The Selfish Giant Exercise: Question & Answers | Class 11 English

The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde Exercise: Question & Answers Class 11 English

Understanding the text 

Answer the following questions. 

a. Where did the children use to play? 

➜ During the afternoons after school, the children used to play in the giant's beautiful garden.

b. What did Snow and the Frost do to the garden? 

➜ The snow and Frost were the two agents who emerged in the giant's garden following the giant's disrespectful behaviour toward the children. The Snow draped her vast white mantle over the grass, while Frost painted all the trees silver. They even invited the North Wind to join them for the night.

c. What did the giant hear when he was lying awake in bed? 

➜ When the giant was awake in bed, he heard some delightful music from a little singing bird linnet. After a long time, he finally heard the music.

d. Why do you think spring season never came to the giant's garden? 

➜ I believe the spring season, like the children, got depressed. She grew so enraged that she never returned to the giant's garden to witness the giant's rudeness and selfishness toward the innocent youngsters.

e. How did the giant realise his mistake? 

➜ The giant realised his mistake when he noticed unexpected changes in his garden. In his garden, he discovered snow, frost, north wind, fog, and other weather conditions. He felt personally responsible for all of his actions against the children. When the youngsters reappeared in his garden, it flowered once more with leaves and flowers. He even heard birds chirping in his garden. As a result, he realised his mistake.

 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? 

➜ 'There' refers to the giant's garden where children used to play after school.

ii. What does ‘they’ refer to? 

➜ 'They' refers to the children who used to come and play in Giant's garden after school.

iii. Why are they saying so? 

➜ They are saying so because they are no longer permitted to play in the giant's garden. The giant, enraged, chased them out of his garden.

b. “I have many beautiful flowers,” he said; “but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all.” 

i. Who is the speaker?

➜ The speaker is an elderly and feeble giant who sits on his armchair and observes the children as they play.

ii. Who is he speaking to? 

➜ He is speaking to himself admiring his garden.

iii. Who are ‘the children that the speaker is referring to? 

➜ The 'Children' referred to by the speaker are the small and innocent school children who have a great time in the giant's garden.

iv. Why is the speaker saying that ‘the children are the most beautiful flowers of all’?

➜ Because he has witnessed the presence of children in his garden, the speaker believes that "children are the most beautiful flowers of all." He has noticed their innocence and simplicity. He believes that the children are a gift from nature and that their presence has made the entire garden appear so lovely and bloom with many types of leaves and flowers. He uses the connection here to value children highly because he knows the worth of children in his garden is greater than the value of flowers.

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 to this fairy tale.

➜ The little child reappears in one of the garden's corners the next time. At the moment, the giant is rather elderly and frail. This time, the boy seemed to favour the giant who once allowed him to play in his garden. The giant continues to look for and wait for the small youngster. In actuality, he is only alive to meet the entranced small child. Finally, he dies in the afternoon after hearing the small child's words.

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? 

➜ The writer has used a figure of speech nicely here. The Snow, Frost, and North Wind are three examples of personification. The seasons are significant in the storey because they are tied to nature and play a critical part in converting the giant's garden with a unique force against wicked deeds.

C. This story can be read like 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.

➜ In this scenario, the spring season represents happiness, whereas the winter season represents misery. The tree represents the child's identity as Christ. The garden's corner represents God's sacred location, from whence atonement is possible. The snow, wind, and ice represent a unique force against evil crimes.

D. Which figure of speech is used for ‘winter, frost, snow, north wind, hail and little child’? Who is the little child compared to?

➜ This short story makes excellent use of personification. Winter, frost, snow, north wind, hail, and a small infant have all been perfectly portrayed here. Winter, frost, and snow have all been personified as feminine genders with distinct power. They completed their responsibilities in opposition to the giant's actions. The north wind, hail, and the young child have all been personified as masculine genders with abilities.

In this story, the young child is connected to the Christian God 'Lord Jesus.' This young boy has been endowed with divine powers and the ability to change everything. The garden has flourished with gorgeous leaves and flowers as a result of his presence. The indications of two nails on the small child's hands and feet reminded us of Lord Jesus' crucifixion.

 Reference beyond the text 

a. What is the main theme of this story? 

➜ This story contains several themes such as hubris, the repercussions of selfishness, love and compassion, the concept of salvation, and so on. Bad deeds are always punished, and good deeds are always rewarded. Here, we simply see the giant's arrogance and selfishness toward the youngsters, both of which have had negative consequences for him. But, because of his good deeds, he now has a great platform from which to approach the outside world.

b. Does God punish those who are cruel to children and very selfish?

➜ God punishes people who are cruel and selfish to children. Children are supposed to be God's most innocent creations. They are well-known for their straightforwardness. Their presence indicates a positive omen. This narrative of God's punishment of the giant is a great illustration. He is self-condemned for his wicked conduct.