour's sleep the next morning she found Johnsy with

dull, wide-open eyes staring at the drawn green shade.

"Pull it up; I want to see," she ordered, in a whisper. Wearily Sue obeyed.

"It is the last one," said Johnsy. It will fall today, and I shall die at the same time."

"Dear, dear!" said Sue, leaning her worn face down to the pillow, "think of me, if

you won't think of yourself. What would I do?" But Johnsy did not answer.

The leaf stayed on the vine all day. That night, there was more wind and rain.

When it was light enough Johnsy commanded that the shade be raised. The ivy

leaf was still there.

"I've been a foolish girl, Sue," said Johnsy. “I wanted to die but the last leaf

stayed on the vine to teach me a lesson. Please bring me some soup now.” “You

know Sue, some day I hope to paint the Bay of Naples."

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Kelas XI SMA/MA/SMK/MAK

Semester 2

The doctor visited the girls in the afternoon. “Take good care of your

friend,” he said. “She is going to get well. Now I have to go downstairs. I have to visit

Mr. Behrman. He has pneumonia too. I must send him to the hospital.”

The next day the doctor said to Sue: "She's out of danger. You won.

Nutrition and care now - that's all." And that afternoon Sue came to the bed where

Johnsy lay, contentedly knitting a woolen shoulder scarf. "I have something to tell

you, dear," she said. "Mr. Behrman died of pneumonia today in the hospital. He

was ill only two days. The janitor found him the morning of the first day in his room

downstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were wet through and icy

cold. They couldn't imagine where he had been on such a dreadful night. And then

they found a lantern, still lighted, and a ladder that had been dragged from its

place, and some scattered brushes, and a palette with green and yellow colors

mixed on it, and - look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn't

you wonder why it never fluttered or moved when the wind blew? Ah, darling, it's

Behrman's masterpiece - he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell .”

(Adapted from The Last Leaf by O. Henry, 1907)

Greenwich is

pronounced as

Grennitch

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Bahasa Inggris

Read the questions carefully. Note down your opinions and reactions to the

questions. During the discussion with your teacher and classmates, offer your

personal reaction and understanding of the text.

1. The story is based on multiple themes like love, sacrifice, hope, belief and

pessimism. Which one do you think is more obvious in the story? Why? Give

evidence to support your answer.

2. Why does Sue call “the last leaf” as Behrman's masterpiece? Do you think it

was a masterpiece?

3. Were you surprised at the ending of the story? Did you think it would end

differently? Why?

4. Painting the picture on the wall resulted in Mr. Behrman's death. Do you

think he would still have painted the leaf if he had known that it would result

in his death? Discuss and give reasons to support you answer.

5. If you were in Sue's shoes how would you have reacted to Johnsy's irrational

thoughts? Describe.

6. Why do you think Mr. Behrman made such a sacrifice? Discuss.

7. What would you have done if you were in Mr. Behrman's place? Discuss.

8. What is the greatest sacrifice you have ever made for your family or friends?

Describe.

9. Describe Mr. Behrman's personality based on the story?

10. Why do you think Johnsy never noticed that the last leaf never fluttered or

moved even though it was raining heavily?

Discussion Notes :

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Kelas XI SMA/MA/SMK/MAK

Semester 2

PERSONAL

JOURNAL WRITING

Faith can move mountains. It means that if you strongly believe that

something will happen, it will happen. What do you think? Have you

experienced something like this? Write down your reflections here.

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Bahasa Inggris

Conditionals are used to talk about possible or imaginary situations.

Conditionals are sentences with two (2) clauses: an “if” clause and a main

clause that are closely related.

WHAT IF? Conditionals

Is used for

actions that are

always true

Example:

If you heat

water, it boils.

Zero Conditionals

is used for real

and possible

situations

Example:

If it rains, you will

get wet.

First Conditional

Is used for unreal

or impossible

things

Example:

If I won the

lottery, I would

buy a car.

Second Conditional

Is used for unreal

past actions

Example:

If it had rained,

you would have

got wet.

Third Conditional

We use zero

conditional to refer

to general truth.

The time is now or

always and the

situation is real and

possible

We use first

conditional to refer

to possible

condition and its

probable result.

The time is present

or future and the

situation is real.

Example

Conditional

Uses

Sentence structure

If + present simple,

........present simple

If+ present simple,

...... will+ infinitive

- If you heat ice,

it melts.

- When the sun

sets, it gets

dark.

- If it rains, you

will get wet.

- If it is a sunny

day, I will go to

the beach.

Zero

First

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Kelas XI SMA/MA/SMK/MAK

Semester 2

We use second

conditional to refer

to hypothetical

condition and its

probable result.

The time is now or

any time and the

situation is unreal.

We use third

conditional to refer

to an unreal past

condition and its

probable past

result. The time is

past and the

situation is

contrary to reality.

If + past simple,

.....would+ infinitive

If+ past

perfect,,.....would +

have+ past

participle

- If it rained, you

would get wet.

- If I won a

lottery, I would

buy a big house.

- If it had rained,

you would have

got wet.

- If I had worked

harder at

school, I would

have graduated.

Second

Third

1. In conditionals will or would is not used in

if-clauses.

Except: If will or would express willingness, as in requests,

they can be used in if-clauses.

For example:

- If you will come this way, the boss will see you now.

- I would be thankful if you would give me a little help.

2. After if, we can either use "someone, somewhere" or "anyone,

anywhere”.

For example:

3. If you switch the clauses around and put IF in the middle, then you do not

use a comma.

For example:

- I would consider a bigger discount rate IF you buy more than 10 units.

- I will play with you IF you help me finish the chores.

If I have

some

spare time next Monday, I will come and visit you.

OR

If I have

any

spare time next Monday, I will come and visit you.

(Azar, 2002 )

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Bahasa Inggris

Wo rd Powe r

Meaning

contempt

derision

distress

gnarled

decay

crumble

magnificent

persistent

stranger

icy

\kənˈtɛm(p)t\

\dɪˈrɪʒ(ə)n\

\dɪˈstrɛs\

\n

ɑ

ːld\

\dɪˈkeɪ\

\ˈkrʌmb(ə)l\

\magˈnɪfɪs(ə)nt\

\pəˈsɪst(ə)nt\

\ˈstrān-jər\

\ˈī-sē\

Disrespect.

Use of ridicule to show contempt.

Extreme anxiety and pain.

Old and twisted due to age.

Rot and decompose.

Break into small pieces.

Impressive to mind.

Continuing to do something even

though it is difficult.

Someone you have not met before.

Covered in ice, not friendly

K N O W

DID YOU

?

The story Last Leaf was first adapted for

the screen as part of O. Henry’s Full House

in 1952.

It has had several adaptations, and has

also form the premise of a Bollywood

movie.

O. Henry’s actual name was William

Sidney Poter. He died Penniless at age of

47.

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Kelas XI SMA/MA/SMK/MAK

Semester 2

Let’s Practice

1. Use the words in the parentheses (.......) in their correct form and

complete the conversation given below:

Did you read the news about the person who won 150 million dollars in

the lottery? If I (win)___________ that much money, I (travel) __________

around Indonesia and (stay)_____________in the most lavish hotels. If I

(want) ___________ anything. I (buy)______________ it, I would buy

Ferrari Sports car, my favorite. Well, I (do)____________good things with

the money as well. If anybody (need) ____________help, I

(give)______________them money to help them out. I (donate)

_________money to charities. I (give) _________money to help support

programs for poor children. If I (win) _____________that much money, I

wouldn't keep it all for myself. I (help) __________as many people as

possible.

2. Complete the following conditional sentences. The first one is done for

you.

1. If I decide to go out today, I will go to my friend's house.

2. If I get a headache, I _______________________________.

3. If I had a red sports car, _______________________________.

4. If we had bread, cheese, tomato, we _________________________.

5. If I were in Australia, __________________________.

6. If I didn't have any homework to do, ___________________________.

7. If it didn't rain tomorrow, we _____________________________.

8. If I had a pet dog, ______________________________________.

9. If I had worked hard, ________________________________.

10. If I knew her telephone number, ____________________________.

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Bahasa Inggris

4. Choose the correct second clause for the following conditional sentences:

1. If I were you,_____________________

a) I will go to the beach with my friends.

b) I would go to the beach with my friends.

c) I could go the beach with my friends.

2. If Lana was rich,_______________________

a) she would have spent all the money on clothes.

b) she can probably spend a lot of money on clothes.

c) she will probably spend all her money on clothes.

3. If I had enough money, _____________________________

a) I will go on safari to Kenya.

b) I would go on safari to Kenya.

c) I can go on safari to Kenya.

4. Siti will never pass her exams ____________________________

a) if she couldn't study harder.

b) if she doesn't study harder.

c) if she didn't study harder.

If I lived in a village,

If I were the manager of this

company,

If I knew her address,

If I were the president of Indonesia

If I wake up late,

If I could meet someone famous,

If you heat ice,

If we lived in New York,

If I won the lottery,

2nd clause

IF clause

I would send her an invitation card.

I would give free education to poor

children.

I usually hurry to get ready.

we would need more money.

it melts.

I would have a farm.

I would go on holiday.

I would give you a promotion.

I would meet Reza Rahadian.

3. Match the “if” clause with the correct second clause. The first one is done

for you.

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Kelas XI SMA/MA/SMK/MAK

Semester 2

5. What would you do _____________________________________

a) if you could lose your job?

b) if you will lose your job?

c) if you lost your job?

4. Fill in the blanks with the words given in the box:

contempt, stranger, icy, derision, distressed, gnarled, decay, crumble,

magnificent, persistent

1. My sister wondered why her colleague gave her such an____________

glare.

2. Why are you behaving like a _________________, make yourself at

home.

3. The class bully laughed in _________________at my mistake.

4. The branches of this tree are old and _________________. They will fall

anytime soon.

5. Ajeng Kartini was a very _________________woman. She fought for

women rights despite all the opposition.

6. Can you _________________ the cookies? We will sprinkle them on the

fruit trifle.

7. If I had lot of money, I would live in the most _________________house

ever built.

8. If you eat too much candy, your teeth will _________________.

9. If you don't go home on time, your mother will be _________________.

10. The news reporter was charge for _________________ of court.

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Bahasa Inggris

Read the following questions. Answer them in complete sentences, then go

around the classroom and share with atleast 3-4 classmates. Compare your

responses with theirs. How are they different? Did you find someone with an

answer similar to yours?

Active Conversation

- What would you do IF you could fly?

- What would you do IF you won a lottery?

- Where would you go IF you could go anywhere?

- What would you do IF you could be as small as an ant?

- What would you do IF you could be invisible for a day?

- What would you do IF you had a million dollar?

- What would you do IF you saw a ghost?

- What would you do IF you were the leader of the OSIS?

- IF you could ask God one question what would it be?

- IF the whole world were listening, what would you say?

- IF you could choose to live on a different planet, which one would you choose?

What IF

I would

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Kelas XI SMA/MA/SMK/MAK

Semester 2

Writing Connection

Rewrite the story “The last leaf” using conditional sentences wherever

possible. Follow the rules of conditionals you learnt in building blocks.

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Bahasa Inggris

Let’s Create/Contribute

Choose one of the activities given below:

Time to create a masterpiece

A masterpiece is the greatest piece of art an artist can create. The painting

of Mona Lisa is widely considered as the masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci.

1. Visualize the story “the last leaf” and illustrate favorite part of the

story. This illustration should be your masterpiece. Display it on the

wall in your class.

2. Visualize the story “The last leaf” and make a graphic novel.

Shadow puppetry is an old form of storytelling method used for entertainment.

Shadow puppetry uses flat puppets to create the impression of moving figures.

Shadow puppets are cut out figures, which are held against light to create a show.

Shadow puppetry has long history in Indonesia. It is known as Wayang Kulit and is

famous in Java and Bali.

3. With your friend write dialogues/script for favorite part of “The Last Leaf”

using conditionals. After you have finished writing the dialogues, organize a

shadow puppet show for your class.

Picture 8.2 (Source: www.bubblenews.com)

Example of shadow puppet show

(wayang kulit)

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Kelas XI SMA/MA/SMK/MAK

Semester 2

Parent Connection

Ask your parents if they get a chance to change one thing in their life,

what would it be? Use conditionals to retell what they would change.

Picture 8.3 (Source: Kemendikbud)

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Bahasa Inggris

The story was easy to understand

I know how to write a text or

story using conditionals.

I will continue writing

reflections.

I can write using conditionals.

I like writing reflections.

Definitely

Maybe

No

Not at all

Yes

My plan to overcome difficulties of this chapter

I can do this.

Complete these statements:

1. The most interesting thing I learnt in this chapter was

............................................................................................................

2. The part I enjoyed most was ........

3. I would like to find more about ........

4. The hardest part in this chapter was ........

5. I need to work harder at ........

Read the statements below and tick ( ) the option that is most

applicable to you.

Fo r m a t i ve A s s e s s m e n t

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Kelas XI SMA/MA/SMK/MAK

Semester 2