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The Selfish Giant
A1 · English · Free ?
Returning home after a long absence, a giant finds children playing in his beautiful garden. He builds a wall to keep them out, but spring no longer comes within its boundaries. The children’s return reveals the connection between his generosity and the garden’s life. His friendship with one small child gives the tale a further, spiritual dimension. Wilde turns a simple change of heart into a meditation on kindness, exclusion and the possibility of redemption.
This edition contains the simplified and original English texts, with an English word glossary. No cultural glossary or translations are included.
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Every afternoon, the children come home from school. On the way, they play in a big garden. The grass is soft and green. There are flowers and twelve fruit trees.
In spring, the trees have pink and white flowers. In autumn, there is lovely fruit. Birds sit in the trees and sing. The children stop their games and listen.
“We are so happy here!” they say.
The garden belongs to a giant. He is very big. He lives in a castle, but he is away. He is visiting a friend. He stays with this friend for seven years.
One day, the Giant comes home. He sees the children in his garden.
“What are you doing here?” he shouts.
The children are afraid. They run away.
“This is my garden,” the Giant says. “Only I can play here.”
He builds a high wall around the garden. He puts up a sign. It tells people to stay out. People who come in can be punished.
The Giant is selfish. He wants the garden only for himself.
Now the children have nowhere nice to play. They try the road, but it is full of stones. After school, they walk outside the high wall.
“We were so happy in that garden,” they say.
Spring comes to the country. There are flowers in all the other gardens. Little birds sing in the trees.