“The Last Leaf” is a touching short story by the celebrated American author O. Henry, included in the NCERT Class 9 English Moments supplementary reader. The story revolves around three characters — two young artists, Sue and Johnsy, and their elderly neighbour Mr. Behrman — living in New York. When Johnsy falls gravely ill with pneumonia and loses her will to live, Behrman secretly performs an extraordinary act of self-sacrifice to save her life. His painted ivy leaf — indistinguishable from a real one — becomes his long-awaited masterpiece. This chapter is an important part of the ASSEB Class 9 English syllabus and frequently features in examinations. Students preparing for ASSEB exams will find this complete question-answer guide helpful for thorough preparation.
Summary of The Last Leaf
Summary in English
Sue and Johnsy are two young artists who share an apartment in New York. In November, Johnsy falls seriously ill with pneumonia. The doctor warns Sue that Johnsy has very little chance of recovery because she has lost all desire to live. Johnsy has developed a strange idea — she believes that when the last leaf of the ivy vine on the wall outside her window falls, she will also die.
Sue is deeply worried. She tells their elderly neighbour, Mr. Behrman, about Johnsy’s strange belief. Behrman is a sixty-year-old painter who has been trying to paint a masterpiece for the last forty years but has never managed to do so. He is gruff and rough in manner but has a kind heart and is devoted to Sue and Johnsy.
One stormy night, while the rain pours and the wind blows fiercely, Behrman goes outside with a ladder, a lantern, and his paintbrushes. The next morning, Johnsy asks Sue to raise the window blind. She expects to see the bare wall — but to her surprise, one leaf still clings to the vine. It is dark green with yellow edges, but it holds firm. Day after day the leaf stays on, through rain and wind, and Johnsy begins to feel that she too should hold on to life. Her desire to live returns. She begins to recover and asks for food and hopes to paint the Bay of Naples someday.
However, Sue comes to Johnsy with sad news — Mr. Behrman has been taken to hospital. He had been found in his room, drenched and shivering, with his shoes soaking wet. He had developed pneumonia. After two days, he dies. The doctor informs Sue that the janitor found a lantern still burning and a ladder near the wall outside, along with scattered paintbrushes and a palette with green and yellow paint on it. That is when Sue and the reader realise the truth: the leaf that saved Johnsy’s life was not real — it was painted by Behrman on that stormy night, at the cost of his own life. This painted leaf is Behrman’s long-awaited masterpiece.
Think about It
Q1. What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?
Answer: Johnsy is suffering from pneumonia. However, her actual problem goes beyond the physical illness. She has lost all desire to live. She has developed a superstitious belief that she will die as soon as the last leaf on the ivy vine outside her window falls. The doctor tells Sue that medicine alone cannot cure Johnsy. Unless Johnsy herself wants to get better and finds a reason to live, no medicine will work. Therefore, it is her willingness to live — not medicine — that can truly cure her. When the painted leaf gives her hope and renews her fighting spirit, she begins to recover. This shows that a positive attitude and the will to live are as important as medical treatment.
Q2. Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers? Have you seen or read about such cases? What could be the causes for depression in teenagers?
Answer: Yes, the feeling of depression that Johnsy experiences is quite common among teenagers in today’s world. Many young people face severe depression because of cut-throat competition in academics, failure, peer pressure, social expectations, and personal losses. However, a majority of teenagers who maintain a positive attitude and face difficulties boldly never lose hope. They accept challenges as part of life and move forward. Depression among teenagers can be caused by academic stress, failures, broken relationships, loneliness, social media pressure, and lack of family support. It is important to seek help from family members, counsellors, and friends at such times rather than giving up on life.
Q3. Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?
Answer: Behrman’s lifelong dream is to paint a masterpiece. He has been waiting for the opportunity to give this dream a practical shape for the last forty years, but has never been able to achieve it. He works as a model for young artists and earns barely enough to live. Yes, his dream does come true — though in an unexpected and selfless way. On the stormy night, Behrman climbs the wall in the rain and cold and paints a realistic ivy leaf on the brick wall outside Johnsy’s window. This painting is so lifelike that neither Johnsy nor even the reader can tell it apart from a real leaf. This painted leaf not only saves Johnsy’s life but also becomes the greatest work of Behrman’s long career — his true masterpiece. Tragically, it costs him his life, as he contracts pneumonia from being exposed to the storm that night.
Q4. What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?
Answer: Behrman’s masterpiece is the painting of an ivy leaf on the brick wall outside Johnsy’s window. He painted it secretly on a stormy night to prevent Johnsy from losing hope when the last real leaf fell. The painting was so perfect and realistic that it was impossible to tell it apart from a real leaf. It stayed firmly on the wall through rain, wind, and cold, and gave Johnsy the strength and hope to fight her illness. Sue calls it a masterpiece because it achieved the highest purpose of art — it inspired life and gave hope to a dying person. Moreover, it was painted by an old man at the cost of his own life. The leaf that Behrman painted with green and yellow colours on that cold, stormy night is the greatest artistic and human achievement of his life.
Talk about It
Q1. Have you ever felt depressed and why? How did you overcome such feelings?
Answer: (This is a personal question. Students should answer based on their own experience.) Yes, many students feel depressed at some point — especially after a poor result in an examination, a loss in a competition, or a disagreement with close friends. Such feelings are natural. The best way to overcome depression is to talk about it with someone you trust — a parent, a friend, or a teacher. Engaging in hobbies, sports, or creative activities also helps. One should remember that failures are temporary and that life always offers new opportunities to those who keep trying. Maintaining a positive outlook and seeking support from loved ones is the most effective way to deal with depression.
Q2. Have you seen or known anyone who remained cheerful and optimistic even when facing difficulties?
Answer: (This is a personal/discussion question.) Yes, many people around us demonstrate remarkable positivity in difficult times. Soldiers, doctors, teachers, and even common people often face hardship without losing their hope or cheerfulness. In the story itself, Sue is a wonderful example — despite being worried about her friend Johnsy, she continues to work, whistle cheerfully while painting, and does everything possible to keep Johnsy’s spirits up. Such people teach us that the human spirit has tremendous power to endure and overcome adversity. A cheerful and optimistic attitude not only helps oneself but also inspires and supports others around them.
Additional Questions and Answers
Short Answer Questions
Q1. Who are the main characters of the story “The Last Leaf”?
Answer: The main characters of the story are Sue, Johnsy (whose real name is Joanna), and Mr. Behrman. Sue and Johnsy are two young artists who share an apartment in New York. Mr. Behrman is their elderly neighbour, a sixty-year-old painter who has never been able to paint his long-desired masterpiece.
Q2. Why did Johnsy think she would die?
Answer: Johnsy had developed the superstitious belief that she would die when the last leaf on the ivy vine outside her window fell. Since she was already very ill with pneumonia and had lost the will to live, she counted the leaves every day and was convinced that her death was tied to the falling of the last leaf.
Q3. What did the doctor say about Johnsy’s condition?
Answer: The doctor told Sue that Johnsy had very little chance of recovery — perhaps one chance in ten. He said that her physical illness could be treated with medicine, but the greater problem was that Johnsy had lost all desire to live. He said that unless Johnsy herself wanted to get better, no medicine could help her. Her willingness to live was the only thing that could save her.
Q4. Why was Sue reluctant to pull up the window blind on the stormy night?
Answer: Sue was reluctant to pull up the window blind because she feared that the last leaf on the ivy vine would have fallen during the fierce storm. If the leaf was gone, Johnsy would lose all hope and her desire to live would be completely destroyed. Sue did not want to see the bare vine and face that situation.
Q5. What qualities of Sue’s character are revealed in the story?
Answer: Sue is shown to be a caring, devoted, and courageous friend. She takes care of Johnsy with great love and dedication. She continues to work to support both of them financially. She keeps her own fears hidden and tries to appear cheerful so that Johnsy does not feel worse. She also shows wisdom and concern by confiding in Behrman and seeking his help when Johnsy’s condition worsens.
Q6. How did Sue try to keep Johnsy’s spirits up?
Answer: Sue tried to keep Johnsy’s spirits up in several ways. She talked to her cheerfully and tried to distract her from the falling leaves by speaking about fashion and clothes. She whistled while working at her painting to create a cheerful atmosphere. She brought Johnsy soup, broth, and other things to eat. She also pulled down the window blind so that Johnsy could not watch the leaves fall.
Q7. Describe Mr. Behrman’s character.
Answer: Mr. Behrman is a sixty-year-old painter who lives below Sue and Johnsy. He is gruff and rough in his manner and often speaks harshly. He earns a small income by being an artist’s model for other painters. He has been dreaming of painting a masterpiece for forty years. Despite his rough exterior, he has a warm heart and deep affection for Sue and Johnsy. His act of painting the ivy leaf on the wall at the cost of his own life reveals his extraordinary courage, selflessness, and love for others.
Q8. What did Behrman do on the stormy night? Why is it significant?
Answer: On the stormy night, Behrman took a ladder, a lantern, and his paintbrushes and went out in the rain and cold. He climbed the wall and painted a perfectly realistic ivy leaf on the brick wall outside Johnsy’s window. This act is highly significant because it saved Johnsy’s life by giving her the hope and will to live. It also represents Behrman’s greatest artistic achievement — his lifelong dream of a masterpiece — accomplished through an act of pure sacrifice and love.
Q9. How was it discovered that the last leaf was a painting?
Answer: After Behrman died, the doctor told Sue that the janitor had found Behrman ill in his room — his clothes were wet and frozen, his shoes soaking with water. Near the wall outside Johnsy’s window, a ladder was still standing, and a lantern still burning. There were scattered paintbrushes on the ground, and a palette with green and yellow paint mixed on it. These clues made it clear that Behrman had gone out on the stormy night and painted the leaf on the wall.
Q10. Why is the story titled “The Last Leaf”? Is the title appropriate?
Answer: The title “The Last Leaf” is very appropriate and meaningful. The entire plot of the story revolves around the last leaf on the ivy vine. It is the last leaf that Johnsy believes will signal her death. It is the painted last leaf that gives her the courage to live. And it is the painting of this last leaf that costs Behrman his life and becomes his masterpiece. The title captures the central symbol of the story — an object that represents both death and hope, despair and courage, loss and art.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. Write a character sketch of Mr. Behrman.
Answer: Mr. Behrman is one of the most memorable characters in O. Henry’s “The Last Leaf.” He is a sixty-year-old painter who lives below Sue and Johnsy in a small apartment in New York. On the surface, he appears to be a failure — he has been trying to paint a masterpiece for forty years without success and earns a meagre income by being a model for other artists. He is described as rough, gruff, and sometimes contemptuous of the girls’ softer feelings.
However, beneath this rough exterior lies a man of extraordinary warmth, compassion, and selflessness. He cares deeply for Sue and Johnsy, whom he regards almost as a guardian. When Sue tells him about Johnsy’s superstitious belief, he is outraged and calls it foolish — but he secretly goes out that same stormy night to do something about it. He climbs a ladder in the pouring rain, in biting cold, and paints a perfect ivy leaf on the wall — an act of pure love and sacrifice. He contracts pneumonia from this night’s exposure and dies two days later.
In death, Behrman finally achieves his dream. The painted leaf — his masterpiece — saves a young woman’s life and is recognised as such by Sue. Behrman’s character teaches us that true greatness lies not in fame or recognition, but in selfless sacrifice for others. He is the true hero of the story.
Q2. What are the main themes of the story “The Last Leaf”?
Answer: “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry explores several important themes:
1. The Will to Live: The central theme of the story is the power of the will to live. Johnsy’s illness worsens not because the doctors cannot cure her, but because she has lost the desire to get better. It is only when she regains hope — inspired by the painted leaf — that she begins to recover. The story shows that a person’s mental and emotional state is as important as physical medicine in the process of healing.
2. Friendship and Sacrifice: The story beautifully portrays the themes of friendship and self-sacrifice. Sue’s tireless care for Johnsy and Behrman’s ultimate sacrifice — giving his life to save hers — are the most powerful expressions of these values. Both characters put Johnsy’s wellbeing above their own comfort and safety.
3. Art and Its Purpose: The story raises the question of what makes a work of art truly great. Behrman’s painted leaf, done with no thought of recognition or reward, is called a masterpiece not because of its technical excellence alone, but because it fulfilled the highest purpose of art — it preserved and inspired life.
4. Hope: The painted leaf is a symbol of hope. It shows that sometimes a small reason to hope can make all the difference between life and death. Hope is the most powerful medicine in the story.
Q3. How does the painted leaf save Johnsy’s life? What does it teach us?
Answer: Johnsy had convinced herself that she would die when the last leaf fell from the ivy vine. She had lost all desire to live and was counting down the leaves, waiting for death. The night of the fierce storm, the last real leaf fell. But Behrman had gone out and painted a perfect ivy leaf on the brick wall — dark green with yellow edges, clinging stubbornly to the vine. It looked completely real.
The next morning, when Johnsy saw that leaf still on the vine despite the storm, she was startled. It remained there the next day too, and the day after. Johnsy began to feel that if the leaf could hold on against wind and rain, perhaps she too could hold on. Her superstitious belief was turned against itself — instead of signalling death, the leaf now gave her hope. She began to want to get better. She asked for food, talked about her dreams, and her health improved rapidly.
The lesson the story teaches us is profound: hope has the power to save lives. A single reason to keep going can change everything. The story also teaches us about the value of selfless love — Behrman’s sacrifice shows that true heroism often goes unnoticed and unannounced, done quietly in the dark, for the sake of others.
Q4. Compare and contrast Sue and Johnsy as characters.
Answer: Sue and Johnsy are both young artists living together in New York, but their personalities are very different, especially in the way they respond to difficulty.
Johnsy is fragile, passive, and pessimistic. When she falls ill, she surrenders completely to despair. She links her fate to the falling leaves and refuses to fight for her own life. She becomes a burden on those around her, not through any fault of character, but because her illness has stripped her of all hope. She needs external support — the painted leaf — to find her will to live again.
Sue, on the other hand, is strong, active, and resourceful. She faces the crisis head-on. She works to earn money, cooks for Johnsy, keeps her company, hides her own fears, and tries every way possible to raise Johnsy’s spirits. She also seeks help wisely by confiding in Behrman. She is a true friend — loyal, selfless, and courageous.
The contrast between the two characters helps the reader understand that one’s response to hardship depends largely on one’s inner strength and attitude. At the same time, Johnsy’s eventual recovery shows that even the weakest person can find courage when given enough reason to hope.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
Q1. What illness was Johnsy suffering from?
(a) Typhoid (b) Pneumonia (c) Malaria (d) Tuberculosis
Answer: (b) Pneumonia
Q2. According to the doctor, what could truly cure Johnsy?
(a) Expensive medicine (b) Rest and sleep (c) Her willingness to live (d) A change of place
Answer: (c) Her willingness to live
Q3. What was Behrman’s lifelong dream?
(a) To become famous (b) To paint a masterpiece (c) To travel to Italy (d) To write a novel
Answer: (b) To paint a masterpiece
Q4. How old was Mr. Behrman?
(a) Fifty (b) Seventy (c) Sixty (d) Forty-five
Answer: (c) Sixty
Q5. What did Johnsy believe would happen when the last leaf fell?
(a) It would snow (b) She would get well (c) She would die (d) Sue would leave her
Answer: (c) She would die
Q6. What plant’s leaves were outside Johnsy’s window?
(a) Rose (b) Mango (c) Ivy creeper (d) Jasmine
Answer: (c) Ivy creeper
Q7. What did Behrman use to paint the last leaf on the wall?
(a) Red and blue paint (b) Green and yellow paint (c) Brown and black paint (d) White and grey paint
Answer: (b) Green and yellow paint
Q8. How did Behrman die?
(a) He fell from the ladder (b) He was very old (c) He contracted pneumonia (d) He starved
Answer: (c) He contracted pneumonia after painting in the cold storm
Q9. What did Sue do while working in the room to keep spirits up?
(a) Sang a song (b) Whistled (c) Read a book aloud (d) Told jokes
Answer: (b) Whistled
Q10. Why is Behrman’s painted leaf called his masterpiece?
(a) It won a prize (b) It was sold for a high price (c) It saved Johnsy’s life and was indistinguishable from a real leaf (d) It was painted in a museum
Answer: (c) It saved Johnsy’s life and was indistinguishable from a real leaf
Q11. In which season does the story take place?
(a) Summer (b) Spring (c) Autumn (d) Winter
Answer: (c) Autumn (November)
Q12. Who told Sue about Behrman’s death and his act?
(a) The janitor (b) The doctor (c) A neighbour (d) The police
Answer: (b) The doctor
This complete question-answer guide for ASSEB Class 9 English Moments Chapter 7 “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry covers all textbook questions from the Think about It and Talk about It sections, along with additional short and long answer questions and MCQs. Students appearing in ASSEB examinations should practise writing these answers in their own words for best results.