About Author
Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer who lived from 1854 to 1900. He is known for his witty plays, such as The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and his fairy tales for children, such as The Happy Prince and Other Tales, which includes The Selfish Giant
About Story
The story is about a selfish giant who owns a garden where children play. He returns from a trip and chases them away. His garden becomes frozen and barren. He repents when he sees a boy who cannot climb a tree. He helps him and welcomes the children back. His garden becomes beautiful again. He waits for the boy to return, but he does not. Years later, he sees the boy with wounds on his hands and feet. The boy is Christ and he takes the giant to Paradise.
Setting and Characters
The setting of the story is mainly the giant’s garden. It is a magical place that changes according to the giant’s actions and feelings. It is also a symbolic place that represents the giant’s soul and his relationship with God. The garden is contrasted with the outside world, which is harsh, dull, and noisy.
The characters of the story are mainly the giant and the boy. The giant is a dynamic character who changes from being selfish to being kind. He is also a round character who has complex emotions and motivations. The boy is a static character who does not change throughout the story. He is also a flat character who has only one trait: love. He is a Christ figure who represents God’s love for humanity.
Short Summary
The story is about a giant who owns a beautiful garden where children love to play. He returns from a long trip and chases the children away, building a wall around his garden and putting up a sign that warns trespassers will be prosecuted. As a result, his garden becomes stuck in winter, with no flowers, fruits, or birds. One day, he hears a linnet singing and sees that the children have sneaked back into his garden through a hole in the wall. The spring has also returned to his garden, except for one corner where a little boy is crying because he cannot reach the branches of a tree. The giant feels sorry for him and helps him climb the tree, which blossoms with joy. The giant then realizes his selfishness and decides to share his garden with the children. He knocks down the wall and welcomes them back. However, he does not see the little boy again for many years. He grows old and lonely, waiting for him to return. One winter morning, he sees the boy in his garden, wounded by nails in his hands and feet. The boy tells him that he is the Christ Child and that he has come to take him to his garden, which is Paradise. The giant dies happily and the children find his body covered with white blossoms.
नेपालीमा सारांश (Summary in Nepali)
कथाको सुरुवात बच्चाहरुको एउटा समूह एउटा विशाल राक्षसको सुन्दर बगैंचामा खेल्ने रमाइलो गर्ने दृश्यबाट हुन्छ। बगैचामा नरम हरियो घाँस, मनमोहक फूलहरू, फलफूलका रूखहरू र मीठो गीत गाउने चराहरू छन्। विशाल राक्षस सात वर्षदेखि आफ्नो साथी कोर्निस ओग्रेलाई भेट्न गएको हुन्छ। जब ऊ फर्कन्छ, आफ्नो बगैंचामा केटाकेटीहरूलाई देखेर ऊ रिसाउँछ र उनीहरूलाई डर देखाएर भगाउँछ। त्यसपछि केटाकेटीहरुलाई भित्र छिर्न नदिन उसले आफ्नो बगैंचाको वरिपरि अग्लो पर्खाल बनाउछ र एउटा सूचना राख्छ जसमा भनिएको हुन्छ कि "जबरजस्ती भित्र छिर्न खाेज्नेलाई कारबाही गरिनेछ"। उसले बगैँचा आफ्नो रहेको र त्यहाँ अरू कसैले खेल्न नसक्ने कुराले सबैलाई सूचित गर्दछ ।
बच्चाहरु धेरै दुखी हुन्छन् किनकी उनीहरुसँग खेल्न को लागी कतै ठाउँ नै हुँदैन। तिनीहरू उक्त राक्षसको बगैचालाई सम्झन्छन् र कहिलेकाहीँ पर्खालबाट हेर्ने प्रयास गर्छन्। बगैचा पनि बच्चाहरूलाई सम्झन्छ अनि चिसो र उदास हुन्छ। बगैँचामा न वसन्त आउँछ, न गर्मी या शरद । हिउँ, शीत, असिना र उत्तरी चिसो सिरेटो हावाको साथ हिउँद मात्र त्यहाँ रहन्छ। रूख र फूलहरू फुल्दैनन्, चराहरू गाउँदैनन्, र फलहरू पाक्दैनन्। राक्षस पनि यो सोचेर आश्चर्यमा पर्छ कि "किन वसन्त कहिल्यै आफ्नो बगैंचामा आउँदैन?" यो कुराले ऊ झनै एक्लो र दुखी महसुस गर्दछ।
एक बिहानको कुरा हाे, उसले आफ्नो झ्याल बाहिर एउटा सुन्दर गीत सुन्छ। यो रूखको हाँगामा गाउने लिनेट (जुरेली जस्तै एउटा चरा) हो। उसले बाहिर हेर्छ र देख्छ कि वसन्त अन्ततः उसको बगैंचामा आइपुगेको छ। उसले यो पनि देख्छ कि केटाकेटीहरू पर्खालको सानो प्वालबाट आफ्नो बगैंचामा छिर्न सफल भएका छन्। रुखमाथि बसेर खुसीले रुखमा फूलहरु फूलाउँदैछन्। चराहरू तिनीहरूकै वरिपरि उडिरहेका छन् र खुशीले गीत गाउँदेछन्। फूलहरू मुस्कुराएका हुन्छन् र घाँस फेरि हरियो हुन्छ। यो परिवर्तन देखेर राक्षस असाध्यै खुसी हुन्छ र महसुस गर्छ कि ऊ धेरै स्वार्थी भएको थियो । उसले बच्चाहरूलाई आफ्नो बगैंचामा सधैँका लागि खेल्न दिने निर्णय गर्छ र उनीहरूलाई स्वागत गर्न बाहिर निस्कन्छ।
तर, केटाकेटीहरूले उसलाई आउँदै गरेको देखेर फेरि पनि धपाउने पो हो कि भनेर डराउँछन् र तिनीहरू त्यहाँबाट भाग्छन्। एक बच्चा मात्र त्यहाँ छाेडिन्छ ऊ एउटा रूखमा चढ्न खोजिरहेको हुन्छ तर हाँगाहरूमा पुग्नको लागि ऊ एकदम सानो भएकोले सकिरहेको हुँदैन। रुख अझै हिउँ र शीतले ढाकिएको हुन्छ र त्यसमा कुनै फूल फूलेको पनि हुँदैन अनि त्यो कुनाबाट हिउँद पनि गएको हुँदैन । राक्षसलाई उक्त बच्चा देखेर दु:ख लाग्छ र उसले बिस्तारै उसलाई उठाएर रूखमा राखिदिन्छ । उक्त बच्चालाई रुखमा राख्नासाथ रुखमा फूल फुल्छ र सानो केटाले कृतज्ञतापूर्वक राक्षसलाई अँगालो हाल्छ। राक्षसको हृदय पग्लन्छ र उसले उक्त सानाे केटालाई आफूलाई यति धेरै स्वार्थी भएकोमा क्षमा गर्न अनुरोध गर्दछ।
अरु बच्चाहरूले देख्छन् कि राक्षस अहिले दयालु भईसकेको छ । यो देखेर उनीहरू त्यो बगैंचामा खेल्न भनेर फर्कन्छन्। राक्षसले उनीहरूलाई बताउँछ कि आजबाट यो उनीहरूको बगैंचा हो अनि उनीहरूले चाहेको जुनसुकै बेला त्यहाँ खेल्न सक्छन्। उसले त्यसपछि आफ्नो बगैंचा वरिपरि बनाएको पर्खाल पनि भत्काइदिन्छ । उसले आफूलाई पनि बच्चाहरूको खेलमा सामेल गर्छ र उनीहरूको साथी बन्छ। ऊ अब धेरै खुसी छ अनि उसको बगैचा पनि।
तर, उसले निकैबेर यताउता हेर्दा पनि सुरुमा उसलाई अँगालो हाल्ने सानो केटो देख्दैन । त्यसपछि उसलाई दिनहुँ खोज्छ तर भेट्टाउन सक्दैन। उसले अरु केटाकेटीहरुलाई पनि उक्त सानो केटाको बारेमा सोध्छ तर उनीहरुले उक्त सानो केटो को थियो र कहाँ गएको थाहा नभएको बताउँछन् । उसले उक्त सानो केटालाई धेरै याद गर्छ र उसलाई फेरि पनि भेट्न चाहन्छ।
वर्षहरू बित्दै जान्छन् र राक्षस पनि बूढो र कमजोर हुन्छ। उसले आफ्नो अधिकांश समय कुर्सीमा बसेर आफ्नो बगैंचामा बालबालिका खेलिरहेको हेरेर बिताउँछ। जाडो माैसमको एक बिहान, उसले आफ्नो बगैंचामा अद्भुत दृश्य देख्छ। उसले एउटा रुखमा सेतो फूल र चाँदीको फलहरुले ढाकेको देख्छ । त्यो रुखको मुनि त्यही सानो केटा उभिएको हुन्छ जसलाई उसले बर्षाै देखि खोजिरहेको थियो । ऊ उसलाई भेट्न तत्काल बाहिर दौडन्छ र त्यहाँ पुगेर हेर्दा उसको हात र खुट्टामा नंगले कोतरेजस्ता घाउहरू भएको देख्छ ।
उसले सानो केटालाई रिसाउँदै "कसले उसलाई यस्तो चोट पुर्याएको" भनी साेध्छ तब त्यो सानाे केटाले भन्छ कि "यी घाउहरु त मायाका घाउहरु हुन् ।" उसले राक्षसलाई "यी घाउहरु अब मेरा साथी भएकाले नडराउन" आग्रह गर्दछ । उसले फेरी भन्छ कुनै बेला तिमीले तिम्रो बगैँचामा मलाई खेल्न दिएका थियाै, त्यसैले अब म तिमीलाई मेरो बगैँचामा लैजान आएको हाे जसको नाम हो स्वर्ग ।
यो सुनेर दैत्य एकदमै खुसी हुन्छ र त्यो केटालाई हातमा समाएर ऊ रुखभएतिर जान्छ। केटाले उसलाई भन्छ कि "यो मेरो रूख हो जसले मैले तिमीलाई कति माया गर्छु भनेर देखाउँनेछ।"
भोलिपल्ट, केटाकेटीहरू राक्षसको उक्त बगैँचामा खेल्न आउँदा, उसलाई प्रेमको रूखमुनि निष्प्राण अवस्थामा फेला पार्छन्। उसको शरीर हिउँ परे जस्तो सेता फूलहरुले ढाकिएको हुन्छ ।
Longer Plot Summary
The story begins with a group of children who enjoy playing in a beautiful garden that belongs to a giant. The garden has soft green grass, lovely flowers, fruit trees, and birds that sing sweetly. The giant is away visiting his friend, the Cornish ogre, for seven years. When he comes back, he is angry to see the children in his garden and he scares them away. He builds a high wall around his garden and puts up a notice that says "Trespassers will be prosecuted". He declares that the garden is his own and no one else can play there.
The children are very sad and have nowhere else to play. They miss the giant's garden and sometimes try to peek through the wall. The garden also misses the children and becomes cold and gloomy. Spring does not come to the garden, nor does summer or autumn. Only winter stays there, with snow, frost, hail, and north wind. The trees and flowers do not blossom, the birds do not sing, and the fruits do not ripen. The giant wonders why spring never comes to his garden and he feels lonely and unhappy.
One morning, he hears a beautiful song outside his window. It is a linnet singing on a tree branch. He looks out and sees that spring has finally arrived in his garden. He also sees that the children have managed to sneak into his garden through a small hole in the wall. They are sitting on the trees and making them blossom with joy. The birds are flying around them and singing happily. The flowers are smiling at them and the grass is green again. The giant is delighted to see this change and he realizes that he has been very selfish. He decides to let the children play in his garden and he goes out to greet them.
However, when the children see him coming, they are afraid that he will drive them away again and they run away. Only one child stays behind. He is a little boy who is trying to climb a tree but he is too small to reach the branches. The tree is still covered with snow and frost and it does not blossom. The giant feels sorry for the boy and he gently lifts him up and places him on the tree. The tree immediately bursts into flowers and the boy hugs the giant gratefully. The giant's heart melts and he asks the boy to forgive him for being so selfish.
The other children see that the giant is kind now and they come back to play in his garden. The giant tells them that it is their garden now and they can play there whenever they want. He also knocks down the wall that he had built around his garden. He joins the children in their games and becomes their friend. He is very happy and so is his garden.
However, he does not see the little boy who hugged him again for a long time. He looks for him every day but he cannot find him. He asks the other children about him but they do not know who he is or where he has gone. The giant misses him very much and wishes he could see him again.
Years pass by and the giant grows old and weak. He spends most of his time sitting in a chair and watching the children play in his garden. One winter morning, he sees a wonderful sight in his garden. He sees that one of the trees is covered with white blossoms and silver fruit. Underneath it stands the little boy whom he loves so much. He runs out to meet him and he sees that he has wounds on his hands and feet, like nails have been driven through them.
He asks him who has hurt him so badly and he says that these are the wounds of love. He tells him not to be afraid because they are his friends. He also tells him that because he let him play in his garden once, he will now take him to his garden which is Paradise.
The giant is overjoyed to hear this and he goes with the boy hand in hand towards the tree. The boy tells him that this is his tree which shows how much he loves him.
The next day, when the children come to play in the giant's garden, they find him lying dead under his tree of love. His body is covered with white blossoms as if it were snowing.
Major Themes
Some of the major themes of the story are:
- Christian charity: The story teaches the value of unselfish love and kindness towards others, especially children. The giant learns to share his garden with the children and becomes their friend. He is rewarded by meeting Christ and going to Paradise.
- Divine providence: The story shows how God intervenes in the natural world to reflect the giant’s moral state. When he is selfish, his garden is frozen and barren. When he is kind, his garden is beautiful and fertile. When he dies, his garden is covered with white blossoms.
- Redemption: The story illustrates the Christian belief that anyone can be saved by God’s grace and love. The giant is transformed from a selfish and lonely person to a generous and happy one. He is forgiven by Christ for his past sins and welcomed into Heaven.
- The power of children: The story portrays children as innocent, joyful, and loving beings who can have a positive impact on the world. The children bring happiness and life to the giant’s garden and to the giant himself. They also represent Christ’s love and presence in the world.
Language
The language of the story is simple, clear, and poetic. It uses imagery, symbolism, repetition, and contrast to create a fairy tale atmosphere and convey the themes. For example, the seasons symbolize the giant’s mood and character, the wall symbolizes his isolation and selfishness, the boy’s wounds symbolize his sacrifice and love, and the white blossoms symbolize purity and peace.
Symbolism
Some of the symbols in the story are:
- The garden: The garden symbolizes the giant’s soul and his relationship with God. It reflects his moral state and his journey to redemption. When he is selfish, his garden is frozen and barren. When he is kind, his garden is beautiful and fertile. When he dies, his garden is covered with white blossoms.
- The wall: The wall symbolizes the giant’s isolation and selfishness. It separates him from the children and from God’s love. It also represents his pride and arrogance. He builds it to keep others out of his property and to assert his ownership. He knocks it down when he realizes his mistake and wants to share his garden with the children.
- The boy: The boy symbolizes Christ and his love for humanity. He is the only one who stays with the giant when he comes out to greet the children. He hugs him and forgives him for being selfish. He also has wounds on his hands and feet, like Christ’s crucifixion. He invites the giant to join him in Paradise, which is his garden.
- The tree: The tree symbolizes the boy’s love and presence in the giant’s life. It is the only tree that does not blossom when the children return to the garden. It only blossoms when the boy climbs on it, showing that he is the source of its life. It also bears silver fruit, which are a sign of his divinity. It is where the giant finds him again after many years.
Sources:
- A Summary and Analysis of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Selfish Giant’. https://interestingliterature.com/2021/04/oscar-wilde-the-selfish-giant-summary-analysis/ Accessed 4/8/2023.
- The Selfish Giant Summary | It So Happened - Toppr. https://www.toppr.com/guides/english/it-so-happened/the-selfish-giant-summary/ Accessed 4/8/2023.
- The Selfish Giant Summary & Analysis | LitCharts. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-selfish-giant/summary-and-analysis Accessed 4/8/2023.
- A Summary and Analysis of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Selfish Giant’. https://bing.com/search?q=The+Selfish+Giant+summary Accessed 4/8/2023.
- The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde Plot Summary | LitCharts. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-selfish-giant/summary Accessed 4/8/2023.