Summary of story The selfish giant

Class 11 English Chapter 1 Summary: The Selfish Giant

Summary 

The story is about a selfish giant who owns a beautiful garden full of trees, flowers, and birds. While the giant is away, children from the village love to come and play there.

When the giant returns after seven years, he angrily drives the children away and builds a high wall around the garden with a notice: “Trespassers will be prosecuted.” Because of his selfishness, spring stops coming to his garden. It remains covered in snow, frost, and hail, while other gardens bloom with flowers and birdsong.

One morning, the giant hears music. He sees that the children have crept back into the garden through a hole in the wall. Wherever they play, flowers bloom and birds sing again — except in one corner, where a small boy cannot climb a tree. The giant’s heart melts. He helps the boy onto the tree, and spring instantly returns. Realizing his mistake, the giant breaks down the wall and invites children to play freely forever.

Years later, when the giant is old and weak, the same little boy appears, bearing marks of nails on his hands and feet (a Christ-like figure). The boy invites the giant to his garden of Paradise. The next day, the giant is found dead under a tree, covered with white blossoms — symbolizing peace and redemption.

Themes

• Selfishness vs. kindness
• Transformation through love and innocence
• Christian symbolism of sacrifice, forgiveness, and eternal life

In short: The giant learns that true happiness comes from love, kindness, and sharing with others — not from selfishness.