NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English (It So Happen) Chapter 3 The Selfish Giant

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 8TH

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Book : It So Happened Ncert Solutions | Chapter-3 English-2

Class : 8th
Subject : English-2
Chapter : 3
Chapter Name : The Sel sh Giant

Q1 Why is the Giant called sel sh?

Answer. The Giant is called sel sh because he did not let the children play in his garden. He
drove them out, built a high wall around his garden, and put up a board that read ‘Trespassers
will be prosecuted. ’

Page : 20 , Block Name : Comprehension Check

Q2 On one occasion the children said: “How happy we are here!”
Later they said: “How happy we were there!”
What are they referring to in both the cases?

Answer. In the rst case, they are referring to the Giant’s garden where they would play while
returning from school. They had a great time whenever they played in the garden.
In the second case, they are again referring to the garden; talking about how happy they were
before the Giant stopped them from playing in his garden.
In both the cases, the children are referring to the Giant’s garden.

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Q3 (i) When spring came, it was still winter in the garden. What does winter stand for or
indicate here?
(ii) Winter has been presented like a story with its own characters and their activities.
Describe the story in your own words.

Answer. (i) In the story, winter stands for a negative, desolate and lifeless environment. In this
environment, trees and owers do not blossom. Here, winter also refers to an atmosphere of
depression and laziness. Since birds did not sing, children did not play and spring did not visit
the garden, winter prolonged its stay in the garden.

(ii) When spring came, the birds did not sing as there were no children. The trees too did not
blossom. At a particular instance, a ower put its head out from the grass. However, when it
saw the notice board put up by the giant, it felt sad and sorry for the children, got back inside
the grass, and went off to sleep.

On the other hand, snow and frost were very happy. While the snow covered the grass, the

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Book : It So Happened Ncert Solutions | Chapter-3 English-2

frost fell on all the trees. They invited the North Wind to stay with them, and later even the
Hail was asked to visit. The Hail rattled the roof of the castle everyday until some of it started
breaking, and then it ran round the garden again and again as fast as it could.

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Q4 Was the Giant happy or sad over the state of the garden?

Answer. The Giant was sad over the state of his garden. He could not understand why spring
was so late in coming.

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Q5 What effect did the linnet’s song have over Hail and the North Wind?

Answer. When the linnet sang, the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind
stopped roaring.

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Q1 (i) The Giant saw a most wonderful sight. What did he see?
(ii) What did he realise on seeing it?

Answer. (i) The Giant saw that the children had entered the garden through a small hole in the
wall, and were sitting on the branches of trees. There was a child on every tree. The trees had
covered themselves with blossoms as they were glad to have the children back. The birds were
ying about and twittering in delight, and the owers and grass were laughing out loud.
(ii) He realised that spring did not come to his garden because he had prevented the children
from playing in his garden. He realised that he was sel sh not to allow the children to play in
his garden.

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Q2 Why was it still winter in one corner of the garden?

Answer. In one corner of the garden, there was a tree all covered with frost and snow. The
North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. A little boy was standing in front of it, but could
not reach its branches. As a result, there was still winter in this part of the garden.

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Q3 Describe the rst meeting of the little boy and the Giant.

Answer. The rst meeting of the little boy and the Giant was beneath the tree that was covered
with frost and snow. The Giant took him gently in his hands and put him up into the tree. The

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Book : It So Happened Ncert Solutions | Chapter-3 English-2

tree at once blossomed, and the birds came and sang on it. The little boy stretched out his two
arms, ung them round the Giant’s neck, and kissed him.

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Q4 Describe their second meeting after a long interval.

Answer. Their second meeting took place after a long interval; on a winter morning. The Giant
was surprised to see that in the farthest corner of the garden, there was a tree covered with
lovely white blossoms. Its branches were golden, and silver fruit hung down from them. The
little boy stood underneath it. The Giant went towards him in great joy. As he came near the
child, his face grew red with anger when he saw that there were imprints of nails on his palms
and feet. The Giant asked the little boy who had wounded him, and told him that he would
slay the one who had done so. The child answered that those were the wounds of love.
Kneeling before the little child in awe, the Giant asked him who he was. The child smiled at
the Giant, and said to him that since he had let him play once in his garden, that day he would
come with him to his garden, which was paradise.

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Q5 The Giant lay dead, all covered with white blossoms. What does this sentence indicate
about the once sel sh Giant?

Answer. The white blossoms that covered the Giant indicate that he was not sel sh anymore.
He had understood how mean he had been by not allowing the children to play in his garden.
He had realised his mistake, and was kind to the children from then on. That is why his body
was covered with white blossoms when he died.

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Q1 Discuss the following topic in group. The little child’s hands and feet had marks of nails.
Who does the child remind you of? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer. The child reminds one of Jesus Christ. When the Giant met the little child for the
second time, he saw imprints of nails on his palms and feet. When Christ was cruci ed, nails
were dug into his palms and feet. He had sacri ced his life for humanity, so that the sins of the
world would be washed away. That is why the child told the Giant that those were the wounds
of love.

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Q1 Discuss the following topic in group. Is there something like this garden near where you
live? Would you like one (without the Giant perhaps) and why? What would you do to keep it
in good shape?

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Book : It So Happened Ncert Solutions | Chapter-3 English-2

Answer. This question requires you to use your own perspective as well as your analytical
skills. The answer to the question would vary from one person to another. It is suggested that
you read the text carefully and try attempting it on your own.

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