The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories Lesson Plan

How does the author's treatment of domestic abuse in "A Harlem Tragedy" land with you as a modern reader? Why is Mrs. Fink jealous of Mrs. Cassidy, and why is this such a harmful portrayal? What is significant about the setting of Harlem, and why do you think Henry chooses to put it in the title? Why must we be careful when we study this story?

Students will likely give varied answers, but they are encouraged to embrace complexity in their explorations of Mrs. Fink's envy. They might sympathize with Mrs. Fink's yearning to experience passion and aliveness ("the spices of life"). They might argue the importance of acknowledging neglect as a form of abuse, and that Mr....