Question

In The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, Jim sells his pocket watch to buy combs for Della, while Della sells her hair to buy Jim a chain for his pocket watch. This is an example of what literary element?

Answer 1

Answer: Irony

Irony refers to a rhetorical device in which what appears to be the case is in fact dramatically different from the reality. In this case, both Jim and Della believed themselves to be giving the perfect gift to the other person, not knowing that the other person was giving away the thing that was necessary for the gifts to work. This is an example of irony.

Answer 2

I believe this is an example of either situational or dramatic irony,