EnglishNEB 2076 (old course)
a) What is a summary? Write any four differences between a summary and a precis. [2] b) Write a summary of the story “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry. [3]
5Answer
a) What is a summary? Four differences between a summary and a precis
What is a summary?
A summary is a brief and concise restatement of the main ideas, key points, and essential details of a text in the writer’s own words. It retains the original meaning while condensing the original into a shorter form, usually about one-third of the original length. A summary is objective and does not include personal opinions or interpretations.
Four Differences Between a Summary and a Precis
| Basis | Summary | Precis |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A condensed version of the main points of a text. | A highly condensed version (usually one-tenth of the original) that captures the central idea and main points in a structured way. |
| Length | Typically one-third of the original text. | Much shorter (one-tenth or even one-twentieth) of the original. |
| Purpose | Provides a general overview of the text. | Focuses on the main idea and key supporting details in a structured manner. |
| Inclusion of Details | Includes most important points but may omit minor details. | Excludes all minor details and only includes essential points that support the central idea. |
b) Summary of The Last Leaf by O. Henry
The Last Leaf is a touching short story by O. Henry that revolves around the themes of friendship, hope, and sacrifice. The story is set in Greenwich Village, New York, where two struggling artists, Joanna and Sue, share a small apartment. Sue falls ill with pneumonia, and her hope for recovery depends on seeing a last ivy leaf on a vine outside their window. According to an old superstition, if the leaf falls before she gets well, she will die.
Joanna, desperate to keep Sue’s spirits up, lies to her, saying the leaf will not fall. Meanwhile, an old painter named Behrman, who lives in the same building, overhears their conversation. Moved by their plight, he secretly paints a leaf on the vine to mimic the real one. When Sue’s fever breaks and she recovers, the real leaf falls in a storm, but she does not notice because she is too weak to look outside. Behrman, however, dies of pneumonia after painting the leaf in the cold.
The story ends with Joanna and Sue realizing the sacrifice Behrman made for their friendship. The painted leaf symbolizes hope, love, and selflessness, showing that sometimes, people go to great lengths to protect those they care about. The story leaves a deep emotional impact, emphasizing that true friendship can be as powerful as life itself.
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