NCERT Class 8 English Supplementary Chapter 3: The Selfish Giant

Summary of 'The Selfish Giant'

The story begins with a Giant who owns a large, beautiful garden. Every afternoon after school, children would play in this garden. One day, the Giant, who had been away visiting his friend for seven years, returns. Seeing the children in his garden, he angrily chases them away. He declares, "My own garden is my own garden... and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself." He then builds a high wall around it and puts up a notice board saying 'TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED'.

After the children are gone, a strange thing happens. While Spring arrives in the rest of the country, it is still Winter in the Giant's garden. Frost, Snow, the North Wind, and Hail take over, enjoying the garden for themselves. The Giant waits and waits for Spring, but it never comes. One morning, he hears beautiful music, which turns out to be a linnet singing. He looks out and sees a wonderful sight: the children had crept back in through a little hole in the wall. Wherever a child sat, the trees blossomed and birds sang. However, in one corner, it was still winter. There stood a tiny boy, too small to reach the branches of the tree. The Giant's heart melts. He realizes how selfish he has been. He goes out, gently lifts the little boy into the tree, and it immediately bursts into flower. He then knocks down the wall and his garden becomes the children's playground forever. The Giant plays with them every day, but he dearly misses the first little boy he helped, who he never sees again for a long time. Years pass, and the Giant grows old. One winter morning, he sees the same little boy under a tree in the corner of his garden. The tree is covered in white blossoms. The Giant runs to him, only to see the prints of nails on the boy's hands and feet. The boy explains that they are the wounds of Love. He then invites the Giant to his garden, which is Paradise. Later that day, the other children find the Giant lying dead under the tree, covered in white blossoms.

Characters and Symbols in the Story

The Selfish Giant

The main character who initially is possessive and selfish about his garden. His journey represents the transformation from a cold, isolated heart to one filled with love and compassion.

The Children

They represent innocence, joy, and life. Their presence brings Spring and happiness to the garden, symbolizing that joy comes from community and sharing.

The Little Boy

A symbolic character representing divine love and forgiveness. He is revealed to be a Christ-like figure whose 'wounds of Love' lead the Giant to salvation in Paradise.

The Garden

A powerful symbol for the Giant's heart. It is barren and frozen when he is selfish, but blossoms and thrives when he opens his heart to love and sharing.

Winter and its companions (Snow, Frost, North Wind)

These are personified elements that represent the coldness, desolation, and loneliness that result from selfishness. They are the only 'guests' in the garden when the children are kept out.

Themes and Moral Lessons

• The Consequences of Selfishness: The Giant's selfishness leads to a perpetual winter in his garden, symbolizing how selfishness creates a cold and lonely world for oneself.
• The Power of Compassion: A single act of kindness—lifting the small boy into the tree—is enough to break the spell of winter and melt the Giant's heart, showing the transformative power of compassion.
• Sharing Brings Happiness: The story beautifully illustrates that true happiness is found not in possessing things, but in sharing them with others. The Giant is happiest when his garden is full of children.
• Redemption and Forgiveness: The Giant is able to redeem himself for his past selfishness through his change of heart. The final scene with the little boy signifies divine forgiveness and the Giant's entry into heaven (Paradise).

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why was the Giant called 'selfish'?
  A: Step 1: Identify the Giant's actions at the beginning of the story. He returned to his castle after a seven-year visit and found children playing in his garden.
  Step 2: Describe his reaction. Instead of welcoming them, he became angry. He shouted at them and chased them away.
  Step 3: Mention the specific actions he took to prevent them from returning. He built a high wall around the garden and put up a sign that read 'TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED'.
  Final answer: The Giant was called 'selfish' because he wanted his beautiful garden all to himself. He refused to share it with the children and took harsh measures like building a wall to keep them out, thinking only of his own ownership and pleasure.

• Q: On his return, the Giant saw that Spring had visited his garden. What did he see and how did it change him?
  A: Step 1: Describe the scene the Giant witnessed from his window. He saw that the children had found a small hole in the wall and crept back into the garden.
  Step 2: Explain the magical effect of the children's presence. In every part of the garden where a child was sitting, the trees had covered themselves with blossoms and were waving their arms gently above the children’s heads. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight.
  Step 3: Detail the Giant's emotional reaction. Seeing this wonderful sight, especially the one tiny boy crying because he couldn't reach the branches, made the Giant's heart melt. He realized how selfish he had been.
  Final answer: The Giant saw that the children had returned, bringing Spring with them. The sight of the blossoming trees and happy children made him realize that his selfishness was the reason for the endless winter. This realization marked a turning point, causing him to regret his actions and feel compassion for the children.

• Q: Who was the little boy whom the Giant loved so dearly? Give reasons for your answer.
  A: Step 1: Recall the little boy's first appearance. He was the small boy the Giant helped into the tree, which caused the tree to blossom immediately. The boy then kissed the Giant.
  Step 2: Describe the boy's final appearance. Years later, the Giant saw him again. This time, the boy had wounds on his palms and feet, which he called 'the wounds of Love'.
  Step 3: Interpret the symbolism. The wounds are a clear reference to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The boy's invitation to the Giant to come to 'my garden... which is Paradise' further confirms his divine nature.
  Final answer: The little boy was a symbolic representation of Jesus Christ. We know this because of the nail prints (stigmata) on his hands and feet, which he calls 'the wounds of Love'. His ability to lead the Giant to Paradise confirms he is a divine figure sent to redeem the Giant.

• Q: What is the main message of the story 'The Selfish Giant'?
  A: Step 1: Analyze the central conflict of the story. The conflict is between the Giant's selfishness and the joy brought by the children.
  Step 2: Trace the Giant's transformation. He starts as selfish and lonely, with a frozen garden. He becomes loving and happy, with a garden full of life. This change happens when he starts sharing and showing compassion.
  Step 3: Summarize the ultimate outcome. The Giant's final reward for his love and kindness is eternal life in Paradise.
  Final answer: The main message of the story is that happiness and love come from sharing and compassion, not from selfishness and possession. It teaches that an open heart can bring joy and life, while a closed, selfish heart leads to coldness and isolation. Ultimately, love and kindness are rewarded with redemption and eternal peace.

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