The Selfish Giant Part2

TS 8th Class English Guide Unit 3B The Selfish Giant Part 2 (One-act Play)

Comprehension

Part -1: Answer the following questions.

Question 1. What are the major characters in the play?

Answer: Old Giant, the Giant and children, are the major characters. Old Giant and the Giant are the same. The other characters are the Snow and the Frost, the North Wind, the Spring, the Hail and the Autumn

Question 2. Why do you think children have been named as tall girl, round boy, square girl, etc. ?

Answer: The selfish Giant heard the children talking outside the garden. Since the Giant does not know the names of the children he has called them tall girl round boy, and square girl etc

Question 3. How can you say that The Giant is selfish?

Answer: The Giant does not want to share his happiness with anybody. Every time he says "My" garden. He wanted to enjoy his garden all alone. That is why the Giant is called selfish

Question 4. Who were with the Giant ? What did their names suggest ?

Answer: The North Wind, the Hail, the Frost and the Snow were with the Giant. Their names suggested that the winter stayed for long in the Giants garden and there prevailed an unpleasant and uncomfortable weather

Part - II: l. Answer the following questions.

Question 1. How is the child different from other children?

Answer: This child is not an ordinary child. He is an angel who came from heaven. He changed the attitude of the Giant. He took him to heaven.

Question 2. How does the narrator explain the idea of spring time? Pick out some expressions?

Answer: Spring is described as a symbol of happiness and beauty. It is attributed some human qualities. In other words Spring is personified

Expressions used to explain the idea of spring time :

• A delicious smell
• Covered with blossoms
• The flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing.
• The birds were flying about and twittering with delight.

Question 3. What are the figurative expressions used in the play? List them and mention their significance?

Answer: The following are the most important figurative expressions used in the play

• Then the Spring came, (personification)
• The trees forgot to blossom, (personification) .
• The now covered up the grass with her great white cloak and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, (personification)
• We must ask the Hail to come on a visit, (personification) .
• He (Hail) was dressed in grey, (personification)
• His breath was like ice. (simile)
• The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to my garden she gave none, (personification)
• The Hail has stopped dancing over my head, (personification)
• The North Wind has ceased his roaring, (personification)
• The SPRING has come at last! (personification) .
• The flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing, (personification)
• The North Wind was blowing and roaring above it.
• It bent its branches down as low as it could, (simile)
• With them came the Spring, (personification)
• The children were the most beautiful flowers of all. (metaphor)

The above expressions can make us look at the world differently; they can. ;qhtenour senses. They compare two things in such a way that we find the comparison interesting v even a bit surprising. These expressions go beyond the actual meanings of words, then the reader gains new insights into the objects or subjects in the work. Regardless of the category, figurative language helps us feel like we are having the same experience as the author. Useful Information on Figurative Expressions: Figurative language can be found in poetry where the writing appeals to the senses. Figurative language can make you look at the world differently; it can heighten your senses. It compares two things in such a way that you find the comparison interesting or even a bit surprising. Figurative Language: Understanding the Concept One of the best ways to really understand the concept of figurative

language is to see it in action such as with these examples:

• Alright, the sky misses the sun at night.
• The poorest man is the richest, and the rich are poor. Hear the mellow wedding bells. - Edgar Allen Poe
• Out of reach, I pull out with a screech.
• I move fast like a cheetah on the Serengeti.
• Her head was spinning from all the new information.
• The toast jumped out of the toaster.
• Im so hungry I could eat a horse.
• The Sea lashed out in anger at the ships, unwilling to tolerate another battle.
• The Redcoats are coming!
• Ive told you a million times to clean your room!

Categories of Figurative Language: There are seven categories of figurative language. They are:

• Imagery
• Simile
• Metaphor
• Alliteration
• Personification
• Onomatopoeia
• Hyperbole

You are using figurative language any time you compare two things. When writing goes beyond the actual meanings of words, then the reader gains new insights into the objects or subjects in the work. Following is an explanation of each category, with the examples of figurative language following each one.

Imagery

Imagery is a type of figurative language that appeals to the senses. The descriptions can be about living things or inanimate objects. A good example is from Wordsworths "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud": A host of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze

He doesnt say "many" or "a lot of" daffodils, he uses the word "host." That means a huge number of daffodils. Later, he personifies the daffodils, and personification will be covered later on. Another example is from "The Eagle" by Tennyson, "He clasps the crag with crooked hands." The hard consonant sounds add even more to the imagery here

Simile

A simile compares two things using the words "like" and "as." Examples include

• busy as a bee
• clean as a whistle
• brave as a lion
• stand out like a sore thumb
• as easy as shooting fish in a barrel
• as dry as a bone
• as funny as a barrel of monkeys
• they fought like cats and dogs
• like watching grass grow

Metaphor

When you use a metaphor, you make a statement that doesnt make sense literally, like "time is a thief." It only makes sense when the similarities between the two things become apparent or someone understands the connection

Examples include:

• the world is my oyster
• you are a couch potato
• time is money
• he has a heart of stone
• America is a melting pot
• you are rhy sunshine

Alliteration

Alliteration is the easiest of the examples of figurative language to spot. It is a repetition of the first consonant sounds in several words. Some good examples are

• wide-eyed and wondering while we wait for others to waken and tongue twisters like:
• Betty bought butter but the butter was bitter, so Betty bought better butter to make the bitter butter better.

Personification

Personification gives human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. This can really affect the way the reader imagines things. This is used in childrens books, poetry, and fictional literature. Examples include

• opportunity knocked on the door
• the sun greeted me this morning
• the sky was full of dancing stars
• the vines wove their fingers together to form a braid
• the radio stopped singing and stared at me
• the sun played hide and seek with the clouds

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is the use of words that sound like their meaning, or mimic sounds. They add a level of fun and reality to writing. Here are some examples

• the burning wood hissed and crackled
• the words: beep, whirr, click, whoosh, swish, zap, zing, ping, clang, bong, hum, boom, munch, gobble, crunch, pow, smash, wham, quack, meow, oink, and tweet.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is an outrageous exaggeration that emphasizes a point, and can be ridiculous or funny. Hyperboles can be added to fiction to add color and depth to a character. Examples are

• You snore louder than a freight train.
• Its a slow burg. I spent a couple of weeks there one day.
• She is so dumb, she thinks Taco Bell is a Mexican phone company.
• I had to walk 15 miles to school in the snow, uphill.
• You could have knocked me over with a feather. Regardless of the category, figurative language helps you feel like you are having the same experience as the author.

Question 4. What is the central theme of the play?

Answer: The central theme of the play is that real happiness and joy come from loving and sharing. As long as a person is selfish he/she cannot get true happiness. When we dont share what we have with others, we will remain isolated

II. Complete the following sentences choosing the correct answers from the choices given below.

Question 1. Both over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars and the peach-trees broke into blossoms refer to ________?

• autumn
• spring
• winter

Answer:

• spring

Question 2. The giant observed the children ________?

• hiding in the garden
• playing in the garden
• dancing in the garden

Answer:

• playing in the garden

Question 3. The giant knew the spring had arrived from ________?

• song of a linnet bird
• sounds made by the children
• blossoms in the garden

Answer:

• song of a linnet bird

Question 4. The little boy ________?

• called the, giant by gesturing
• flung hands around the neck
• ran towards the giant

Answer:

• flung hands around the neck

Question 5. What a marvellous sight this is ? is said by ________?

• the children
• the little boy
• the Giant

Answer:

• the Giant

Vocabulary: I. Look at the following underlined phrase taken from the text and know the meanings. 1. Peach-trees that in the spring time broke out into delicate blossom. In the above sentence, the phrase broke out means to come out.

A) Refer to a dictionary and find out phrasal verbs beginning with break. Use them in your own sentences?

Answer:

• break down = become very upset Example: She broke down after her husband died.
• break in/into = enter a building by force Example: The burglar broke in between midnight and 3 a.m.
• break in = interrupt something Example : While we were discussing the situation, Tarun broke in to give his opinion.
• break out = start abruptly, appear suddenly Example : Cholera has broken out in the city.
• break through = make a way through ; overcome obstacles Example : His will power helped him break through all obstacles. (= He succeeded in overcoming all obstacles.)
• break up = come to an end ; disperse Example: Shyam and Ravi broke up their friendship on a silly reason.
• break with = quarrel with ; separate Example : I dont want to break with him for your sake.
• break away - run away, get loose or escape Example: The boy tried to break away but his mother snatched his shirt.
• break off = stop suddenly Example: John Bright broke off in the middle of his speech. (= He stopped suddenly.)

B) Pick out some more phrasal verbs from the play The Selfish Giant?

Answer:

• break out
• blow over
• look out
• knock down

II. Read the underlined part of the sentence taken from the text. This is a delightful spot. In the above sentence delightful means pleasant, the opposite (antonym) of it is gloomy. Pick out antonyms of the underlined words from the play and use them in your own sentences.

Question 1. Nobody likes to be in hell?

Answer: The little boy took the giant to the heaven

Question 2. You should be beware of your foe?

Answer: A friend in need is a friend indeed

Question 3. It started raining cats and dogs?

Answer: On their way home the children stopped at the theatre

Question 4. She uncovered her head after she came out of the temple?

Answer: Cover your head when you go out during summer

Question 5. This is the nearest shop to my house?

Answer: Which is the farthest place from your home town

III. Look at the following sentence taken from the text. Ex: I heard the children whispering outside the wall on their way to school. In the above sentence the underlined word indicates speaking quietly outside the wall so that nobody else could hear.

Now match the words in column A with those in column B with similar meaning?

Column - A Column - B 1. screaming A. a continuous loud noise 2. whisper B. many people squeaking at the time 3. yell C. give a loud cry 4. roar D. a long deep sound 5. groan E. a long, loud, high cry 6. weep E a loud high shout 7. shriek G. shout loudly 8. babble H. continuous short sounds 9. wail I. soft quiet voice difficult to hear 10. twitter J. cry

Answer:

• C
• I
• G
• A
• D
• J
• F
• B
• E
• H

IV. Choose the correct meaning for the underlined word.

Question 1. The Giant put a notice board, trespassers will be prosecuted?

• persons who enter the premises without permission
• persons who forcibly enter the premises
• persons who officially enter the premises

Answer:

• persons who enter the premises without permission

Question 2. The Giant was wrapped in furs and roared all day about the garden?

• made a loud noise with anger
• felt frustrated
• looked pleased

Answer:

• made a loud noise with anger

Question 3. There are twelve peach-trees that spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms?

• leaves
• flowers
• fruits

Answer:

• flowers

Question 4. He rattled on the roof the whole uay?

made a series of sounds

should

tapped

Answer:

• made a series of sounds

Grammar

Read the sentence taken from the text

• He is swimming in a pool.
• Swimming is good for health.

In the above two sentences you notice that verbs are used with -ing. Do you notice any difference between them ? In the first sentence the verb + ing is preceded by is. The verb is in progressive form. In the second sentence you dont find is, are, was or were before verb + ing. Such verbs with -ing and without helping verbs are known as Gerunds. They are normally in the subject position or object position

I. Identify the gerunds in the following sentences.

Question 1. The north wind ceased roaring?

Answer: roaring

Question 2. The Child did not see the giant coming?

Answer: coming

Question 3. I heard the children whispering outside the wall on their way to school?

Answer: whispering

Question 4. Why is the spring so late in coming?

Answer: coming

Question 5. Walking makes healthy and wealthy?

Answer: Walking

Writing

I. Read the following notice taken from the play. TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED Write a similar one-line notice each that you may find in the following places

Question 1. Hospitals : ________________?

Answer: Smoking is prohibited here

Question 2. Banks : ________________?

Answer: Turn your mobile phones on silent mode

Question 3. Public places : ________________?

Answer: Liquor consumption is prohibited here

Question 4. Schools : ________________?

Answer: Vehicle parking is restricted

Question 5. At home : ________________?

Answer: Please use the calling bell

Listening: Listen to a description and answer the following questions. Lal Bagh

Dear Students, now we are in Led Bagh Garden, Bengaluru. It means "The Red Garden" in English. It is one of the famous gardens in India. It is located to the South of the city centre and Bengalurus main attraction. Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore commissioned the building of the garden in 1760. His son Tipu Sultan completed it by importing trees and plants from several countries. The garden has over 1,000 species of flora. The garden is spread over 240 acres. The Glass House is the main attraction in this garden, modeled on Londons Crystal Palace. Look there, you can see a 300 year old "Christmas Tree". There are many such old trees we can find in the garden. Children, look there, you can find the scientific name tag to each tree. Now we are moving towards the Rose Garden, which is another highlight of Lai Bagh. It has almost all the species of roses available worldwide. Now we are at the giant Electronic Quartz Flower clock built by HMT. In this garden flower shows are conducted every year to educate people about different flora and help cultivate the habit of growing plants among the public

Question 1. Where is the garden located?

Answer: The garden is located to south of the Bengaluru city centre

Question 2. What is so special about it?

Answer: Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore commissioned the building of the garden in 1760. His son Tipu Sultan completed it by importing trees and plants from several countries

Oral Activity:

Question. Talk about any garden you have visited?

Answer: Brindavan Gardens The garden I have visited recently is Brindavan Garden. Brindavan Garden is one of the most beautiful terrace gardens in the world. It is located in the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam site in Srirangapatnam Taluk of Mandya District in Karnataka State. It was developed by Sir Mirza Ismail, the Dewan of the princely state of Mysore. It is 143 km. away from Bengaluru city. It extends over an area of sixty acres. The slopes of the garden are planted with colourful Bougainvilleas and ornamental plants. This garden is a public park and it is one of the important tourist spots of India. The garden is enriched with innumerable fountains decorated with colourful lighting. The illuminated running waters and fountains with changing colours of lights is a feast to the eyes of the visitors in the evenings. The garden has many open spaces, lawns, illuminated flower beds and ornamental plants. It also has well laid out roads and pathways. The Brindavan Garden is the best-illuminated terrace garden in our country. The boating pond in the midst of the garden is a location for the visitors to enjoy a boat ride. When the whole garden is illuminated, it is an enchanting sight. There is a musical and dancing fountain which is the main attraction of the visitors. The childrens park which is located beside the South Brindavan is a place of joy for children. There are slides, concrete animals, birds and aquatic species. There are many ornamental trees in the North Brindavan gardens. There are Arches of Bougainvilleas and Bignonia venusta over the pathways on either side of the garden. Shrubs of Bougainvillea, Allamanda, Bignonia magnifica, Homskloidia sanguina are found on the slopes of the terraces. It becomes a memorable experience for anyone who visits the place

Study Skills

Read the play The Selfish Giant once again and summarize it. Remember to follow the points given below?

• Identify the main and subordinate ideas, section wise / part wise.
• Separate the main idea from the subordinate ideas.
• Identify the words, / phrases which carry ideas.
• Link your ideas properly with appropriate linkers.
• Use the words / phrases that express the essence of the text.
• Present the ideas briefly.

Answer: Summary Once there was a Giant. He was very selfish. He had a large lovely garden with soft green grass. There were beautiful flowers over the grass like stars. There were peach-trees with delicate blossoms of pink and pearl in spring time. They bore rich fruit in the autumn. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games in order to listen to them. The children used to go to the Giants garden and played every afternoon. One day the Giant came back from his visit to his friend the Cornish ogre. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden. He became angry and shouted at them. He built high wall around the garden. He put up a notice board "TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED". He did not allow anybody to play in the garden. The poor children had now nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road but it was very dusty and full of hard stones. So they used to wander round the high wall and talk about the beautiful garden. The spring came all over the country. There were little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the selfish Giant it was still winter. The birds did not come to sing in it as there were no children. There was snow, frost, north winds, and hails in the garden of the selfish Giant. He sat at the window and looked out sadly at his cold white garden. He hoped that there would be a change in the weather. One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely music. It was the singing of a little linnet. He saw the children sitting under the branch of a tree. They had entered through a small hole in the wall. The spring arrived in the garden at last to express its happiness on seeing the children again. The trees were glad and started blooming. The birds began to sing. He saw a little boy who was struggling to get to the top of the tree in the farthest comer of the garden. The Giant helped him reach the top of the tree. The Giant realised that he had been selfish and was very sorry for what he had done. He allowed the children to play in the garden every day. The little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round his neck and kissed him. Every afternoon the children came and played in the garden. The children were very happy. But the little boy stopped coming to the garden and the giant was very sad. Many years passed and the Giant grew old and weak. One winter morning, the Giant saw the same boy under a tree. He ran down to the boy in joy. The little boy was an ar.cei who had come to take the Giant to the garden of Paradise as a reward for letting him play in his garden

The Selfish Giant (Part-II) Summary in English

One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely music. It was the singing of a little linnet. He saw the children sitting under the branch of a tree. They had entered through a small hole in the wall. The spring arrived in the garden at last to express its happiness on seeing the children again. The trees were glad and started blooming. The birds began to sing. He saw a little boy who was struggling to get to the top of the tree in the farthest corner of the garden. The Giant helped him reach the top of the tree. The Giant realised that he had been selfish and was very sorry for what he had done. He allowed the children to play in the garden every day. The little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round his neck and kissed him. Every afternoon the children came and played in the garden. The children were very happy. But the little boy stopped coming to the garden and the giant was very sad. Many years passed and the Giant grew old and weak. One winter morning, the Giant saw the same boy under a tree. He ran down to the boy in joy. The little boy was an angel who had come to take the Giant to the garden of Paradise as a reward for letting him play in his garden

Glossary

linnet bird (n) : a small brown and grey bird

hail (n) : small balls of ice that fall like rain

cease (v) : stop happening

twittering (v) : making a series of short high sounds

sneeze (v) : suddenly expel air from the nose and mouth due to

irritation in ones nostrils

feeble (adj) : lacking strength

hath (v) : has (old usage)

thee (pro) : you (old usage)

slay (v) : kill

art (v) : are

thou (pro) : you (as the singular subject of a verb)