The Selfish Giant | Exercise With Summary | Grade 11 | English
0In a beautiful garden, where children played and laughed, lived a selfish giant. He built a wall around his garden to keep the children out. But the garden became cold and desolate without laughter and joy. Snow and frost settled in, and the palace became a cold, lifeless place. One day, a little child crept inside the garden and climbed the giant's tree. The giant, waking up, roared at the child, but the child's sweet singing soothed him. The next day, more children came to the garden, filling it with joy and laughter. The giant realized the joy he had missed by keeping them out and allowed them to play in his garden daily. The garden became a paradise, and spring arrived. The giant lived happily ever after, appreciating the beauty of sharing and kindness.
a. Where did the children use to play?
They used to play in the giant's beautiful garden.
b. What did the Snow and the Frost do to the garden?
The Snow and the Frost covered the garden, making it cold and desolate.
c. What did the giant hear when he was lying awake in bed?
He heard the children singing and laughing in the garden.
d. Why do you think spring season never came to the giant's garden?
Spring never came because the giant's selfishness and cruelty made the garden cold and lifeless.
e. How did the giant realize his mistake?
He realized his mistake when he saw the joy and laughter the children brought to the garden and how much he had missed by keeping them out.
A(a.i). Where does ‘there’ refer to?
It refers to the giant's garden.
A(a.ii). What does ‘they’ refer to?
It refers to the children.
A(a.iii). Why are they saying so?
They are saying so because they are reminiscing about the happy times they spent playing in the giant's garden.
A(b.i). Who is the speaker?
The giant is the speaker.
A(b.ii). Who is he speaking to?
He is speaking to himself.
A(b.iii). Who are ‘the children’ that the speaker is referring to?
The children are the ones who used to play in the giant's garden.
A(b.iv). Why is the speaker saying that ‘the children are the most beautiful flowers of all’?
He is saying this because he has realized that the children bring joy and beauty to his garden, making them more beautiful than any flowers.
A(c). When the little child smiled at the Giant, and said to him, "You let me play once in your garden, today you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise," shortly afterwards, the happy giant dies. What is the coincidence of this event? Describe it in relation to this fairy tale.
This event is thematically significant as the child's forgiveness and the giant's subsequent death symbolize the victory of love and kindness over selfishness and isolation. This moment of redemption and acceptance showcases the fairy tale's powerful message of transformation and the consequences of one's actions.
B. The story makes use of personification as one of the main figures of speech. Cite three examples of personification from the story. What is the significance of the seasons personified in the story?
1. "The giant's heart melted like snow in the sun." 2. "The frost was so cunning that he crept all around the garden, touching the poor flowers with his icy fingers." 3. "The little birds came and sang in the branches." The personification of the seasons adds a magical quality to the story and helps convey the idea that nature is a powerful force that can be influenced by human emotions and actions.
C. This story can be read as a fairytale, where the children, the seasons, the tree, the corner of the garden, the snow, the wind, and the frost are all used as symbolism. Interpret those symbols.
The symbolism in the story is rich and complex. For example, the children can be seen as a symbol of innocence and joy, while the giant represents selfishness and isolation. The seasons symbolize the cycle of life and renewal, while the tree represents the interconnectedness of all living things. The corner of the garden, where the children are allowed to play, could represent a safe and nurturing space.
D. Which figure of speech is used for ‘winter, frost, snow, north wind, hail, and little child’? Who is the little child compared to?
The figure of speech used for 'winter, frost, snow, north wind, hail, and little child' is personification. The little child is compared to a sunbeam that melts the frost and brings warmth and life to the garden.
a. What is the main theme of this story?
The main theme of the story is the importance of love, kindness, and forgiveness. It shows how selfishness and isolation can lead to loneliness and desolation, while compassion and generosity can bring joy and beauty to life.
b. Does God punish those who are cruel to children and very selfish?
In the story, the giant is not explicitly punished by God for his cruelty and selfishness. Instead, he suffers the consequences of his own actions and experiences the loneliness and isolation that his behavior has brought upon him. The story suggests that the punishment for such behavior lies in the natural consequences that arise from it, rather than divine retribution.