Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Where did the children use to play?
Ans: The children used to play in the Giant’s garden which was a lovely garden with soft green grass and blossoms of pink and pearl.
b. What did the Snow and the Frost do to the garden?
Ans: The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. They also invited the North Wind and Hail to stay with them who further destroyed the garden in their own way.
c. What did the Giant hear when he was lying awake in bed?
Ans: The Giant heard some lovely music when he was lying awake in bed which he thought to be of the King’s musicians. However, it was a little linnet singing outside his window.
d. Why do you think spring season never came to the Giant's garden?
Ans: I think spring season never came to the Giant’s garden because he built a huge wall around his garden prohibiting the children to play there.
e. How did the Giant realise his mistake?
Ans: The Giant realised his mistake when the children crept from the little hole to play in the garden leading the spring with them.
Reference to the context
A. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
a. “How happy we were there!” they said to each other.
i. Where does ‘there’ refer to?
Ans: “There” refers to the Giant’s garden.
ii. What does ‘they’ refer to?
Ans: “They” refers to the little children who used to play in the Giant’s garden.
iii. Why are they saying so?
Ans: They are saying so because the Giant has banned them from playing in the garden and they have been missing their old happy days.
b. “I have many beautiful flowers,” he said; “but the children are the most beautiful
flowers of all.”
i. Who is the speaker?
Ans: The old and feeble Giant is the speaker who has been watching the children at their games in the garden.
ii. Who is he speaking to?
Ans: He is speaking to himself.
iii. Who are ‘the children’ that the speaker is referring to?
Ans: “The children” are the little school children who used to play in the Giant’s garden after returning from their school.
iv. Why is the speaker saying that ‘the children are the most beautiful flowers of all’?
Ans: The speaker is saying that “the children are the most beautiful flowers of all” because he understands the importance of those children with their innocence and selfless nature. He understands that the children have added beauty to his garden.
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.
Ans: The little child here is a godly figure who helps the Giant achieve redemption. When they first met for the first time, the Giant had helped the little child climb the tree and in exchange to this he had inculcated the value of love and compassion in him. The Giant waited years to see the little child and when they finally met, he paid back what he owed to him years ago. The coincidence of this event is about the valory of God and Christian values. It tells about the human karma that giving something to others in the present brings a greater reward in future.
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?
Ans: The story has employed several instances of personification. The three major examples of personification from the story are:
The Snow: The Snow is given some feminine characteristics and is attributed to some human feelings. She covers the entire garden with the white cloak and maintains winter there.
The Frost: The Frost is another feminine character like The Snow who is happy to find winter in the garden.
The Tree: When the children creep through the hole to play in the garden, the tree lowers its branches down as low as it could to allow the little boy to climb to it.
Besides, the seasons too are personified in this story to valorise the power of nature. They are presented as some self-operated powers to punish the negative forces and reward the positive ones on earth. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are personified to portray the reward and bountifulness of nature as they give flowers and greenery to the Giant's garden. Winter is depicted for the punishment that the Giant gets for being selfish.
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.
Ans: Indeed, the symbolism of the children, the seasons, the tree, the corner of the garden, the snow, the wind, and the frost makes this story a perfect fairy tale. They are symbolized as:
The children: The children are symbols of innocence and love. They do not have any prejudice towards the Giant. They accept the Giant easily and even play with him after knowing that he is not wicked any longer.
The seasons: Spring, Summer, and Autumn are symbolized as some forces to reward and bountifulness of nature as they give flowers and greenery to the Giant's garden, whereas, the Winter is symbolized as another force to punish the selfish behavior of the Giant.
The tree: The tree in the corner of the Giant’s garden is a marker of the little boy’s true identity as Christ and a symbol of the redemption he offers to all sinners.
The corner of the garden: The corner of the garden is symbolized as a place, a paradise, where redemption is possible.
The snow, the wind, and the frost: These are symbolized as the unique forces of nature that accompany the winter season.
The Giant’s garden: The Giant’s garden mirrors the state of his soul, and in a broader sense, symbolizes the journey that a person’s soul undertakes in order to find redemption.
The Giant: The Giant symbolizes the “giant mentality” humans possess.
The white flowers: The white flowers are a symbol of peace and purity.
D. Which figure of speech is used for ‘winter, frost, snow, north wind, hail and little child’? Who is the little child compared to?
Ans: Personification is used for “winter, frost, snow, north wind, and hail”, whereas, symbolism is used for “little child”. The little child is compared to “the God”.
Reference beyond the text
a. What is the main theme of this story?
Ans: Significance of selfless love and sharing is the main theme of this story. This story teaches us that possessing a selfish nature is harmful for us, therefore, one should be kind to others to receive rewards and to achieve redemption. It tells us that God loves those who share love and compassion among the living beings.
b. Does God punish those who are cruel to children and very selfish?
Ans: Yes, I believe God punishes those who are cruel to children and very selfish through one or another medium.
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