THE GARDEN WITHIN (pOEM) GLOSSARY, ANTONYMS, SYNONYMS, SUMMARY, COMPREHENSION QUESIONS AND ANSWERS

 THE GARDEN WITHIN

Summary

In this poem, the poet Celia Berrell compares her heart to a garden. She describes the garden in her heart as a place where beauty grows in an irregular manner, just like a real garden. The smiles she receives from others are like the petals of the flowers in this inner garden. These smiles are gifts from the "bowers" or shady places where the flowers grow.The poet's hope is like a nutritious substance that provides seeds to feed her spirit whenever it needs nourishment. With a sense of gratitude, she aims to reach her goal of connecting with her true self or soul, which she compares to an island. The garden of her heart, with its beauty, smiles, and hope, will guide her to this inner island of her soul.

Glossary

1. in fits and starts: in a sudden and irregular manner
2. bowers: a pleasant place in the shade of trees
3. bestowed: gave, showed respect
4. nutritious: good, nourishing
5. reaps: gathers, collects
6. gratitude: thankfulness
7. petal: a delicate, colored part of a flower
8. spirit: inner feelings or mood
9. goal: something that you hope to achieve

Antonyms

1. beauty - ugliness
2. grows - withers
3. smiles - frowns
4. bestowed - withheld
5. nutritious - unhealthy
6. reaps - sows
7. gratitude - ingratitude
8. petal - stem
9. spirit - body
10. goal - failure

Synonyms

1. garden - paradise
2. heart - soul
3. beauty - loveliness
4. smiles - grins
5. flowers - blossoms
6. bestowed - granted
7. bowers - arbors
8. nutritious - wholesome
9. reaps - harvests
10. gratitude - appreciation

Comprehension Questions

1. What is the central idea of the poem?
   • The central idea of the poem is that the poet's heart is like a garden that nourishes her spirit with beauty, smiles, and hope.
2. What features of the garden in the poet's heart are mentioned in stanza 1?
   • In stanza 1, the features of beauty growing in an irregular manner and smiles being like petals from flowers are mentioned.
3. What is the mood of the poet? Put a tick (✓) mark.
   • a. sad
   • b. hopeful ✓
   • c. thankful
4. Explain the word 'gratitude' as used in the poem.
   • In the poem, 'gratitude' means thankfulness. The poet says she will reach her goal of connecting with her soul with a sense of gratitude for the beauty, smiles, and hope that nourish her spirit.
   5. What does the poet compare the smiles she receives from others to?
      • The poet compares the smiles she receives from others to petals from the flowers in the garden of her heart.
   6. What does the poet say nourishes her spirit?
      • The poet says that hope, which she compares to a nutritious substance, nourishes her spirit.
   7. What does the poet aim to reach with gratitude?
      • The poet aims to reach the island of her soul with gratitude.
   8. What does the poet compare her true self or soul to?
      • The poet compares her true self or soul to an island.
   9. What will guide the poet to the island of her soul?
      • The beauty, smiles, and hope in the garden of her heart will guide the poet to the island of her soul.
   10. What is the overall message of the poem?
       • The overall message of the poem is that the beauty, kindness, and hope we experience in our lives can nourish our spirits and guide us to connect with our true selves.