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.

 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.

The SELFISH GIANT -2; 8th class (Glossary, Antonyms, Synonyms and comprehension questions and answers)

 THE SELFISH GIANT - 2

Glossary

1. Awake: To stop sleeping; to become conscious.
2. Linnet: A small brownish songbird found in Europe.
3. Delicious: Very pleasant to taste or smell.
4. Blossoms: Flowers, especially those on fruit trees.
5. Wander: To move around without a fixed course or destination.
6. Bitterly: In a way that shows deep sadness or regret.
7. Melted: To change from a solid to a liquid state.
8. Selfish: Lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.
9. Axe: A tool used for chopping wood.
10. Frightened: Afraid or scared.
11. Companion: A person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels.
12. Wounds: Injuries to the body.
13. Necessary: Required to be done, achieved, or present; needed.
14. Paradise: A place of great happiness and beauty; often referred to as heaven.
15. Marvelous: Causing great wonder; extraordinary.
16. Climbed: To go up or ascend.
17. Embrace: To hold someone closely in one's arms.
18. Admire: To regard with respect or warm approval.
19. Feeble: Lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.
20. Ever-expanding: Continuously growing or increasing.

Antonyms

1. Awake - Asleep
2. Delicious - Disgusting
3. Blossoms - Withers
4. Wander - Stay
5. Bitterly - Joyfully
6. Melted - Solidified
7. Selfish - Generous
8. Frightened - Brave
9. Companion - Enemy
10. Wounds - Heals
11. Necessary - Unnecessary
12. Paradise - Hell
13. Marvelous - Ordinary
14. Climbed - Descended
15. Embrace - Reject
16. Admire - Despise
17. Feeble - Strong
18. Ever-expanding - Contracting
19. Anger - Calm
20. Sadness - Happiness

Synonyms

1. Awake - Aroused
2. Linnet - Songbird
3. Delicious - Tasty
4. Blossoms - Flowers
5. Wander - Roam
6. Bitterly - Painfully
7. Melted - Dissolved
8. Selfish - Greedy
9. Axe - Hatchet
10. Frightened - Scared
11. Companion - Friend
12. Wounds - Injuries
13. Necessary - Essential
14. Paradise - Utopia
15. Marvelous - Wonderful
16. Climbed - Ascended
17. Embrace - Hug
18. Admire - Appreciate
19. Feeble - Weak
20. Ever-expanding - Growing

Comprehension Questions and Answers

1. What did the Giant hear one morning?
• The Giant heard lovely music from a little linnet bird singing outside his window.
2. What did the Giant believe had come?
• The Giant believed that Spring had come at last.
3. What did the children do in the garden?
• The children crept into the garden and sat in the branches of the trees.
4. What was the condition of one corner of the garden?
• In one corner of the garden, it was still Winter, and a little boy was crying because he could not reach the branches of the tree.
5. What did the Giant decide to do for the little boy?
• The Giant decided to put the little boy on top of the tree and knock down the wall.
6. What happened when the children saw the Giant?
• The children were frightened and ran away, causing the garden to become Winter again.
7. What did the Giant do when he saw the little boy?
• The Giant gently picked up the little boy and placed him in the tree.
8. What happened after the boy was placed in the tree?
• The tree broke into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it.
9. What did the other children do when they saw the Giant and the little boy?
• The other children came running back to the garden.
10. What did the Giant do with the wall?
• The Giant took an axe and knocked down the wall.
11. What did the children say about the garden?
• The children expressed happiness about having a place to play.
12. What did the Giant want to do for the little boy?
• The Giant wanted to thank the little boy for kissing him on the cheek.
13. What did the Giant do as he grew old?
• The Giant sat in his armchair and watched the children play.
14. What did the Giant think about Winter?
• The Giant no longer hated Winter; he saw it as Spring asleep.
15. What did the Giant see in the farthest corner of the garden?
• The Giant saw a tree covered with lovely white blossoms and golden branches.
16. What did the child tell the Giant about his wounds?
• The child said that the wounds were the wounds of love and necessary.
17. What did the child invite the Giant to do?
• The child invited the Giant to come with him to live in his garden, which is in Paradise.
18. What happened as they walked together?
• The winter melted away before them as they walked into an ever-expanding garden.
19. How did the Giant feel when he saw the child again?
• The Giant felt joy and wonder when he saw the child again.
20. What did the Giant realize about his past actions?
• The Giant realized that he had been selfish and that kindness brought happiness.

21. Why did the Giant feel that the music was beautiful?
• The Giant felt the music was beautiful because it reminded him of joy and life returning to his garden after a long time.
22. What might the little boy represent in the story?
• The little boy might represent innocence, hope, or even a Christ-like figure, as he brings love and transformation to the Giant.
23. How did the Giant’s feelings change throughout the story?
• The Giant's feelings changed from selfishness and anger to kindness and love as he realized the importance of sharing and friendship.
24. Why did the children run away when they saw the Giant?
• The children ran away because they were frightened of the Giant, who had previously scared them when he was selfish.
25. What can we infer about the relationship between the Giant and the children?
• The relationship between the Giant and the children changed from one of fear and exclusion to one of friendship and joy through the Giant's transformation.
26. What does the melting of winter symbolize in the story?
• The melting of winter symbolizes the arrival of love, kindness, and the joy of spring, reflecting the Giant's change of heart.
27. Why do you think the Giant wanted to thank the little boy?
• The Giant wanted to thank the little boy because the boy's kindness and affection helped him realize the joy of sharing and caring for others.
28. What does the Giant's armchair symbolize in the story?
• The Giant's armchair symbolizes his old age and the reflection on his past, as he watches the children play instead of participating.
29. How does the Giant’s perception of winter change by the end of the story?
• By the end of the story, the Giant perceives winter as a temporary state, recognizing it as a part of the cycle of life rather than something to be hated.
30. What does the child mean when he says, "these are the wounds of Love"?
• The child means that the wounds he bears are a result of love and sacrifice, suggesting that true love often involves suffering and pain.

31. How might the story change if the Giant had never met the little boy?
• If the Giant had never met the little boy, he might have remained selfish and lonely, never experiencing the joy of friendship or the beauty of spring.
32. What lessons can modern readers learn from the Giant's transformation?
• Modern readers can learn the importance of kindness, generosity, and the joy that comes from sharing and connecting with others.
33. How could the Giant's actions inspire others in real life?
• The Giant's actions could inspire others to reflect on their behavior, embrace kindness, and open their hearts to those around them, fostering community and friendship.
34. What do you think the Giant would do differently if he had a second chance?
• If the Giant had a second chance, he would likely choose to be kind and welcoming to the children from the beginning, allowing them to play in his garden without fear.
35. How does the story illustrate the idea of redemption?
• The story illustrates redemption through the Giant's journey from selfishness to selflessness, showing that it is never too late to change and make amends for past actions.

 

 THE SELFISH GIANT - 2

Glossary

1. Awake: To stop sleeping; to become conscious.
2. Linnet: A small brownish songbird found in Europe.
3. Delicious: Very pleasant to taste or smell.
4. Blossoms: Flowers, especially those on fruit trees.
5. Wander: To move around without a fixed course or destination.
6. Bitterly: In a way that shows deep sadness or regret.
7. Melted: To change from a solid to a liquid state.
8. Selfish: Lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.
9. Axe: A tool used for chopping wood.
10. Frightened: Afraid or scared.
11. Companion: A person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels.
12. Wounds: Injuries to the body.
13. Necessary: Required to be done, achieved, or present; needed.
14. Paradise: A place of great happiness and beauty; often referred to as heaven.
15. Marvelous: Causing great wonder; extraordinary.
16. Climbed: To go up or ascend.
17. Embrace: To hold someone closely in one's arms.
18. Admire: To regard with respect or warm approval.
19. Feeble: Lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.
20. Ever-expanding: Continuously growing or increasing.

Antonyms

1. Awake - Asleep
2. Delicious - Disgusting
3. Blossoms - Withers
4. Wander - Stay
5. Bitterly - Joyfully
6. Melted - Solidified
7. Selfish - Generous
8. Frightened - Brave
9. Companion - Enemy
10. Wounds - Heals
11. Necessary - Unnecessary
12. Paradise - Hell
13. Marvelous - Ordinary
14. Climbed - Descended
15. Embrace - Reject
16. Admire - Despise
17. Feeble - Strong
18. Ever-expanding - Contracting
19. Anger - Calm
20. Sadness - Happiness

Synonyms

1. Awake - Aroused
2. Linnet - Songbird
3. Delicious - Tasty
4. Blossoms - Flowers
5. Wander - Roam
6. Bitterly - Painfully
7. Melted - Dissolved
8. Selfish - Greedy
9. Axe - Hatchet
10. Frightened - Scared
11. Companion - Friend
12. Wounds - Injuries
13. Necessary - Essential
14. Paradise - Utopia
15. Marvelous - Wonderful
16. Climbed - Ascended
17. Embrace - Hug
18. Admire - Appreciate
19. Feeble - Weak
20. Ever-expanding - Growing

Comprehension Questions and Answers

1. What did the Giant hear one morning?
• The Giant heard lovely music from a little linnet bird singing outside his window.
2. What did the Giant believe had come?
• The Giant believed that Spring had come at last.
3. What did the children do in the garden?
• The children crept into the garden and sat in the branches of the trees.
4. What was the condition of one corner of the garden?
• In one corner of the garden, it was still Winter, and a little boy was crying because he could not reach the branches of the tree.
5. What did the Giant decide to do for the little boy?
• The Giant decided to put the little boy on top of the tree and knock down the wall.
6. What happened when the children saw the Giant?
• The children were frightened and ran away, causing the garden to become Winter again.
7. What did the Giant do when he saw the little boy?
• The Giant gently picked up the little boy and placed him in the tree.
8. What happened after the boy was placed in the tree?
• The tree broke into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it.
9. What did the other children do when they saw the Giant and the little boy?
• The other children came running back to the garden.
10. What did the Giant do with the wall?
• The Giant took an axe and knocked down the wall.
11. What did the children say about the garden?
• The children expressed happiness about having a place to play.
12. What did the Giant want to do for the little boy?
• The Giant wanted to thank the little boy for kissing him on the cheek.
13. What did the Giant do as he grew old?
• The Giant sat in his armchair and watched the children play.
14. What did the Giant think about Winter?
• The Giant no longer hated Winter; he saw it as Spring asleep.
15. What did the Giant see in the farthest corner of the garden?
• The Giant saw a tree covered with lovely white blossoms and golden branches.
16. What did the child tell the Giant about his wounds?
• The child said that the wounds were the wounds of love and necessary.
17. What did the child invite the Giant to do?
• The child invited the Giant to come with him to live in his garden, which is in Paradise.
18. What happened as they walked together?
• The winter melted away before them as they walked into an ever-expanding garden.
19. How did the Giant feel when he saw the child again?
• The Giant felt joy and wonder when he saw the child again.
20. What did the Giant realize about his past actions?
• The Giant realized that he had been selfish and that kindness brought happiness.

21. Why did the Giant feel that the music was beautiful?
• The Giant felt the music was beautiful because it reminded him of joy and life returning to his garden after a long time.
22. What might the little boy represent in the story?
• The little boy might represent innocence, hope, or even a Christ-like figure, as he brings love and transformation to the Giant.
23. How did the Giant’s feelings change throughout the story?
• The Giant's feelings changed from selfishness and anger to kindness and love as he realized the importance of sharing and friendship.
24. Why did the children run away when they saw the Giant?
• The children ran away because they were frightened of the Giant, who had previously scared them when he was selfish.
25. What can we infer about the relationship between the Giant and the children?
• The relationship between the Giant and the children changed from one of fear and exclusion to one of friendship and joy through the Giant's transformation.
26. What does the melting of winter symbolize in the story?
• The melting of winter symbolizes the arrival of love, kindness, and the joy of spring, reflecting the Giant's change of heart.
27. Why do you think the Giant wanted to thank the little boy?
• The Giant wanted to thank the little boy because the boy's kindness and affection helped him realize the joy of sharing and caring for others.
28. What does the Giant's armchair symbolize in the story?
• The Giant's armchair symbolizes his old age and the reflection on his past, as he watches the children play instead of participating.
29. How does the Giant’s perception of winter change by the end of the story?
• By the end of the story, the Giant perceives winter as a temporary state, recognizing it as a part of the cycle of life rather than something to be hated.
30. What does the child mean when he says, "these are the wounds of Love"?
• The child means that the wounds he bears are a result of love and sacrifice, suggesting that true love often involves suffering and pain.

31. How might the story change if the Giant had never met the little boy?
• If the Giant had never met the little boy, he might have remained selfish and lonely, never experiencing the joy of friendship or the beauty of spring.
32. What lessons can modern readers learn from the Giant's transformation?
• Modern readers can learn the importance of kindness, generosity, and the joy that comes from sharing and connecting with others.
33. How could the Giant's actions inspire others in real life?
• The Giant's actions could inspire others to reflect on their behavior, embrace kindness, and open their hearts to those around them, fostering community and friendship.
34. What do you think the Giant would do differently if he had a second chance?
• If the Giant had a second chance, he would likely choose to be kind and welcoming to the children from the beginning, allowing them to play in his garden without fear.
35. How does the story illustrate the idea of redemption?
• The story illustrates redemption through the Giant's journey from selfishness to selflessness, showing that it is never too late to change and make amends for past actions.