The Secret Garden / Frances Hodgson Burnett

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Mary Lennox is a sour and lonely orphan girl who is sent from India to live with her uncle in a large, gloomy mansion in England. She feels lost and unhappy in the big house with many locked rooms and a mysterious, neglected garden that no one talks about. One day, Mary finds the key to this secret garden and, with the help of a nature-loving boy named Dickon and her sickly cousin Colin who was hidden away in the mansion, she starts to bring the garden back to life. As they secretly work in the garden together, tending to the flowers and plants, they also start to heal inside. Mary becomes kinder, Colin's health improves miraculously, and even the sad, lonely mansion begins to feel more cheerful. The secret garden becomes their special place of friendship, healing, and discovery, showing them the power of nature and the importance of caring for others.

Talking About The Secret Garden

Mary, Dickon, and Colin inside the blossoming secret garden, representing the central theme of healing and friendship through nature.

The Secret Garden: A Study Guide

Quiz

1. Who is Mary Lennox and what is her initial disposition when she arrives in England? Mary Lennox is an orphan girl sent from India to live with her uncle. Initially, she is described as sour and lonely, feeling lost and unhappy in her new environment.
2. Where does Mary go to live after leaving India, and what is notable about this new home? Mary goes to live in a large, gloomy mansion in England with her uncle. The mansion is notable for having many locked rooms and a mysterious, neglected garden that no one discusses.
3. What significant discovery does Mary make regarding the neglected garden? Mary discovers the key to the secret garden. This discovery is pivotal as it allows her to access and begin the process of restoring the garden.
4. Who are the two main companions who help Mary bring the garden back to life? Mary is helped by Dickon, a nature-loving boy, and her sickly cousin Colin, who was previously hidden away in the mansion.
5. How does working in the secret garden affect Mary's personality? As Mary secretly works in the garden, tending to the flowers and plants, she undergoes an internal transformation and becomes kinder.
6. What significant change occurs in Colin as a result of his involvement with the secret garden? Colin's health improves miraculously as he spends time and works in the secret garden. This physical healing parallels the emotional healing of the other characters.
7. Beyond the characters, how does the secret garden affect the mansion itself? Even the sad, lonely mansion begins to feel more cheerful as the secret garden is brought back to life and the characters within it heal.
8. What central themes are represented by Mary, Dickon, and Colin inside the blossoming secret garden? Their presence in the blossoming garden represents the central themes of healing and friendship through nature.
9. What does the story suggest about the power of nature? The story suggests that nature has a profound power to heal, transform, and foster personal growth and well-being.
10. What broader lesson does the secret garden teach the children? The secret garden becomes their special place of discovery, showing them not only the power of nature but also the importance of caring for others.

Essay Questions

1. Analyze the transformation of Mary Lennox throughout the story. How do her interactions with the secret garden and other characters contribute to her personal growth and change from a "sour and lonely" orphan to a "kinder" individual?
2. Discuss the role of the secret garden as a symbol in the novel. What does it represent in terms of healing, friendship, and the power of nature, and how does it facilitate the changes in the characters?
3. Compare and contrast the initial states of Mary and Colin. How do their shared experiences in the secret garden lead to similar and different forms of healing and personal development for each character?
4. Examine the significance of "secrecy" and "discovery" in the narrative. How do the hidden aspects of the garden and Colin's existence contribute to the story's themes, and what is the impact when these secrets are revealed or discovered?
5. How does Frances Hodgson Burnett use the setting – the gloomy mansion, the neglected garden, and its eventual blossoming – to reflect and influence the emotional states and development of the characters?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Mary Lennox: The protagonist of the story, initially a sour and lonely orphan.
• Dickon: A nature-loving boy who helps Mary and Colin tend to the secret garden.
• Colin: Mary's sickly cousin, initially hidden away in the mansion, whose health miraculously improves.
• Secret Garden: A mysterious, neglected garden on the mansion grounds that becomes a place of healing and discovery for the children.
• Mansion: The large, gloomy house in England where Mary goes to live with her uncle, characterized by many locked rooms.
• Healing: A central theme of the story, referring to the physical and emotional recovery experienced by the characters.
• Friendship: A key theme highlighted by the bond formed between Mary, Dickon, and Colin as they work together.
• Nature: A powerful force in the story, depicted as having the ability to facilitate healing, growth, and transformation.
• Transformation: The significant personal changes undergone by Mary and Colin, moving from negative to positive states.
• Discovery: The act of finding the key to the garden and uncovering its potential, as well as the children's self-discovery.

( N.B. 위 콘텐츠는 Google AI Studio 로 제작한 것입니다 )