The Last Leaf Notes Chapter 7 English Class 9 CBSE

Notes For All Chapters English Moments Class 9

1. About the Chapter

Title: The Last Leaf
Author: O. Henry
Type: Short story
Theme: Hope, friendship, sacrifice, and the will to live

2. Summary / Introduction

The story “The Last Leaf” is about two young artists, Sue and Johnsy, who live together in a small flat.When Johnsy falls ill with pneumonia, she loses her will to live and believes she will die when the last leaf of an ivy creeper outside their window falls.Her friend Sue tries her best to help her recover. Their old neighbour, Behrman, a painter, makes a great sacrifice to save Johnsy’s life by painting a leaf that never falls.

3. Main Characters

(a) Johnsy

• A young artist who falls seriously ill with pneumonia.
• She becomes hopeless and believes that her life will end when the last leaf of the ivy creeper falls.
• Her depression makes her weaker day by day.
• Later, when she realises the truth, she regains her will to live.

(b) Sue

• Johnsy’s loving and caring friend.
• She looks after Johnsy and tries to cheer her up.
• She brings food, talks, and paints near Johnsy to make her feel better.
• She also takes help from Behrman to save Johnsy’s life.

(c) Behrman

• A sixty-year-old painter living on the ground floor.
• His lifelong dream is to paint a masterpiece.
• He sacrifices his life by painting a leaf on the wall during a stormy night to give hope to Johnsy.
• That painted leaf becomes his masterpiece.

4. Main Events of the Story

(a) Johnsy’s Illness

• Sue and Johnsy live together in a small flat on the third floor.
• In November, Johnsy falls seriously ill with pneumonia.
• The doctor says she will recover only if she wants to live.

(b) The Falling Ivy Leaves

• Johnsy keeps looking out of the window at an ivy creeper whose leaves are falling in the cold autumn wind.
• She believes that when the last leaf falls, she will die.
• Sue tries to convince her otherwise, but Johnsy refuses to eat or talk.

(c) Sue Seeks Help from Behrman

• Sue becomes very worried and tells Behrman about Johnsy’s strange belief.
• Behrman is shocked at her foolishness but deeply moved by her condition.
• It is stormy outside and looks like the last leaf will fall soon.
• Behrman quietly plans to save her.

(d) The Painted Leaf

• The next morning, Johnsy wakes up and asks Sue to open the curtains.
• To her surprise, one leaf still clings to the creeper despite the strong wind and rain.
• Even after another storm that night, the leaf doesn’t fall.
• Seeing the leaf still there gives Johnsy new hope – she realises her mistake and decides to live.

(e) Behrman’s Sacrifice

• The doctor visits and says Johnsy will recover because she now wants to live.
• However, Behrman is found ill with pneumonia and dies two days later.
• Sue tells Johnsy that Behrman went out in the storm to paint a leaf on the wall when the last real leaf had fallen.
• That painted leaf gave Johnsy hope and saved her life – it was Behrman’s masterpiece.

5. Central Idea

The story teaches that hope and determination give life.
It shows how one person’s selfless sacrifice can inspire another to live.
Behrman’s act of painting the leaf gives Johnsy strength and becomes a true masterpiece of love and humanity.