The Selfish Giant
1. Why is the Giant called selfish?
Answer: The giant did not
want to share his happiness with anybody. He wanted to enjoy his garden all
alone. That is why the Giant is called selfish.
2. 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?
Answer: In the first case
the children were referring to their joy when they were playing in the Giant’s
garden.
When the Giant returned after a long gap he shooed away all the children
and erected a wall around his garden. Now children had no place to play. So,
they were fondly remembering their old happy days.
3. (i) When spring
came, it was still winter in the garden. What does winter stand for or indicate
here?
Answer: The spring is a
symbol of happiness. The harsh cold winter is a symbol of suffering. The way
there was no flower in the Giant’s garden shows that happiness was nowhere
to be seen in the garden.
(ii) Winter has been
presented as a story with its own characters and their activities. Describe
the story in your own words.
Answer: The snow was as cold
as an enemy. The frost was a perfect companion of the snow. Both of them added
to the overall gloomy atmosphere of the garden. The north wind created the
haunting whooshing sound to give the perfect audio effect. It played a haunting
music by dancing in the garden and on the rooftops. When all of them invited
the hail to join the party, it was too much. It made the situation even worse.
4. Was the Giant
happy or sad over the state of the garden?
Answer: The Giant was
wondering for the no-show by the spring. He was feeling sad for the winter in
perpetuity. Now he was craving for a pleasant weather.
5. What effect did
the linnet’s song have over Hail and the North Wind?
Answer: The linnet’s song
frightened the hail and the North Wind. They took refuse in one corner of the
garden.
6. (i) The Giant saw
a most wonderful sight. What did he see?
Answer: The Giant saw that
through a hole in the wall children had crept in the garden. Because of their
arrival flowers blossomed and birds started to sing. It made the spring to come
back to the garden. The happiness returned finally to the garden of the Giant.
(ii) What did he
realize on seeing it?
Answer: He realized that it
was him who kept the spring away from the garden. He wanted to rectify his
mistake, by tearing down the wall and allowing children to play in his garden.
7. Why was it still
winter in one corner of the Garden?
Answer: The isolated corner
was to remind the Giant that he also needed to take some steps to keep them
gloominess away. The presence of symbols of winter in that corner is to
symbolize the past deeds of the Giant which led to overall unhappiness in the
garden.
8. Describe the first
meeting of the little boy and the Giant.
Answer: The little boy was
unable to climb a branch of the tree and crying. The Giant lifted him and put
on a branch. The little boy was so happy that he kissed the Giant. This gesture
touched the Giant’s heart.
9. Describe the
second meeting of the little boy and the Giant.
Answer: When the little boy
appeared after a long gap the Giant ran to meet him and to ask his whereabouts.
On seeing injury marks on little boy’s hands the Giant became restless. On the
assurance of little boy that they were not injury marks but marks of love the
Giant could be pacified.
10. The Giant lay
dead all covered with white blossoms. What does this sentence indicate about
the once selfish Giant?
Answer: Death is like
freedom from all the worldly pains. White flowers are signs of purity. The once
selfish giant was changed now. Even the Gods accepted his newfound virtue so
they called him to heaven with all the respect which is due for a kind-hearted
soul.