10 Questions
What was the state of the garden of the Selfish Giant during spring?
The garden was still in winter, with no blossoms or birds.
Why did the beautiful flower go back into the ground?
It was sorry for the children and saw the noticeboard.
Who were the only people pleased with the state of the garden?
The Snow and the Frost.
What did the North Wind do in the garden?
He roared all day, blew the chimney pots down, and invited the Hail to visit.
What did the Selfish Giant hope for as he looked out at his garden?
A change in the weather.
What was the Giant's garden like before he came back from his visit?
It was a large, lovely garden with soft, green grass, beautiful flowers, and twelve peach trees that bore blossoms and fruit in different seasons.
Why did the Giant build a high wall around his garden?
He built a high wall to keep the children out of his garden because he wanted to be the only one to play in it.
What did the children do after the Giant prohibited them from playing in his garden?
They tried to play on the road, but they didn't like it because it was dusty and full of hard stones, and they also wandered around the high wall, talking about the beautiful garden inside.
How long did the Giant stay with his friend, the Cornish ogre?
He stayed with him for seven years.
What was the Giant's personality trait that is evident in his behavior towards the children?
He was very selfish.
Study Notes
The Selfish Giant's Garden
- The garden was a lovely place with soft, green grass and beautiful flowers that shone like stars.
- There were twelve peach trees that blossomed pink and pearl in the spring and bore rich fruit in the autumn.
- Birds would sit on the trees and sing sweetly, causing the children to stop their games to listen.
The Giant's Return
- The Giant returned to his castle after a seven-year visit to his friend, the Cornish ogre.
- He was upset to find children playing in his garden and ordered them to leave.
- The Giant built a high wall around the garden and put up a noticeboard saying "TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED."
The Children's Loss
- The children had nowhere to play and tried to play on the road, but it was dusty and full of hard stones.
- They would wander around the high wall, remembering the beautiful garden inside.
The Garden's Desolation
- When spring came, the country was filled with blossoms and birds, but the Giant's garden remained in winter.
- The trees forgot to blossom, and the birds did not sing.
- A single flower put its head out of the grass but went back to sleep when it saw the noticeboard.
The Snow, Frost, and North Wind
- The Snow and Frost took over the garden, covering the grass and painting the trees silver.
- They invited the North Wind to stay, and he came, roaring and blowing down chimney pots.
- The Hail was also invited and would rattle on the castle roof for three hours, breaking most of the slates.
Quiz about the short story 'The Selfish Giant' by Oscar Wilde. Test your understanding of the plot, characters, and themes in this classic tale.
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