Summary
Summary of "The Selfish Giant"
A family gathering leads to a request for storytelling, prompting the grandfather to narrate the tale of a selfish giant with a beautiful garden. The children, accustomed to playing in the Giant's large garden filled with vibrant flowers and sweet fruits, experience joy and beauty. However, upon the Giant's return after seven years, he reacts harshly to the children playing in his garden, declaring it solely his and threatening to punish anyone who trespasses. This leads to the construction of a high wall around the garden, isolating it from the children.
Key Points:
- The Giant's gruff demeanor scares the children away.
- He believes the garden should be for himself only, illustrating his selfishness.
- The story prompts discussions on selfishness and sharing spaces like gardens and parks.
Key words: selfish giant gruff trespasser
A Look at the picture. Answer these questions.
1 Who do you think these people are?
2 Where do you think they are?
3 Can you guess what they are doing?
B Read the story silently.
The family gathering in the yard carried on with laughter and conversations. At one point, the children asked their grandfather to tell them a story. So, he began to tell the tale of a selfish giant who had a beautiful garden.
The Selfish Giant
Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden.
It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers. All around the garden were trees filled with sweet fruit. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games in order to listen to them. 'How happy we are here!' they cried to each other.
One day the Giant came back. He had been to visit his friend in a distant land, and had stayed with him for seven years. When he arrived, he saw the children playing in his garden.
'What are you doing here?' cried the Giant in a very gruff voice. The children ran away in fear.
'My own garden is my own garden,' said the Giant. "I will allow nobody to play in it but myself." So, he built a high wall all round the garden, and put up a notice:
TRESPASSERS WILL BE PUNISHED
C Discuss in groups and answer this question:
How do you know that the giant is selfish?
D Have you ever seen any garden or park? Where is it? Describe it using the following clues:
- how big
- trees- flowers and fruits
- play corner
- any other attractions
Note: trespasser: a person who enters somebody's land without their permission
gruff : harsh; unfriendly
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