Unit-1 The Selfish Giant
Oscar wilde
Summary
The story is about the change of heart and character caused by love. An unkind giant does not allow children to play in his beautiful garden. Spring does not come at his place and winter stays. One day he sees flowers come to trees as children play on them, so he makes his garden free. A sweet little child, whom he helps to climb a tree, comes back years later with marks of nails on his hand and feet. He says these are the marks of his love, he has come to take the giant to heaven.
Theme
The story teaches us the value of unselfish love. It fills our heart and life with happy moments and pleasant experiences. It changes even the character of a person from bad to good. Finally, there may be unexpected rewards.
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.
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. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them.
c. What did the giant hear when he was lying awake in bed?
Ans: He heard some lovely music. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the King’s musicians passing by.
d. Why do you think spring season never came to the giant’s garden?
Ans: Spring season did not like to come to the garden because the giant was selfish. He did not let children play in that beautiful garden. spring would be useless when children were not there to enjoy the beauty.
e. How did the giant realise his mistake?
Ans: The giant realized his mistake seeing that the trees had flowers because the children were playing. A little boy was unable to climb a tree, and there was still winter. As the giant put him on the tree, it became like others.
Reference beyond the text
a. What is the main theme of this story?
Ans: The story teaches us the value of unselfish love. It fills our heart and life with happy moments and pleasant experiences. It changes even the character of a person from bad to good. Finally, there may be unexpected rewards.
b. Does God punish those who are cruel to children and very selfish?
Ans: According to the story, god punishes cruel and selfish people like the giant. Natural troubles of winter work as punishment for the unkind and selfish giant. spring never comes to his place and he cannot enjoy the beauty of his garden. He is lonely and no one likes him. Birds do not sing for him. flowers do not grow there. the autumn season does not give him fruit. But he gets a reward when he becomes good and loves the children. God finally comes to take him to heaven.