03. The Selfish Giant

The Selfish Giant 

Comprehension Check

Q1. Why is the Giant called selfish?
Ans – The Giant has a beautiful garden. Many children want to play in his garden but he did not allow anyone to play there. He lives alone there. Therefore he is called selfish.

Q2. On one occasion the children said: “How happy we are here!” Later they said: “How happy we were there!” What are they referring to in both the cases?
Ans – Both the cases the children are refering to the Giant's garden. In the first sentence they say that they are enjoying in the Giant's garden and in the second sentence it is beyond their reach.

Q3. (i) When spring came, it was still winter in the garden. What does winter stand for or indicate here?
Ans – Winter indicates that flowers did not bloom in the Giant's garden. The birds did not sing. There was no sign of joy and greenery.

(ii) Winter has been presented like a story with its own characters and their activities. Describe the story in your own words.
Ans – Winter has been presented as destroyer. It has its own characters. Snow and frost are the most prominent factors. Trees have been covered with white cloak. The trees look lifeless North wind has come to stay there permanently. Hail settle on the roof.

Q4. Was the Giant happy or sad over the state of the garden?
Ans – The Giant felt sad over the state of his garden. There is no change in different seasons in his garden.

Q5. What effect did the linnet’s song have over Hail and the North Wind?
Ans – When the linnet's sing a song in the Giant's garden then hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North wind ceased roaring and a delicious perfume came to him through the ogre casement.

Comprehension Check

Q1 (i) The Giant saw a most wonderful sight. What did he see?
Ans –  He saw a most wonderful sight through a little hole in the wall. The children had entered in the garden and they were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree that he could see there was a little child. And the trees were so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves with blossoms and were waving their arms gently above the children's head. The birds were flying and twittering with delight and the flowers were laughing.

(ii) What did he realise on seeing it?
Ans – He realised that he himself was to blame for the year round winter in his garden. He called himself a selfish.

Q2. Why was it still winter in one corner of the garden?
Ans – That corner was the forthest corner of the garden and there were no children. So that it is still winter in that corner of the garden.

Q3. Describe the first meeting of the little boy and the Giant.
Ans – In the first meeting the boy and the Giant, the Giant lifted the boy gently and put him on the branch of a tree. The tree suddenly broke into flowers and the birds began to sing. Than the child kissed the Giant.

Q4. Describe their second meeting after a long interval.
Ans – In the second meeting after so many years the Giant saw wounds on the little boy's palm and feet. After the wound the Giants became furious. He wanted to kill the man who wounded the child. But the boy said that those were wounds of love.

Q5. The Giant lay dead, all covered with white blossoms. What does this sentence indicate about the once selfish Giant?
Ans – This sentence indicates that the Giant had been blessed by lord himself. He was neither cruel nor selfish, so God forgave him and took him to paradise.

Exercise

Discuss the following topics in groups.

Q1. The little child's hands and feet had marks of nails. Who does the child remind you of? Give a reason for your answer.

Ans – You should do it by yourself.
Q2. Is there something like this garden near where you live? Would you like one (without the Giant perhaps) and why? What would you do to keep it in good shape.

Ans – You should do it by yourself.