TheLastLeaf作者简介：

　　O.Henry（1862～1910）,是美国20世纪初颇受读者欢迎的短篇小说家.他原名WilliamSydneyPorter,出生于美国北卡罗来纳州.30多岁开始写短篇小说.一生共创作了约300篇短篇小说,显示出他非同凡响的艺术才华.

　　O.Henry擅长编造故事情节.他的故事结构紧凑,语言精练,结局往往出人意表,对现代短篇小说影响较大.在他的小说中,写得最好的是关于纽约的那些,他把纽约曼哈顿区一带的街道、小饭馆、破旧的公寓的气氛描写得既生动又逼真,故有“曼哈顿的桂冠诗人”之称.

　　内容简介：

　　《TheLastLeaf》（最后一片叶子）是O.Henry较有代表性的作品,突出反映了他的写作风格和特点.

　　年轻贫穷的画家Johnsy不幸染上肺炎,女友Sue竭尽全力照料她,但她的病情仍不见好转.万念俱灰的Johnsy放弃了生存的欲望,准备在窗外对面墙上常春藤的最后一片叶子凋落坠地时,撒手人寰.另一位一生未画出重大作品的老画家Behrman为了救她,连夜冒雨爬上墙头画了一片藤叶,他自己因而染上肺炎,两天后去世.老画家所画的最后一片叶子,成了他的毕生杰作.

　　原文最后段落赏析：

　　"Ihavesomethingtotellyou,"shesaid,"Mr.Behrmandiedofpneumoniatodayinthehospital.Hewasillonlytwodays.Thejanitorfoundhimonthemorningofthefirstdayinhisroomdownstairshelpnesswithpain.Hisshoesandclothesweresoakingwetandicecold.Theycouldn'timaginewherehehadbeenonsuchadreadfulnight.Andthentheyfoundalantern,stilllighted,andaladderthathadbeendraggedfromitsplace,andsomescatteredbrushes,andapalettewithgreenandyellowcolorsmixedonit,and——lookoutthewindow,dear,atthelastivyleafonthewall.Didn'tyouwonderwhyitneverflutteredormovedwhenthewindblew?Ah,darling,it'sBehrman'smasterpiece——hepaintedittherethenightthatthelastleaffell."

　　评论：

　　Thelastleafissymboloftheleafoflife.Itisthemosttreasuredgiftfromanoldartist!

　　Thestorydescribedayoungcoupleofgoodfriends.It'sJohnsyandSue.Afteraperiodofhappytime,JohnsyencountedtheMr.PneumoniainacoldnightinNovember.Onedayafternoon,shewasdesperatlylookingoutofthewindowandwascountingtheleavesontheivytree.Shefirmlyconvincedthatshewouldleavetheworldafterthelastleaffell.Shehadn'tanypassionforthefurturelife!Hadn'tnoneotherbetterways,SuehadtoaskthehelpoftheMr.Behrman.Andoldpoorartistwholivedonthegroundfloorbeneaththem!

　　Hewasafailureinart.hehasbeenalwaysabouttopaintamasterpiece,buthadneverbegunit.Affirstly,hewasveryscornfulaboutthisfrustratedgirlwhowasgivingupherlifeafterhearingofthelastleafstoryfromSue.Actually,inthisoldman'sfeelinginside,heearnestlywantedtosavethispoorandyounggirl.Hepanitedthelastvividandlovelyleafthroughoutadreadfulnight.Finally,thismaterpiecehasbeencompleted,andJohnsykindledthelifefireagain.However,Mr.BehamediedofthePneumonia.

　　Thestoryendedhere,but,thesincerefriendshipwouldneverstopforever!Itispenetratingineverysentenceofthisessay,anditisalsohoveringinthereader'sheart!Letusrespectthisbestart-man!Meanwhile,Ialsoassociatehimwithmyparents.Theybreedusandcultivateus!Theyhavegivenustheirbestpresents!Weshalldoallofourefferotstoreturnthecontributionstothem!