Unit 1 Lesson 4 The Wish

Summary 

Edgar Allan Poe, famous American Gothic short story writer and poet, published 'The Oval Portrait' in 1842. It's one of his shortest short stories, but it raises intriguing questions about art and the roles of those involved in its making and appreciation. It is also a frame narrative, or a story that contains another story. However, 'The Oval Portrait' is more literal than most. The story describes the style of the painting and its frame in considerable detail, and its title focuses more on the presentation of the portrait than on its subject.

In the outermost story, we meet the unnamed narrator, who is seriously injured and stranded at night for unknown reasons. His companion and servant, Pedro, breaks into an abandoned chateau, where the two men take shelter. Despite his self-proclaimed delirious state, the narrator stays awake while his valet sleeps. He is fascinated by the paintings on the bedroom wall and studies a book containing their history. Noticing a startlingly lifelike portrait of a young woman, he reads about it in the book. Here we encounter another story from the perspective of the art book's author.

The author tells how the beautiful, vivacious subject married a painter who was completely absorbed in his work. Although she hated this, she agreed to sit for a portrait, a process that took several weeks. As the portrait approached completion, the artist's bride grew increasingly weak and listless. In placing the final touches of his masterpiece on the canvas, he suddenly realized that she had died right in front of him. In bringing the painting to life, he brought about her death.

Understanding the text

Answer these questions.

a. Where did the narrator and his servant make a forcible entrance?

➜ The narrator and his servant Pedro made a forcible entrance in a desolate Chateau which was located in the Appennines of central Italy. The narrator was seriously wounded. His valet didn't want the narrator to stay in an open-air. He the narrator inside Chatuu forcibly without anyone's permission.

b. Which special picture did the narrator notice in the room?

➜ The narrator noticed an oval-shaped picture of a young girl in the room when the rays of candelabrum fell on it. The narrator didn't notice it before. The young girl seemed just ripening into womanhood in that picture. The picture of that woman was so beautiful which attracted the narrator's attention. 

The oval picture of a young girl made him awake and too much curious. He kept on reading the history behind the portrait in his serious state. He was totally engrossed in finding its background through the book which he had found in bed.

c. Describe the portrait that the narrator saw in the room.

➜The portrait that the narrator saw in the room was quite artistic and life-like. The narrator saw it when the rays of candelabrum fell on it. The portrait was oval-shaped with a beautiful picture of a young girl on it. Its frame was richly decorative. The young girl seemed just ripening into womanhood. The narrator seemed completely startled to find the lady's shoulder and head with radiant hair so real. The brushwork of tints in portrait seemed so real in the portrait. 

The narrator felt a sudden impulse to notice that portrait. He closed his eyes once and opened. He couldn't believe his eyes to see such wonderful artistic creativity.

d. What is the relationship between the portrait painter and its subject?

➜The relationship between the portrait painter and its subject is husband and wife. The husband of the subject (lady) is a passionate painter who has painted his wife's portrait. He has Painted his wife's portrait taking many weeks.

Reference to the context 

a. What is the central theme of the story? Who is the woman depicted in the oval portrait?

➜The central theme of the short story 'The Oval Portrait' is the relationship between life and art. This Story has shown the destructive power of art and love. Art and love can lead anyone towards perfection whereas they can bring destructive results in our life too. The painter of this story has become successful through his artistic works but his wife has become the victim of his artistic tasks. She loves her husband extremely that's why she doesn't reveal her pains. The story has shown bad results of excessive passion for something. The woman depicted in the oval portrait is the wife of a passionate painter who has painted this oval portrait.

b. "The Oval Portrait" is a short horror story by Edgar Allan Poe involving the disturbing circumstances surrounding a portrait in a chateau. Elaborate.

➜ This short story has presented a terrible and gloomy setting of a desolate Chateau in one of the mountains range (Appennines) of central Italy. The Chateau which we find here in this story is completely deserted and very old fashioned. The setting inside and outside seem very terrible. The apartments inside Chateau are so unmanaged and dirty. The apartment where the narrator and his valet stay have many things for decoration but all of them are in decaying state. The life-like portrait has been placed in one of the dark corners. The surrounding of the life-like portrait is so disturbing due to the unmanaged condition everywhere. The arrival of the visitors also has added distance in the environment. The portrait seems quite valueless in that desolate environment of the Chateau.

c. "The Oval Portrait" suggests that the woman's beauty condemns her to death. Discuss.

➜ "The Oval Portrait" suggests that the woman's beauty condemns her to death. Here, the wife of the painter is so beautiful who has just stepped into womanhood. The painter wants to paint her portrait. He is a quite passionate painter who loves his artwork more than anything. He places his wife on the chair to pose for him. He is totally obsessed with his artistic work. The Painter takes weeks to paint her portrait. During his task, he doesn't notice his wife health condition who becomes quite weak. By the time he finishes the portrait, he finds his wife lying dead on the chair.

d. Discuss the story as a frame narrative (a story within a story).

➜ The frame narrative is a literary technique that reveals about a story within a story. It starts with a different plot and setting of story but later immerses out with the next story within it. Here, this technique reveals us how a single story involves the next story within it. The story starts with different information about the narrator and his valet with a different setting. The readers here move along with the Story's flow at first but later on the next story starts within it with an amazing description of oval portrait, its detail and background information. The readers reach up to the next level of the story. The technique of frame narrative works showing a single story and the next story within it.

e. The story is told in a descriptive style, with plenty of imagery and symbolism. Which images and symbols do you find in the story?

➜ Here in this story, we find various images and symbols. The writer has used images to present his horror elements beautifully here in this story where there is immense use of darkness and light. The image of desolate Chateau in the Appennines has created beginning thriller for the audience. Similarly, the image of two visitors in the dark desolate setting has increased the reader's curiosity. Inside the Chateau, the writer has used many images to present the setting of apartments, torrent etc. Here, we find various images as dark rooms, wall tapestries, trophies, the oval painting among other paintings, candelabrum, book, rays of light etc. The historical background of the oval portrait also has presented the image of the painter and his wife in a high torrent of the Chateau. The perfect use of images has this story with gothic elements beautifully. Like images, the symbols also have played a vital role to understand this story in its deeper level. The oval portrait symbolizes mortality of love and immortality of art. This portrait has snatched the life of its main subject (painter's wife). Her love for her husband leads her to death whereas her husband passion for artwork has snatched her life and made him immortal in his artwork. Next symbol which we find here is the time during artwork. This time during artwork symbolizes the painter's obsession where he has forgotten everything around him and led his wife to the death.

f. What does the expression “She was dead!” mean?

➜ The expression was dead" means the shocking moment of the death of the painter's wife on the chair. The painter was quite obsessed with his painting. He was totally engrossed in his task of painting. He forgot to inspect his wife's condition. He kept on painting his wife's portrait for weeks. When he turned his painting towards his wife being happy, he found his wife dead posing on the chair. Here, the artwork took the life of its main subject.

Reference beyond the text 

a. Do you think there is life in art?

➜ I don't think there is life in art. Art is just a creation to display which has meanings related to different things. But, in a literal sense, artists create life in art. They try to find out life within the art.

b. As a thing of art nothing could be more admirable than the painting itself. Explain.

➜ This statement is absolutely right about painting. Painting is really a very admirable form of art. The painters really work hard to create quality paintings with meanings. The painting itself speaks in its literal manner. Painting provides us with facts related to life. Here in this story, the oval portrait is one of the finest examples which has startled the narrator. He feels completely puzzled to see that painting. He wants to know about its and painter.

c. A more intense look at the painting reveals the illusion. Have you noticed any such painting?

➜ Yes, I have noticed such painting. The painting becomes more meaningful when it is watched by the viewer who is passionate about paintings. But, for those viewers who don't have an idea about paintings find illusion all the time. In my case, I watched a typical painting for a long time but I didn't get meanings about it. I tried a lot to grasp its meaning but vain. Later on, I got its meaning from my friend.

Unit 1 Lesson 3 God Sees the Truth but Waits

Summary 

Edgar Allan Poe, famous American Gothic short story writer and poet, published 'The Oval Portrait' in 1842. It's one of his shortest short stories, but it raises intriguing questions about art and the roles of those involved in its making and appreciation. It is also a frame narrative, or a story that contains another story. However, 'The Oval Portrait' is more literal than most. The story describes the style of the painting and its frame in considerable detail, and its title focuses more on the presentation of the portrait than on its subject.

In the outermost story, we meet the unnamed narrator, who is seriously injured and stranded at night for unknown reasons. His companion and servant, Pedro, breaks into an abandoned chateau, where the two men take shelter. Despite his self-proclaimed delirious state, the narrator stays awake while his valet sleeps. He is fascinated by the paintings on the bedroom wall and studies a book containing their history. Noticing a startlingly lifelike portrait of a young woman, he reads about it in the book. Here we encounter another story from the perspective of the art book's author.

The author tells how the beautiful, vivacious subject married a painter who was completely absorbed in his work. Although she hated this, she agreed to sit for a portrait, a process that took several weeks. As the portrait approached completion, the artist's bride grew increasingly weak and listless. In placing the final touches of his masterpiece on the canvas, he suddenly realized that she had died right in front of him. In bringing the painting to life, he brought about her death.

Understanding the text

Answer these questions.

a. Where did the narrator and his servant make a forcible entrance?

➜ The narrator and his servant Pedro made a forcible entrance in a desolate Chateau which was located in the Appennines of central Italy. The narrator was seriously wounded. His valet didn't want the narrator to stay in an open-air. He the narrator inside Chatuu forcibly without anyone's permission.

b. Which special picture did the narrator notice in the room?

➜ The narrator noticed an oval-shaped picture of a young girl in the room when the rays of candelabrum fell on it. The narrator didn't notice it before. The young girl seemed just ripening into womanhood in that picture. The picture of that woman was so beautiful which attracted the narrator's attention. 

The oval picture of a young girl made him awake and too much curious. He kept on reading the history behind the portrait in his serious state. He was totally engrossed in finding its background through the book which he had found in bed.

c. Describe the portrait that the narrator saw in the room.

➜The portrait that the narrator saw in the room was quite artistic and life-like. The narrator saw it when the rays of candelabrum fell on it. The portrait was oval-shaped with a beautiful picture of a young girl on it. Its frame was richly decorative. The young girl seemed just ripening into womanhood. The narrator seemed completely startled to find the lady's shoulder and head with radiant hair so real. The brushwork of tints in portrait seemed so real in the portrait. 

The narrator felt a sudden impulse to notice that portrait. He closed his eyes once and opened. He couldn't believe his eyes to see such wonderful artistic creativity.

d. What is the relationship between the portrait painter and its subject?

➜The relationship between the portrait painter and its subject is husband and wife. The husband of the subject (lady) is a passionate painter who has painted his wife's portrait. He has Painted his wife's portrait taking many weeks.

Reference to the context 

a. What is the central theme of the story? Who is the woman depicted in the oval portrait?

➜The central theme of the short story 'The Oval Portrait' is the relationship between life and art. This Story has shown the destructive power of art and love. Art and love can lead anyone towards perfection whereas they can bring destructive results in our life too. The painter of this story has become successful through his artistic works but his wife has become the victim of his artistic tasks. She loves her husband extremely that's why she doesn't reveal her pains. The story has shown bad results of excessive passion for something. The woman depicted in the oval portrait is the wife of a passionate painter who has painted this oval portrait.

b. "The Oval Portrait" is a short horror story by Edgar Allan Poe involving the disturbing circumstances surrounding a portrait in a chateau. Elaborate.

➜ This short story has presented a terrible and gloomy setting of a desolate Chateau in one of the mountains range (Appennines) of central Italy. The Chateau which we find here in this story is completely deserted and very old fashioned. The setting inside and outside seem very terrible. The apartments inside Chateau are so unmanaged and dirty. The apartment where the narrator and his valet stay have many things for decoration but all of them are in decaying state. The life-like portrait has been placed in one of the dark corners. The surrounding of the life-like portrait is so disturbing due to the unmanaged condition everywhere. The arrival of the visitors also has added distance in the environment. The portrait seems quite valueless in that desolate environment of the Chateau.

c. "The Oval Portrait" suggests that the woman's beauty condemns her to death. Discuss.

➜ "The Oval Portrait" suggests that the woman's beauty condemns her to death. Here, the wife of the painter is so beautiful who has just stepped into womanhood. The painter wants to paint her portrait. He is a quite passionate painter who loves his artwork more than anything. He places his wife on the chair to pose for him. He is totally obsessed with his artistic work. The Painter takes weeks to paint her portrait. During his task, he doesn't notice his wife health condition who becomes quite weak. By the time he finishes the portrait, he finds his wife lying dead on the chair.

d. Discuss the story as a frame narrative (a story within a story).

➜ The frame narrative is a literary technique that reveals about a story within a story. It starts with a different plot and setting of story but later immerses out with the next story within it. Here, this technique reveals us how a single story involves the next story within it. The story starts with different information about the narrator and his valet with a different setting. The readers here move along with the Story's flow at first but later on the next story starts within it with an amazing description of oval portrait, its detail and background information. The readers reach up to the next level of the story. The technique of frame narrative works showing a single story and the next story within it.

e. The story is told in a descriptive style, with plenty of imagery and symbolism. Which images and symbols do you find in the story?

➜ Here in this story, we find various images and symbols. The writer has used images to present his horror elements beautifully here in this story where there is immense use of darkness and light. The image of desolate Chateau in the Appennines has created beginning thriller for the audience. Similarly, the image of two visitors in the dark desolate setting has increased the reader's curiosity. Inside the Chateau, the writer has used many images to present the setting of apartments, torrent etc. Here, we find various images as dark rooms, wall tapestries, trophies, the oval painting among other paintings, candelabrum, book, rays of light etc. The historical background of the oval portrait also has presented the image of the painter and his wife in a high torrent of the Chateau. The perfect use of images has this story with gothic elements beautifully. Like images, the symbols also have played a vital role to understand this story in its deeper level. The oval portrait symbolizes mortality of love and immortality of art. This portrait has snatched the life of its main subject (painter's wife). Her love for her husband leads her to death whereas her husband passion for artwork has snatched her life and made him immortal in his artwork. Next symbol which we find here is the time during artwork. This time during artwork symbolizes the painter's obsession where he has forgotten everything around him and led his wife to the death.

f. What does the expression “She was dead!” mean?

➜ The expression was dead" means the shocking moment of the death of the painter's wife on the chair. The painter was quite obsessed with his painting. He was totally engrossed in his task of painting. He forgot to inspect his wife's condition. He kept on painting his wife's portrait for weeks. When he turned his painting towards his wife being happy, he found his wife dead posing on the chair. Here, the artwork took the life of its main subject.

Reference beyond the text 

a. Do you think there is life in art?

➜ I don't think there is life in art. Art is just a creation to display which has meanings related to different things. But, in a literal sense, artists create life in art. They try to find out life within the art.

b. As a thing of art nothing could be more admirable than the painting itself. Explain.

➜ This statement is absolutely right about painting. Painting is really a very admirable form of art. The painters really work hard to create quality paintings with meanings. The painting itself speaks in its literal manner. Painting provides us with facts related to life. Here in this story, the oval portrait is one of the finest examples which has startled the narrator. He feels completely puzzled to see that painting. He wants to know about its and painter.

c. A more intense look at the painting reveals the illusion. Have you noticed any such painting?

➜ Yes, I have noticed such painting. The painting becomes more meaningful when it is watched by the viewer who is passionate about paintings. But, for those viewers who don't have an idea about paintings find illusion all the time. In my case, I watched a typical painting for a long time but I didn't get meanings about it. I tried a lot to grasp its meaning but vain. Later on, I got its meaning from my friend.

Unit 1 Lesson 2 The Oval Portrait

Summary 

Edgar Allan Poe, famous American Gothic short story writer and poet, published 'The Oval Portrait' in 1842. It's one of his shortest short stories, but it raises intriguing questions about art and the roles of those involved in its making and appreciation. It is also a frame narrative, or a story that contains another story. However, 'The Oval Portrait' is more literal than most. The story describes the style of the painting and its frame in considerable detail, and its title focuses more on the presentation of the portrait than on its subject.

In the outermost story, we meet the unnamed narrator, who is seriously injured and stranded at night for unknown reasons. His companion and servant, Pedro, breaks into an abandoned chateau, where the two men take shelter. Despite his self-proclaimed delirious state, the narrator stays awake while his valet sleeps. He is fascinated by the paintings on the bedroom wall and studies a book containing their history. Noticing a startlingly lifelike portrait of a young woman, he reads about it in the book. Here we encounter another story from the perspective of the art book's author.

The author tells how the beautiful, vivacious subject married a painter who was completely absorbed in his work. Although she hated this, she agreed to sit for a portrait, a process that took several weeks. As the portrait approached completion, the artist's bride grew increasingly weak and listless. In placing the final touches of his masterpiece on the canvas, he suddenly realized that she had died right in front of him. In bringing the painting to life, he brought about her death.

Understanding the text

Answer these questions.

a. Where did the narrator and his servant make a forcible entrance?

➜ The narrator and his servant Pedro made a forcible entrance in a desolate Chateau which was located in the Appennines of central Italy. The narrator was seriously wounded. His valet didn't want the narrator to stay in an open-air. He the narrator inside Chatuu forcibly without anyone's permission.

b. Which special picture did the narrator notice in the room?

➜ The narrator noticed an oval-shaped picture of a young girl in the room when the rays of candelabrum fell on it. The narrator didn't notice it before. The young girl seemed just ripening into womanhood in that picture. The picture of that woman was so beautiful which attracted the narrator's attention. 

The oval picture of a young girl made him awake and too much curious. He kept on reading the history behind the portrait in his serious state. He was totally engrossed in finding its background through the book which he had found in bed.

c. Describe the portrait that the narrator saw in the room.

➜The portrait that the narrator saw in the room was quite artistic and life-like. The narrator saw it when the rays of candelabrum fell on it. The portrait was oval-shaped with a beautiful picture of a young girl on it. Its frame was richly decorative. The young girl seemed just ripening into womanhood. The narrator seemed completely startled to find the lady's shoulder and head with radiant hair so real. The brushwork of tints in portrait seemed so real in the portrait. 

The narrator felt a sudden impulse to notice that portrait. He closed his eyes once and opened. He couldn't believe his eyes to see such wonderful artistic creativity.

d. What is the relationship between the portrait painter and its subject?

➜The relationship between the portrait painter and its subject is husband and wife. The husband of the subject (lady) is a passionate painter who has painted his wife's portrait. He has Painted his wife's portrait taking many weeks.

Reference to the context 

a. What is the central theme of the story? Who is the woman depicted in the oval portrait?

➜The central theme of the short story 'The Oval Portrait' is the relationship between life and art. This Story has shown the destructive power of art and love. Art and love can lead anyone towards perfection whereas they can bring destructive results in our life too. The painter of this story has become successful through his artistic works but his wife has become the victim of his artistic tasks. She loves her husband extremely that's why she doesn't reveal her pains. The story has shown bad results of excessive passion for something. The woman depicted in the oval portrait is the wife of a passionate painter who has painted this oval portrait.

b. "The Oval Portrait" is a short horror story by Edgar Allan Poe involving the disturbing circumstances surrounding a portrait in a chateau. Elaborate.

➜ This short story has presented a terrible and gloomy setting of a desolate Chateau in one of the mountains range (Appennines) of central Italy. The Chateau which we find here in this story is completely deserted and very old fashioned. The setting inside and outside seem very terrible. The apartments inside Chateau are so unmanaged and dirty. The apartment where the narrator and his valet stay have many things for decoration but all of them are in decaying state. The life-like portrait has been placed in one of the dark corners. The surrounding of the life-like portrait is so disturbing due to the unmanaged condition everywhere. The arrival of the visitors also has added distance in the environment. The portrait seems quite valueless in that desolate environment of the Chateau.

c. "The Oval Portrait" suggests that the woman's beauty condemns her to death. Discuss.

➜ "The Oval Portrait" suggests that the woman's beauty condemns her to death. Here, the wife of the painter is so beautiful who has just stepped into womanhood. The painter wants to paint her portrait. He is a quite passionate painter who loves his artwork more than anything. He places his wife on the chair to pose for him. He is totally obsessed with his artistic work. The Painter takes weeks to paint her portrait. During his task, he doesn't notice his wife health condition who becomes quite weak. By the time he finishes the portrait, he finds his wife lying dead on the chair.

d. Discuss the story as a frame narrative (a story within a story).

➜ The frame narrative is a literary technique that reveals about a story within a story. It starts with a different plot and setting of story but later immerses out with the next story within it. Here, this technique reveals us how a single story involves the next story within it. The story starts with different information about the narrator and his valet with a different setting. The readers here move along with the Story's flow at first but later on the next story starts within it with an amazing description of oval portrait, its detail and background information. The readers reach up to the next level of the story. The technique of frame narrative works showing a single story and the next story within it.

e. The story is told in a descriptive style, with plenty of imagery and symbolism. Which images and symbols do you find in the story?

➜ Here in this story, we find various images and symbols. The writer has used images to present his horror elements beautifully here in this story where there is immense use of darkness and light. The image of desolate Chateau in the Appennines has created beginning thriller for the audience. Similarly, the image of two visitors in the dark desolate setting has increased the reader's curiosity. Inside the Chateau, the writer has used many images to present the setting of apartments, torrent etc. Here, we find various images as dark rooms, wall tapestries, trophies, the oval painting among other paintings, candelabrum, book, rays of light etc. The historical background of the oval portrait also has presented the image of the painter and his wife in a high torrent of the Chateau. The perfect use of images has this story with gothic elements beautifully. Like images, the symbols also have played a vital role to understand this story in its deeper level. The oval portrait symbolizes mortality of love and immortality of art. This portrait has snatched the life of its main subject (painter's wife). Her love for her husband leads her to death whereas her husband passion for artwork has snatched her life and made him immortal in his artwork. Next symbol which we find here is the time during artwork. This time during artwork symbolizes the painter's obsession where he has forgotten everything around him and led his wife to the death.

f. What does the expression “She was dead!” mean?

➜ The expression was dead" means the shocking moment of the death of the painter's wife on the chair. The painter was quite obsessed with his painting. He was totally engrossed in his task of painting. He forgot to inspect his wife's condition. He kept on painting his wife's portrait for weeks. When he turned his painting towards his wife being happy, he found his wife dead posing on the chair. Here, the artwork took the life of its main subject.

Reference beyond the text 

a. Do you think there is life in art?

➜ I don't think there is life in art. Art is just a creation to display which has meanings related to different things. But, in a literal sense, artists create life in art. They try to find out life within the art.

b. As a thing of art nothing could be more admirable than the painting itself. Explain.

➜ This statement is absolutely right about painting. Painting is really a very admirable form of art. The painters really work hard to create quality paintings with meanings. The painting itself speaks in its literal manner. Painting provides us with facts related to life. Here in this story, the oval portrait is one of the finest examples which has startled the narrator. He feels completely puzzled to see that painting. He wants to know about its and painter.

c. A more intense look at the painting reveals the illusion. Have you noticed any such painting?

➜ Yes, I have noticed such painting. The painting becomes more meaningful when it is watched by the viewer who is passionate about paintings. But, for those viewers who don't have an idea about paintings find illusion all the time. In my case, I watched a typical painting for a long time but I didn't get meanings about it. I tried a lot to grasp its meaning but vain. Later on, I got its meaning from my friend.

 

Unit 1 Lesson 1 The Selfish Giant

The Selfish Giant English 

Summary

The story begins with the children playing in the Giant's garden every afternoon after arriving from school. The garden was beautiful, large, with soft grass and fruit trees. The trees bore rich fruit and the birds sang sweetly sitting on them.

One day after seven years, the giant returned. He was staying with his friend, the Cornish Ogre. The children were afraid to see him. He saw the children playing and said that he would not allow anyone to play here as it was his own garden. He built a wall around it and also put up a bulletin board. The bulletin board displayed a warning: "Intruders will be prosecuted."

The children were sad because they had no other place to play. They would wander the high garden walls and remember the beautiful garden within them.

Spring season arrived and there were flowers and little birds everywhere. But it was winter in the giant's garden and there were frost and snow. In the absence of children, the birds did not sing either. Once a flower sprouted from the grass, but after seeing the bulletin board, he also fell asleep again. Then came the north wind and the hail storm. Due to the giant's selfishness, the golden fruits of autumn also did not reach his garden.

Then one morning the giant detected sweet and wonderful music. It was a squirrel singing outside his window. The hail and north wind stopped and he could feel spring. He saw the children entering his garden through a small hole. The children were sitting on the tree branches and the trees were blooming. He also saw the birds fly and heard them chirp. The flowers had also risen.

But, to his surprise, winter was still in one corner. He saw that a boy was standing there and he could not reach the branches of the trees. The tree lowered its branches but still, it couldn't climb.

In this scene, his heart melted. He realized that he was actually very selfish. He decided to put that boy on the top of the tree, tear down the walls, and allow the children to play here forever. But when the children saw it, they fled and the garden was winter again. However, that child did not run while crying. The giant put it on the top of the tree and the tree immediately blossomed. He kissed the giant.

The other children came back to realize that the giant is not evil. Spring returned with them. The giant used to play with the children every afternoon, but that child was nowhere to be found. Over the years, it became very weak. One winter morning, he saw a beautiful tree with white flowers in the corner. The branches of the tree were golden and the boy stood underneath.

The boy was injured, which greatly enraged the giant. He told the boy that he would kill the man who had hurt him. The boy told him that these were the wounds of love. The boy smiled and asked the giant to come to his garden. Later, the children found the dead giant under the tree covered in white flowers.

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions. 

a. Where did the children use to play? 

➜ The children use to play in a beautiful garden of the giant during afternoon time after school.

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

➜ The snow and the Frost were the two agents who appeared in the giant's garden after the rude behaviour of the giant against the children. The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak and the Frost painted all the trees silver. They even invited the North Wind to stay with them.

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

➜ The giant heard some lovely music of a little singing bird linnet when he was lying awake in bed. He heard the music after a long time.

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

➜ I think the spring season even became sad along with the children. She became so angry and never came to the giant's garden to find the giant's rudeness and selfishness against the innocent children.

e. How did the giant realise his mistake? 

➜ The giant realised his mistake by experiencing unusual changes in his garden. He found out snow, frost, north wind, fog, etc. in his garden. He felt guilty himself for all those acts which he had done against the children. When the children reappeared in his garden, the garden once again bloomed with leaves and flowers. He even heard the chirping of birds in his garden. Thus, 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 aren't allowed to play in the giant's garden anymore. The giant has chased them out of his garden being furious.

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 old and feeble giant who keeps on watching the children at their play sitting on his armchair.

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' that the speaker is referring to are the small and innocent school children who enjoy a lot in the giant's garden.

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

➜ The speaker is saying that 'the children are the most beautiful flowers of all' because he has experienced the presence of children in his garden. He has observed their simplicity and innocence. He believes that the children are the gift of beautiful nature and their presence has made the entire garden look so beautiful and bloom with different kinds of leaves and flowers. He makes the comparison here to value the children much because he knows the value of children in his garden than the 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 in relation to this fairy tale.

➜ The next time, the little child reappears in one of the garden's corners. The giant is quite old and feeble at that time. The child appears this time to favour the giant who once had favoured him to play in his garden. The giant keeps on searching and waiting for the little child. He is in reality alive only to meet the enchanted little child. Finally, after the little child's words, he dies in the very afternoon.

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? 

➜ Here, the writer has perfectly used a figure of speech. The three examples of personification are the Snow, the Frost and the north wind. The significance of the seasons personified in the story is that they are related to nature and play a very vital role in transforming the giant's garden with a unique force against bad deeds.

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.

➜ Here, the spring season symbolizes happiness whereas the winter season symbolizes suffering. The tree symbolizes the identity of the child as Christ. The corner of the garden symbolizes the sacred place of God from where redemption is possible. The snow, the wind and the frost symbolize unique force against bad deeds.

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

➜ Here in this short story, we find the perfect use of personification. Here, winter, frost, snow, north wind, hail and little child have been wonderfully personified. Among these, winter, frost and snow have been personified as feminine gender with unique force. They have done their tasks against the giant's acts. The north wind, hail and little child have been personified as masculine gender with powers.

The little child is compared to the Chrisitan God 'Lord Jesus' here in this story. This little child has been presented with divine powers who has the power to change each and everything. Due to his presence, the garden has been bloomed with beautiful leaves and flowers. The signs of two nails on the palms and feet of the little child have reminded us of the crucifixion of Lord Jesus.

Reference beyond the text 

a. What is the main theme of this story? 

➜ There are various themes here in this story as arrogance, consequences of selfishness, love and compassion, the concept of salvation etc. Good deeds are always rewarded whereas bad deeds are always punished. Here, we simply find the arrogance of the giant and his selfishness against the children which have brought bad results for him. But, due to his good deeds, he has got a fine platform to reach outside.

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

➜ Yes, God punishes those who are cruel to and very selfish. Children are supposed to be very innocent and babies of God. They are known for their simplicity. Their presence is the sign of good omen. We can get a fine example from this story about God's punishment to the giant. He feels guilty himself for his bad deeds.