NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Supplementary Chapter 3 The Selfish Giant

The Giant is called selfish because he very rude and did not allow anyone to enter his garden. He did not like that the children should come and play in the garden. To stop them from entering his garden, he built a tall wall around the garden. He also put a notice on the notice board which had a warning on it.

Question:
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?
Answer:
In the first case, they are referring to the Giant’s garden where they used to play while coming back from school. They used to enjoy a lot and had a gala time whenever they played in the garden. In the second case, they again referred to the same garden. They talked about how glad they were before the Giant did not allow them from playing in his garden. So, in both the cases, the children are referring to the Giant’s garden.

In the story, winter stands for a depressing, isolated and unresponsive surroundings. In this environment, trees and flowers do not bloom. Here, winter also refers to an atmosphere of gloominess and idleness. As the birds did not sing, children did not play and spring did not visit this garden, winter had a long-lasting stay in the garden.

Winter has been presented like a story with its own characters and their activities. Describe the story in your own words.
When spring came, the birds did not sing because there were no children. The trees too did not bloom. At a particular occasion, a flower put its head out from the grass but when it saw the notice board put up by the giant, it felt depressing and sad for the children, so it went back inside the grass and slept. But, snow and frost were very happy because the snow could cover the grass, the frost covered the trees. They invited the North Wind to hang about with them, and later even the Hail was asked to come there. The Hail fell and rattled on the roof of the castle every day and ran around the garden as fast as it could.

The Giant was sad over the state of his garden. He was unable to understand why spring was so late in coming to his garden.

What effect did the linnet’s song have over Hail and the North Wind?
When the linnet sang, the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind stopped thriving.

Comprehensive Check
Question:
(i) The Giant saw a most wonderful sight. What did he see?
(ii) What did he realise on seeing it?
Answer:
(i) The Giant saw that the children had come to his garden through a small hole in the wall, and were sitting on the branches of trees. There was a child on every tree. The trees had covered themselves with flowers because they were pleased to have the children back. The birds were flying about and chirping in pleasure, and the flowers and grass were amused.
(ii) He realised that spring had stopped coming to his garden because he had not allowed the children from playing in the garden. He realised that he had been egotistic and selfish in not to allowing the children to play in his garden.

It was still winter in one corner of the garden and there was a tree which was all covered with frost and snow. The North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. A small boy was standing in front of it, but was able to reach its branches. So, there was still winter in this part of the garden.

The Giant lay dead, all covered with white blossoms. What does this sentence indicate about the once selfish Giant?
The sentence indicates the Giant was no more, he had dies and was covered with white flowers. The Giant had been blessed with paradise after his death because the Giant was no longer selfish and nasty. That’s why he is covered with white flowers which are a symbol of peace.

The first meeting of the little boy and the Giant was below the tree which was covered with frost and snow. The Giant took him in his hands quietly and put him up on the tree. The moment he did this, the tree at once blossomed, and the birds came and sang on it. The little boy stretched his arms and put them around the Giant’s neck, and kissed him.

Describe their second meeting after a long interval.
Their second meeting took place after a long interval, on a winter morning. The Giant was amazed to see that in the extreme corner of the garden, there was a tree covered with lovely white flowers. It had golden branches and silver fruit was hanging down from the branches. The little boy stood below it. The Giant went towards him with immense happiness. But as he came close to the child, his face grew red with anger when he saw the marks of nails on his palms and feet. He asked the little boy who had injured him, and told him that he would kill the one who had done so. The child told him that they were the wounds of love. The Giant Knelt before the little child in admiration and asked him who he was. On hearing this, the child smiled and told him that since he had allowed him to play once in his garden, a day would come when he would go with him to his garden, which was paradise.

The little child’s hands and feet had marks of nails. Who does the child remind you of? Give a reason for your Answer.
The child reminds me of Jesus Christ because when the Giant met the little child for the second time, he saw marks of nails on his palms and feet. Jesus Christ had those marks because he had been nailed when he was crucified. He had given up his life for human race, so that the sins of the world could be washed. That is why the child told the Giant that those were the wounds of love.