📖 Chapter 7: The Last Leaf

Answer: Johnsy is suffering from pneumonia. The doctor says that medicines will not help her because she has made up her mind that she is not going to get well. She has lost the will to live. It is only her willingness to live that can cure her. When she sees the last leaf still clinging to the creeper after the storm, she realises that it is a sin to want to die. She regains her will to live, and from that moment, she begins to recover. So, it is the willingness to live, not medicine, that cures her.

Answer: Yes, the feeling of depression that Johnsy has is quite common among teenagers. Teenagers often face immense pressure from studies, peer pressure, and social expectations. When they fall ill or face failure, they may feel hopeless and lose the will to live. Like Johnsy, they may become pessimistic and think that their situation will never improve. It is important for friends and family to support them, just as Sue supported Johnsy, and help them regain their confidence and will to live.

Answer: Behrman's dream was to paint a masterpiece. He was a sixty-year-old painter who had always wanted to create a great work of art, but that had remained a dream. Yes, his dream does come true. He paints a leaf on the wall on a stormy night to give Johnsy hope and the will to live. This painted leaf is his masterpiece, even though he dies of pneumonia after being out in the storm. Sue calls it his masterpiece because it saved Johnsy's life.

Answer: Behrman's masterpiece is the painted ivy leaf on the wall. Sue says so because when Johnsy looked out of the window after the storm, the last leaf was still there, clinging to the creeper. It looked green and healthy and did not flutter in the wind. Sue realised that Behrman had painted it on the wall on the stormy night when the real last leaf fell. This painted leaf gave Johnsy the will to live and saved her life. It was truly a masterpiece because it was created out of love and sacrifice.

Answer: (Sample response) Yes, I have felt depressed and rejected at times, especially when I did not perform well in exams or when I had a fight with a close friend. During such times, I felt lonely and hopeless. But I overcame these feelings by talking to my parents and friends. They listened to me patiently and encouraged me. I also started focusing on my hobbies like drawing and playing cricket, which helped me divert my mind. Gradually, I realised that everyone faces failures and setbacks, and it is important to stay positive and keep trying. Sharing my feelings with others made me feel lighter and more hopeful.