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

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

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 to the garden?
➤ The snow and Frost were the two agents who appeared in the giant's garden following the giant's rude behavior toward the children. The Snow draped her great white cloak over the grass, and 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?
➤ 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.


✓✓ Also Read:- Class 11 English - The Selfish Giant Summary

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 realized his error when he noticed unusual 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 children reappeared in his garden, it bloomed once more with leaves and flowers. He even heard birds chirping in his garden. As a result, he realized his error.


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.


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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’?
➤ 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 observed their innocence and simplicity. He believes that the children are a gift from nature, and that their presence has made the entire garden look so lovely and bloom with various types of leaves and flowers. He makes the comparison here to value children highly because he knows the value 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 in relation to this fairy tale.
➤ The little child reappears in one of the garden's corners the next time. At the time, the giant is quite old and frail. This time, the child appears to favor the giant who once allowed him to play in his garden. The giant continues to look for and wait for the small child. In reality, he is only alive to meet the enchanted little child. Finally, he dies in the afternoon after hearing the little 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?
➤ In this context, the spring season represents happiness, while the winter season represents suffering. The tree represents the child's identity as Christ. The garden's corner represents God's sacred place, from which redemption is possible. The snow, wind, and frost represent a unique force against evil 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?
➤ This short story makes excellent use of personification. Winter, frost, snow, north wind, hail, and a small child have all been wonderfully personified here. Winter, frost, and snow have all been personified as feminine genders with unique power. They completed their tasks in opposition to the giant's actions. The north wind, hail, and the little child have all been personified as masculine genders with abilities.

In this story, the little child is compared to the Christian God 'Lord Jesus.' This little child has been endowed with divine powers and the ability to change everything. The garden has bloomed with beautiful leaves and flowers as a result of his presence. The signs of two nails on the little child's palms and feet reminded us of Lord Jesus' crucifixion.


a. What is the main theme of this story?

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




b. Does God punish those who are cruel to children and very selfish?
➤ Yes, God punishes those who are cruel and self-centered. Children are supposed to be God's most innocent creations. They are well-known for their straightforwardness. Their presence is a positive omen. This story about God's punishment of the giant is a great example. He is self-condemned for his bad deeds.

✓✓ Also Read:- Class 11 English - The Selfish Giant Summary