"The Secret Garden" was published in 1910. It is a popular classic English literature book for children that is a part of many school syllabus.
About Author:
“The secret garden” is written by “Frances Hodgson Burnett” and one of her most popular books. There have been many adaptations of the book with different endings for the theatre, cinema and TV.
Burnett LIVED AT GREAT Maytham Hall in Kent, Southern England, from 1898 to 1907. There were gardens around her house. She likes to spend time writing and relaxing there. She loved to work in gardens. She planted hundreds of roses in gardens as this was her favorite flower. The inspiration of novel “the secret garden” may come from any of these gardens.
The author has written many books for children. The other famous books of Frances Hodgson are Little Lord Fauntleroy (1885) and A Little Princess (1905).
THEME OF “THE SECRET GARDEN”
Children more conveniently adapt to changes in their lives and learn to deal with the problems. The theme of “the secret garden” is that the being close to nature and finding the right friends can heal any emotional and physical imperfections. It shows the value of friendship, and sympathy. Parents should takes care the children, and keeps confidence in them. Children lives change and transform as they discover new things in their lives.
Main Characters
Mary (9 year old girl who has to shift to her uncle’s house in England when her parents died in India), Dickon( 12 year old boy who helps Mary and Colin, brother of Martha), Colin (10 years old boy, Mary’s cousin, son of Mr. Archibald), Mr. Archibald Craven (a rich man, Mary’s uncle), Mrs. Medlock (house maid, elderly woman) , Martha (young house maid), Sausan Sowerby(mother of Martha and Dickon, a wise woman who has 12 children), Ben Weatherstaff (an old gardener), Dr, Craven(Colin’s uncle)
Question Answers
Q. Why Mary had to live India?
Mary’s parents died of a deadly disease and all her servants ran away. Two army man found the girl alone and sent her to her uncle’s house in Yorkshire.
Q. Why Mary didn’t like Mrs Medlock?
Mrs. Medlock told her the rules to live in a big manor that Mary didn’t like.
Q. What Mrs. Madlock told Mary about Mr. Archibald?
She told that Mr Archibald lives in Misselthwaite Manor that is six hundred years old and it has over a hundred rooms and lots of gardens but Mr Craven has got a bad back. His wife died few years ago and after that he doesn’t care about anyone.
Q. Why nobody told Mary about her cousin Colin?
Servants were not allowed to talk about Colin.
Q. Who told Mary about secret Garden?
Martha
Q. Who helped Mary in finding the Garden’s keys and a door?
It was Robin, a bird in the garden.
Q. How many animals Dickon had as friends?
He had a pony, rabbits, squirrels, lamb, a fox and black birds.
Q. Why Colin kept on crying all the time.
He was sick and he was told that he would die soon that why he kept on crying all the time.
Q. Who helped Colin in reviving his health?
They are Dickon and Mary who helped Colin.
Q. “Children need other children”, do you agree?
Yes.
Q. Have you ever helped your friend when he is in any problem? How?
Yes, many times. Recently, I helped my friend in managing her birthday party.