NCERT Solutions Class 8, English, It So Happened (Supplementary Reader), Chapter- 3, The Selfish Giant.
Comprehension Check
1. Why is the Giant called selfish?
Solution:
The Giant is called selfish because he did not allow children to play in the garden. He built a high walls around the garden. He also put up notice board with a warning on it.
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 the cases?
Solution:
In the first case, they are referring to the Giant's garden where they would play while returning from school. They had a great time whenever they played in the garden.
In the second case, they are again referring to the garden; talking about how happy they were before the Giant stopped them from playing in his garden.
In both the cases, the children are referring to the Giant's garden.
3. (i) When spring came, it was still winter in the garden. What does winter stand for or indicate here?
Solution:
Winter indicates that flowers did not bloom in the Giant’s garden. The birds didn’t sing. There was no sign of joy and greenery.
(ii) Winter has been presented like a story with its own characters and their activities. Describe the story in your own words.
Solution:
Winter has been portrayed as destroyer. It has its own characters. Snow and frost are the most prominent factors. Trees have been covered with white cloak. The trees look lifeless. North wind has come to stay there permanently. Hails settle on the roof.
4. Was the Giant happy or sad over the state of the garden?
Solution:
The Giant was sad over the state of his garden. He could not understand why spring was so late in coming.
5. What effect did the linnet’s song have over Hail and the North Wind?
Solution:
When the linnet sang, the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind stopped roaring.
Comprehension Check
1.
(i) The Giant saw a most wonderful sight. What did he see?
Solution:
The Giant saw that through a little hole in the wall the children had entered
into the garden. They were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree that he could see there was a little child. And the trees were glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves with blossoms and were waning their hands gently above the child run’s heads. The birds were flying and twittering with delight, and flowers were laughing.
(ii) What did he realise on seeing it?
Solution:
He realised that he himself was to blame for the year round winter in his garden. He called himself selfish.
2. Why was it still winter in one corner of the garden?
Solution:
Only in one comer of the garden there was winter still. The reason was that a little boy could not climb the tree like other boys. He stood under a tree weeping.
3. Describe the first meeting of the little boy and the Giant.
Solution:
The first meeting of the little boy and the Giant was beneath the tree that was covered with frost and snow. The Giant took him gently in his hands and put him up into the tree. The tree at once blossomed, and the birds came and sang on it. The little boy stretched out his two arms, flung them round the Giant's neck, and kissed him.
4. Describe their second meeting after a long interval.
Solution:
In the second meeting after so many years, the Giant saw wounds on the little boy’s palm and feet. He became furious. He wanted to kill the man who had wounded the child. But the boy said that those were wounds of love.
5. The Giant lay dead, all covered with white blossoms. What does this ssoms. W
sentence indicate about the once selfish Giant?
Solution:
This indicates that the Giant had been blessed by Lord Christ himself. He was neither cruel nor selfish So Christ forgave him and took him to paradise.
Exercise
Discuss the following topics in groups.
1. The little child’s hands arid feet had marks of nails. Who does the child remind you of? Give a reason for your answer.
Solution:
The child reminds one of Jesus Christ. When the Giant met the little child for the second time, he saw imprints of nails on his palms and feet. When Christ was crucified, nails were dug into his palms and feet. He had sacrificed his life for humanity, so that the sins of the world would be washed away. That is why the child told the Giant that those were the wounds of love.
2. 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?
Solution:
A park is a public place. It is like the lungs in human body. It gives us fresh air. The greenery is soothing to the eyes. A private garden, however, has to be used by the people with care and caution. The children must not spoil the flower beds and the grassy lawns even in a public park. I would never play football in a park nor let other children do so.
