The Last Leaf
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Hope and Health Gender and Sexuality The “Starving Artist” and the “Masterpiece” Friendship and Sacrifice
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Joanna (“Johnsy”) Sue Behrman Doctor
Symbols
All Symbols The “Last Leaf”
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dialect Foreshadowing Genre Imagery Metaphors Mood Motifs Personification Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
Quiz
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
The LitCharts.com logo.
Sign In Sign up for A+
The LitCharts.com logo.
AI Tools
  • Ask LitCharts AI
  • Discussion Question Generator
  • Essay Prompt Generator
  • Quiz Question Generator
Guides Guides
  • Literature Guides
  • Poetry Guides
  • Shakespeare Translations
  • Literary Terms
Sign In Sign up for A+ Sign up

The Last Leaf

by

O. Henry

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Hope and Health Theme Icon
    Hope and Health
  • Gender and Sexuality Theme Icon
    Gender and Sexuality
  • The “Starving Artist” and the “Masterpiece” Theme Icon
    The “Starving Artist” and the “Masterpiece”
  • Friendship and Sacrifice Theme Icon
    Friendship and Sacrifice
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Joanna (“Johnsy”)
  • Sue
  • Behrman
  • Doctor
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The “Last Leaf” Symbol Icon
    The “Last Leaf”
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Dialect
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Imagery
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Motifs
  • Personification
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Quiz
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

The Last Leaf Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Houghton, Eve. "The Last Leaf." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 7 Nov 2017. Web. 14 Jul 2025.


Chicago

Houghton, Eve. "The Last Leaf." LitCharts LLC, November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-last-leaf.

Company
About Us Our Story Jobs
Support
Help Center Contact Us
Connect
Facebook Twitter
Legal
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Privacy Request
Home About Contact Help
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request
The LitCharts.com logo.
Save time. Stress less.
Sign up!
  • AI Tools for on-demand study help and teaching prep.
  • Quote explanations, with page numbers, for over 48,083 quotes.
  • PDF downloads of all 2,162 LitCharts guides.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
The LitCharts.com logo.
Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account
You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to request a guide
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Get your answer with a free account
You’ll also get tons of other helpful features, including free quizzes and saving guides.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Last step: complete your free account
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.
You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to access notes and highlights
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account
Easily access your saved guides anytime.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to save guides
Already have an account? Sign in