Question 1:
Why is the Giant called selfish?
Answer:
The Giant is called selfish because he does not allow the children to play in his beautiful and lovely garden. He declares that whatever is his, belongs only to him. He builds a high wall around his garden to prevent children from entering it.
Question 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 cases ?
Answer:
In both the cases, children are referring to the beautiful and lovely garden as it gave them immense pleasure to play there. Earlier they could enjoy it but now they have only the sweet memories associated with that place.
Question 3:
When spring came, it was still winter in the garden. What does winter stand for or indicate here ?
Answer:
Winter indicates that the garden was not in bloom. It also signifies lack of warmth.
Question 4:
Was the Giant happy or sad over the state of the garden?
Answer:
The giant was not happy over the state of the garden. He was puzzled as to why the Spring was so late in coming.
Question 5:
What effect did the linnet's song have over Hail and the North Wind ?
Answer:
Hail stopped dancing in the garden and North wind stopped roaring when they heard the linnet's song.
Question 5:
The Giant saw a most wonderful sight. What did he see?
Answer:
The Giant saw that the children had crept inside the garden through a small hole in the wall. Each tree was glad to have a child climbing on it. It was like nature had once again come alive in front of his eyes.
Question 6:
What did he realise on seeing it?
Answer:
The Giant realised why the spring hadn't arrived in his garden.
Question 7:
Why was it still winter in one corner of the garden?
Answer:
It was still winter in one corner of the garden because a little child hadn't been able to climb the tree in that corner.
Question 7:
Describe the first meeting of the little child and the Giant.
Answer:
When the Giant entered the garden, all the children ran out of it with fear. However, a little child in the corner of the garden who was trying to climb a tree, had tears in his eyes and could not see him coming. The Giant picked him up and landed him safely on a branch of one of the trees. The child then gave him a hug and kissed him on his cheek.
Question 8:
Describe their second meeting after a long interval.
Answer:
One winter morning after many years, the child visited the Giant's garden again. He was standing under the same tree where he was last seen. When the giant saw him, he quickly paced into the garden. The Giant became furious when he saw wounds on the child's hands and feet. He asked the child who had hurt him, to which the child replied that those were wounds of love. The Giant understood at once that it was God himself. The child said to the Giant that he had come to take him to his garden; the lovely paradise.
Question 9:
The Giant lay dead, all covered with white blossoms. What does this sentence indicate about the once selfish Giant?
Answer:
This sentence indicates that the Giant had a beautiful end. He was showered with flowers by none other than God himself. This showed that he had attained a place in paradise, God's garden.
Question 10:
The little child's hands and feet had marks of nails. Who does the child remind you of? Give a reason for you answer.
Answer:
The child reminds us of Christ because he also suffered for the welfare of humanity. Christ was also wounded at the same places on his body for serving humanity. Christ also called it the wounds of love.
Question 11:
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?
Answer:
Yes, there is a garden near my house with flowers and trees. Gardens should definitely be without the Giant because the Giant will never allow us to play in it. I would hire a gardener for it to keep it in a good shape.