Chapter 1: The Last Leaf
* Summary:
* Sue and Johnsy are two young artists living in a small apartment. Johnsy becomes ill with pneumonia and loses the will to live. An elderly artist named Behrman lives in the building and hears about Johnsy's condition.
* Real Example:
> "When Behrman came out of Mrs. Pleiffer's he ran across Mr. Pneumonia walking up the airshaft between two dumb tenements. 'What are you up to?' he cried. 'You are not wanted in that little studio and you had better not go there. The janitor is going to light the furnace tomorrow to keep the cold out, and his girl is going to cook him some herbed snails. The smell of that will kill you!'
> "But Mr. Pneumonia, being an artist, waved his skinny hand and said: 'Let me paint one more masterpiece upon the canvas of her imagination. Then I shall go.'"
Chapter 2: The Necklace
* Summary:
* Matilda Loisel is a beautiful but discontent young woman who dreams of a life of luxury. Her husband, a clerk, gives her an invitation to a ball. Matilda borrows a diamond necklace from a wealthy friend, but loses it on the way home.
* Real Example:
> "She had no fine clothes, no jewels, nothing. And she loved nothing but that. She felt made for them. She had the beauty of a woman born for every delicacy and all the luxury."
Chapter 3: The Tell-Tale Heart
* Summary:
* An unnamed narrator recounts his murder of an old man whom he claims to have hated because of his "vulture eye." The narrator becomes increasingly paranoid and obsessed with the old man's beating heart.
* Real Example:
> "'Is it possible,' I said, 'that I murdered a man and stuffed his body into the wall? No, no! That would be too horrible!'"
Chapter 4: The Gift of the Magi
* Summary:
* Della and Jim Young are a young couple who live in poverty. On Christmas Eve, Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim's watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy a comb for Della's hair.
* Real Example:
> "Jim stepped toward her, his eyes softly burning. 'Gift?' he said. 'Let me see it. Oh, it's beautiful, Della! It's the loveliest hair in the world! I tell you I'm going right down to buy you a 20-dollar hairbrush. And then you'll see how beautiful this hair is going to look.'"
Chapter 5: The Green Ribbon
* Summary:
* A young woman named Henrietta is about to be hanged for the murder of her husband. She claims that she was framed by her lover, a wealthy man who wanted her fortune.
* Real Example:
> "'You can hang me,' said Henrietta triumphantly, 'but you will never know who murdered my husband! I will take the secret to my grave!'
> "Sir Charles turned pale and muttered, 'Devil!' and the sheriffs seized Henrietta and led her to the scaffold."
Chapter 6: The Monkey's Paw
* Summary:
* Mr. and Mrs. White are given a monkey's paw by a mysterious fakir. The paw is said to grant three wishes, but with terrible consequences.
* Real Example:
> "The withered paw moved. Three times it writhed on the desk, and three times it fell back with the claws spread out like a tiger's."
Chapter 7: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
* Summary:
* Sherlock Holmes investigates the theft of a valuable blue carbuncle from the Countess of Morcar. Holmes uses his deductive skills to identify the thief and recover the jewel.
* Real Example:
> "'I see,' said Holmes, 'that you have recently cleaned a pair of muddy boots and placed them on the top of your wardrobe. I also see that you have recently washed your hands and that your nails are still damp. You have also had your hair trimmed within the last few days, and your coat is much too large for you.'"
Chapter 8: The Inspector Calls
* Summary:
* An inspector visits the Birling family to investigate the suicide of a young woman named Eva Smith. The inspector reveals that Eva was pregnant and that several members of the Birling family played a role in her downfall.
* Real Example:
> "'You are all responsible for this girl's death. Every one of you!' the Inspector said angrily. 'You are all to blame.'"
Chapter 9: The Lottery
* Summary:
* In a small village, the inhabitants gather annually for a lottery. One villager is chosen at random and stoned to death as a sacrifice to ensure a bountiful harvest.
* Real Example:
> "Out of the corner of his eye Mr. Summers could see the children pressing forward with their slips, but he gave it no more attention. 'All right, folks,' he said. 'Let's finish quickly.'"
