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1 The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde (Workbook)

The Selfish Giant

By Oscar Wilde

Workbook

How to use this workbook

When you are working through the questions in this workbook, remember:

1. To write your answers in your best handwriting in your home learning / exercise / notebook.

Don’t try to answer the questions in boxes in the workbook.

2. “Blue box is book” = The blue boxes are there to show you what to write / say and how to set out your work

/ ideas. Anything in the blue boxes is what you write in your book.

Don’t write the black, write the blue – but without drawing the box round it!

3. When you are answering reading comprehension questions, you should always answer in complete thoughts

(full sentences) and use the exact words from the text to prove your answer.

The blue boxes will show you how…


Lesson 1: The Giant’s Garden

1) Word of the day

selfish

Think: what do you already know about the word selfish? What is the antonym (opposite) of selfish? Can you

find any synonyms (words that mean the same thing).

If you are not sure what the word selfish means, you can look it up in a dictionary - or you use an online

dictionary like this one: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/.

Then write down a complete thought to show what you understand the word selfish to mean.

2) Handwriting, Grammar and Punctuation Practice

Copy this passage from the story, ‘The Selfish Giant’ into your home learning book in your neatest handwriting,

adding the missing punctuation.

3) Self-marking and self-evaluation

Check and correct your punctuation against the text below in purple pen (or any other colour will do).

Then (underneath the writing you just corrected) evaluate your grammar and punctuation.

Lesson 1: The Giant’s Garden

1) Word of the day

selfish If a person is selfish they________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________


‘The Selfish Giant’ by Oscar Wilde

every afternoon as they were coming from school the children used

to go and play in the Giants garden it was a large lovely garden with

soft green grass here and there over the grass stood beautiful

flowers like stars and there were twelve peach-trees that in the

spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl and in

the autumn bore rich fruit

3) Self-evaluation

This time I remembered to add __________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Next time I need to remember ___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

_

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/


4) Reading Read the first part of the story, printed below. Circle any words you’re not sure of. There is a glossary at the back of this booklet so you can look up the words

you are not sure of. (Or you could look the words up in an online dictionary like this one: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/.)

Remember: You can listen and read along with this story if you prefer, but don’t listen to the whole thing just yet! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EYXhez0PhY

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 like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich 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 the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden. “What are you doing here?” he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away. “My own garden is my own garden,” said the Giant; “anyone can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself. “So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board.

He was a very selfish Giant.

5) Reading Comprehension: Reading with RIC

R1: Who had the Giant been to visit? (Remember to prove it with the actual words from the text.) R2: How long had the Giant been away? (Remember to prove it with the actual words from the text.) I: How did the Giant feel about the children playing in his garden? How do you know? (Remember to prove it! & Explain it) C: Would you like to play in the Giant’s garden if you saw it on your way back from school? Yes / No (Remember to say why with the actual words from the text.)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EYXhez0PhY


6) Self-marking and self-evaluation Check and correct your answers using the separate answer booklet in purple pen (or any other colour will do).

Then (underneath your answers) evaluate your answers.


R1:

The giant had been to visit________________________________________________________________

I know this because in the text it says the words “_____________________________________________”.

R2:

The Giant had been away ________________________________________________________________

I know this because in the text it says the words “____________________________________________”.

I:

I think the giant felt ____________________________________ about the children playing in his garden.

I think this because in the text it says the words “________________________________”.

People usually use the word(s) __________________ when they are describing _______________________.

C:

I would like to play in the Giant’s garden.


OR

I wouldn’t like to play in the Giant’s garden.


6) Self-evaluation


____________________________________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

_


7) Extension / Challenge Either: Write a letter to the giant, explain why he should let the children play in the garden. Or: Write a description of the Giant or the Giant’s friend, the Cornish ogre.


‘The Selfish Giant’, by Oscar Wilde: Lesson 2

Reconnection activities

a) Retrieval Practice

Without looking back at the story, how much of it can you remember from yesterday? Use what you can remember to complete these sentences and write them in your home learning book.

There are some ideas in the answer booklet about how you could complete these sentences correctly – but

yours may be better. Check them to see…

b) Prediction

What do you think might happen next? What makes you think this might happen?

Lesson 2: Winter all the year round

1) Word of the day

personification

Think: what do you already know about the word personification? What might be the antonym (opposite) of

personification? Can you find any synonyms (words that mean the same thing)?

If you are not sure what the word personification means, you can look it up in a dictionary - or you use an online


Then write down a complete thought to show what you understand the word personification to mean.



The children loved to play in the giant’s garden because _____________________________________________ The children loved to play in the giant’s garden but__________________________________________________

The children loved to play in the giant’s garden so __________________________________________________

Lesson 2: Winter all the year round

1) Word of the day

personification If a writer uses personification they_______________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

b) Prediction

I think what might happen next is _______________________________________________________________

I think this because __________________________________________________________________________









4) Reading Read the second part of the story, printed below. Circle any words you’re not sure of. There is a glossary at the back of this booklet so you can look up the words



The poor children had now nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full of hard stones, and they did not like it. They used to wander round the high wall when their lessons were over, and talk about the beautiful garden inside. “How happy we were there,” they said to each other. Then the Spring came, and 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 care to sing in it as there were no children, and the trees forgot



The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost. Spring has forgotten this garden they cried so we will live here all the year round the Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak and the Frost painted all the trees silver

3) Self-evaluation


____________________________________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

_




to blossom. Once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep. The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost. “Spring has forgotten this garden,” they cried, “so we will live here all the year round.” The Snow 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, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. “This is a delightful spot,” he said, “we must ask the Hail on a visit.” So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice. “I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming,” said the Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; “I hope there will be a change in the weather.” But the Spring never came, nor the Summer. The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant’s garden she gave none. “He is too selfish,” she said. So it was always Winter there, and the North Wind, and the Hail, and the Frost, and the Snow danced about through the trees.


R1: Why did the birds stop singing in the Giant’s garden? (Remember to prove it with the actual words from the text.) R2: Who decided to live in the Giant’s garden all year round? (Remember to prove it with the actual words from the text.) I: How did the Giant feel about fact that Spring had not come to his garden? How do you know? (Remember to prove it! & Explain it) C: Do you think it is fair that the Autumn gave fruit to every garden except the Selfish Giant’s? Yes / No (Remember to say why with the actual words from the text.)


R1:

The birds stopped singing in the giant’s garden because______________________________________________

I know this because in the text it says the words “__________________________________________________”.




7) Extension / Challenge Personification in the Selfish Giant

Personification is when writers give an animal or object qualities or abilities that only a person can have. Personification helps us to understand non-human things by bringing them to life and making them into people (or characters). Personification can also add interest and fun to poems and stories for the reader.

R2:

________________________________________________ decided to live in the Giant’s garden all year round.


I:

I think the giant felt ____________________________________ that Spring had not come to his garden.


People usually use the word(s) __________________ when they are describing _______________________.

C:

I think it is fair that the Autumn gave fruit to every garden except Selfish Giant’s.


OR

I don’t think it is fair that the Autumn gave fruit to every garden except Selfish Giant’s.


6) Self-evaluation


____________________________________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

_

http://www.yourdictionary.com/personification


In ‘The Selfish Giant’, Oscar Wilde uses personification to bring the seasons and the weather to life. He makes the seasons and the weather sound like characters who are visiting the Giant’s garden. For example, Oscar Wilde personifies the Snow and the Frost when he writes, ‘The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost.’ He also personifies them by making them talk like humans when he writes, “Spring has forgotten this garden,” they cried, “so we will live here all the year round.” Oscar Wilde personifies the snow by giving her human clothing when he writes, ‘The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak’. He also personifies the Frost by making him behave like an artist when he writes, ‘the Frost painted all the trees silver.’ Another example is when Oscar Wilde writes, ‘Once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep.’ Flowers don’t have human feelings like feeling sorry for children, but Oscar Wilde makes the flower sound like a character who is so sad about what the Giant has done that they don’t even want to come out from under the ground. This also helps us as readers to understand the sadness of the children.

Challenge 1 Can find any other examples of personification in today’s part of the story and describe how they work? You could use the two examples above to help you to write your ideas. Challenge 2 Can you think of anything to personify as a character? Write down your ideas…








b) Prediction


Lesson 3: Spring at last!

1) Word of the day

ceased (from the verb ‘to cease’)

Think: what do you already know about the word cease? What might be the antonym (opposite) of cease? Can

you find any synonyms (words that mean the same thing)?

If you are not sure what the word cease means, you can look it up in a dictionary - or you use an online


Then write down a complete thought to show what you understand the word cease to mean.



Spring, Summer and Autumn did not visit the Selfish Giant’s garden because _____________________________. Spring, Summer and Autumn did not visit the Selfish Giant’s garden but_________________________________. Spring, Summer and Autumn did not visit the Selfish Giant’s garden so _________________________________.

b) Prediction



Lesson 3: Spring at last!

1) Word of the day

ceased If something has ceased, it means it has __________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________









4) Reading Read the third part of the story, printed below. Circle any words you’re not sure of. There is a glossary at the back of this booklet so you can look up the words



One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely

music. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the King’s

musicians passing by. It was really only a little linnet singing outside his

window, but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it

seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world. Then the Hail

stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind ceased roaring, and a

delicious perfume came to him through the open casement. “I believe the

Spring has come at last,” said the Giant; and he jumped out of bed and

looked out.

What did he see?



I believe the Spring has come at last said the Giant and he jumped out of bed and looked out what did he see he saw a most wonderful sight

3) Self-evaluation


____________________________________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

_




He saw a most wonderful sight. Through a little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and 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 so glad to have the children back again that they 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, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner it was still winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree, and he was wandering all round it, crying bitterly. The poor tree was still quite covered with frost and snow, and the North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. “Climb up! little boy,” said the Tree, and it bent its branches down as low as it could; but the boy was too tiny.

And the Giant’s heart melted as he looked out. “How selfish I have been!” he said; “now I know why the Spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the children’s playground for ever and ever.” He was really very sorry for what he had done.

So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly, and went out into the garden. But when the children saw him they were so frightened that they all ran away, and the garden became winter again. Only the little boy did not run, for his eyes were so full of tears that he did not see the Giant coming. And the Giant stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand, and put him up into the tree. And the tree broke at once into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it, and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant’s neck, and kissed him. And the other children, when they saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer, came running back, and with them came the Spring. “It is your garden now, little children,” said the Giant, and he took a great axe and knocked down the wall. And when the people were going to market at twelve o’clock they found the Giant playing with the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen.

All day long they played, and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him good-bye.

“But where is your little companion?” he said: “the boy I put into the tree.” The Giant loved him the best because he had kissed him.

“We don’t know,” answered the children; “he has gone away.” 5) Reading Comprehension: Reading with RIC




R1: What did the giant see when he looked into the garden? (Remember to prove it with the actual words from the text.) R2: Why did the garden become winter again? (Remember to prove it with the actual words from the text.) I: Why did the Giant help the little boy by putting him up in the tree? How do you know? (Remember to prove it! & Explain it) C: Would you like to play in the Giant’s garden now? Yes / No (Remember to say why with the actual words from the text.)


R1:

When he looked out at the garden, __________________________________________________________


R2:

The garden became winter again because ____________________________________________________.


I:

I think the giant helped the little boy by putting him in tree because___________________________________.


People usually __________________ when they _ _______________________.

C:

I would like to play in the Giant’s garden now.


OR

I wouldn’t like to play in the Giant’s garden now.


6) Self-evaluation


____________________________________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

_


7) Extension / Challenge Either: Write a letter to the giant, thanking him for letting the children play in the garden. Or: Write a description of the little boy.








b) Prediction


Lesson 4: Years went over…

1) Word of the day

Longed (from the verb ‘to long’)

Think: what do you already know about the word longed? What might be the antonym (opposite) of longed? Can

you find any synonyms (words that mean the same thing)?

If you are not sure what the word longed means, you can look it up in a dictionary - or you use an online


Then write down a complete thought to show what you understand the word longed to mean.



The Giant helped the little boy to get into the tree because _____________________________. The Giant helped the little boy to get into the tree but_________________________________. The Giant helped the little boy to get into the tree so _________________________________.

b) Prediction



Lesson 4: Years went over

1) Word of the day

longed / to long To long for something is _______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________









4) Reading Read the fourth part of the story, printed below. Circle any words you’re not sure of. There is a glossary at the back of this booklet so you can look up the words



“You must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow,” said the Giant. But the children said that they did not know where he lived, and had never seen him before; and the Giant felt very sad. Every afternoon, when school was over, the children came and played with the Giant. But the little boy whom the Giant loved was never seen again. The Giant was very kind to all the children, yet he longed for his first little friend, and often spoke of him. “How I would like to see him!” he used to say. Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. He could not play about any more, so he sat in a huge armchair, and watched the children at their games, and admired his garden. “I have many beautiful



you must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow said the Giant but the children said that they did not know where he lived, and had never seen him before and the Giant felt very sad

3) Self-evaluation


____________________________________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

_




flowers,” he said; “but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all.” One winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing. He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were resting. Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly was a marvellous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and silver fruit hung down from them, and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved. 5) Reading Comprehension: Reading with RIC

R1: What did the Selfish Giant long for? (Remember to prove it with the actual words from the text.) I: Why could the Selfish Giant not play with the children any more? How do you know? (Remember to prove it! & Explain it) C: Do you think the little boy has special powers? Yes / No (Remember to say why with the actual words from the text.)


R1:

The Selfish Giant longed___________________________________________________________________


I:

I think the Selfish Giant couldn’t play with the children anymore because ________________________________.


People can’t usually __________________ when they _ _______________________.

C:

I think the little boy has special powers.


OR

I don’t think the little boy has special powers.





7) Extension / Challenge Either: Imagine the conversation between the Selfish Giant and the little boy. What would they say to each

other? Write a play script. Or: Write a description of the Giant as he crosses the garden to meet the little boy after such a long time.

6) Self-evaluation


____________________________________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

_








b) Prediction


Lesson 5: Paradise

1) Word of the day

paradise

Think: what do you already know about the word paradise? What might be the antonym (opposite) of paradise?

Can you find any synonyms (words that mean the same thing)?

If you are not sure what the word paradise means, you can look it up in a dictionary - or you use an online


Then write down a complete thought to show what you understand the word paradise to mean.



The Giant rubbed his eyes because _____________________________. The Giant rubbed his eyes but_________________________________. The Giant rubbed his eyes so _________________________________.

b) Prediction



Lesson 5: Paradise

1) Word of the day

paradise Paradise is __________________________________________________________________________________









4) Reading Read the last part of the story, printed below. Circle any words you’re not sure of. There is a glossary at the back of this booklet so you can look up the words


Remember: You can listen and read along with this story if you prefer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EYXhez0PhY

Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy, and out into the garden. He hastened across the grass, and came near to the child. And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger, and he said, “Who hath dared to wound thee?” For on the palms of the child’s hands were the prints of two nails, and the prints of two nails were on the little feet. “Who hath dared to wound thee?” cried the Giant; “tell me, that I may take my big sword and slay him.” “Nay!” answered the child; “but these are the wounds of Love.”



downstairs ran the Giant in great joy and out into the garden he hastened across the grass, and came near to the child. And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger and he said who hath dared to wound thee

3) Self-evaluation


____________________________________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

_




“Who art thou?” said the Giant, and a strange awe fell on him, and he knelt before the little child. And the child smiled on the Giant, and said to him, “You let me play once in your garden, to-day you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise.” And when the children ran in that afternoon, they found the Giant lying dead under the tree, all covered with white blossoms.


R: What did the little boy have on his hands and feet? (Remember to prove it with the actual words from the text.) I: The Selfish Giant asks the little boy, “Who art thou?” Some readers think that the little boy in the story represents Jesus. What makes them say that, do you think? (Remember to prove it! & Explain it) C: Some people think the ending of the story is happy, while some think it is sad because the old giant dies. Do you think the ending of this story is happy? Yes / No (Remember to say why with the actual words from the text.)


R1:

On his hands and feet, the little boy had_________________________________________________________.


I:

Some readers think the little boy in the story represents Jesus because ________________________________.

They think this because in the text it says the words “________________________________”.

This suggests that__________________________________________________________________

C:

I think the ending of the story is happy. I think this because in the text it says the words “________________________________”. And that makes me happy because_______________________________________________________ OR

I don’t think the ending of the story is happy. I think it is sad. I think this because in the text it says the words “________________________________”. And that makes me sad because_______________________________________________________


7) Extension / Challenge Either: Rewrite your own version of this story. Or: Write about the adventures of the Giant and the little boy in the little boy’s garden of paradise. Or write a book review for this story. Story Glossary

Lesson 1

Word Meaning

selfish (adjective) only thinking of themselves

blossoms (noun) small flowers on a tree or plant

Cornish (adjective) From Cornwall

ogre (noun) a large, scary character

gruff (adjective) low and unfriendly

trespassers (noun) A person who goes into someone else’s land or house without permission

Lesson 3

Word Meaning

linnet (noun)

a small brown an grey bird with a red front and a beautiful song

ceased (verb) stopped

casement (noun) a type of window

bitterly (adverb) in an angry or disappointed way

stole up behind (verb) crept / sneaked up

great (adjective) huge

bid goodbye (verb) say goodbye

Lesson 2

Word Meaning

wander (verb) to walk about slowly and in a relaxed way

Cloak (noun) like a coat but without sleeves

Hail (noun) small hard balls of ice that fall from the sky like rain

personification (noun) personify (verb)

to give a human quality or characteristic to something which is not human

Lesson 4

Word Meaning

whom who

longed for (verb) to want something very much

feeble (adjective) weak and without energy

admired (verb) admiration (noun)

to find something pleasant or appealing

wonder (noun) surprise; admiration

marvellous (adj) extremely good

farthest (adjective) to the greatest distance

Lesson 5

Word Meaning

hastened (verb)

went quickly

hath (verb) has

wound (verb) injure, hurt, damage

thee you

slay (verb) kill in a violent way

wounds (noun) injuries, cuts, holes

Who art thou? Who are you?

awe (noun) a feeling of great respect, sometimes mixed with fear or surprise

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/human

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/quality

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/characteristic

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/human


The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde

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 like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich 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 the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden. “What are you doing here?” he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away. “My own garden is my own garden,” said the Giant; “anyone can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself. “So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board.

He was a very selfish Giant.

The poor children had now nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full of hard stones, and they did not like it. They used to wander round the high wall when their lessons were over, and talk about the beautiful garden inside. “How happy we were there,” they said to each other. Then the Spring came, and 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 care to sing in it as there were no children, and the trees forgot to blossom. Once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep. The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost. “Spring has forgotten this garden,” they cried, “so we will live here all the year round.” The Snow 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, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. “This is a delightful spot,” he said, “we must ask the Hail


on a visit.” So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice. “I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming,” said the Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; “I hope there will be a change in the weather.” But the Spring never came, nor the Summer. The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant’s garden she gave none. “He is too selfish,” she said. So it was always Winter there, and the North Wind, and the Hail, and the Frost, and the Snow danced about through the trees.

One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely

music. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the King’s

musicians passing by. It was really only a little linnet singing outside his

window, but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it

seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world. Then the Hail

stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind ceased roaring, and a

delicious perfume came to him through the open casement. “I believe the

Spring has come at last,” said the Giant; and he jumped out of bed and

looked out.

What did he see?

He saw a most wonderful sight. Through a little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and 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 so glad to have the children back again that they 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, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner it was still winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree, and he was wandering all round it, crying bitterly. The poor tree was still quite covered with frost and snow, and the North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. “Climb up! little boy,” said the Tree, and it bent its branches down as low as it could; but the boy was too tiny.

And the Giant’s heart melted as he looked out. “How selfish I have been!” he said; “now I know why the Spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the children’s playground for ever and ever.” He was really very sorry for what he had done.


So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly, and went out into the garden. But when the children saw him they were so frightened that they all ran away, and the garden became winter again. Only the little boy did not run, for his eyes were so full of tears that he did not see the Giant coming. And the Giant stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand, and put him up into the tree. And the tree broke at once into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it, and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant’s neck, and kissed him. And the other children, when they saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer, came running back, and with them came the Spring. “It is your garden now, little children,” said the Giant, and he took a great axe and knocked down the wall. And when the people were going to market at twelve o’clock they found the Giant playing with the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen.

All day long they played, and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him good-bye.

“But where is your little companion?” he said: “the boy I put into the tree.” The Giant loved him the best because he had kissed him.

“We don’t know,” answered the children; “he has gone away.”

“You must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow,” said the Giant. But the children said that they did not know where he lived, and had never seen him before; and the Giant felt very sad. Every afternoon, when school was over, the children came and played with the Giant. But the little boy whom the Giant loved was never seen again. The Giant was very kind to all the children, yet he longed for his first little friend, and often spoke of him. “How I would like to see him!” he used to say. Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. He could not play about any more, so he sat in a huge armchair, and watched the children at their games, and admired his garden. “I have many beautiful flowers,” he said; “but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all.” One winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing. He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were resting. Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly was a marvellous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and silver fruit hung down from them, and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved.


Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy, and out into the garden. He hastened across the grass, and came near to the child. And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger, and he said, “Who hath dared to wound thee?” For on the palms of the child’s hands were the prints of two nails, and the prints of two nails were on the little feet. “Who hath dared to wound thee?” cried the Giant; “tell me, that I may take my big sword and slay him.” “Nay!” answered the child; “but these are the wounds of Love.” “Who art thou?” said the Giant, and a strange awe fell on him, and he knelt before the little child. And the child smiled on the Giant, and said to him, “You let me play once in your garden, to-day you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise.” And when the children ran in that afternoon, they found the Giant lying dead under the tree, all covered with white blossoms.

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