The Secret Garden Chapter 24

The Secret Garden Chapter 24

1)Whom did Dickon tell about the secret garden?

A:Dickon told his mom about the secret garden.

2)Why did Colin have to complain from time to time?

A: Colin had to still complain a little bit to make it believable that he was still a little ill.

3)What made it difficult for Colin to pretend to be ill?

A: It was hard for Colin to act like he was ill without cracking up.

4)How did Mrs.Sowerby help Mary and Colin keep their secret?

A:Mrs.Sowerby sent milk and biscuits for the children, so that they wouldn’t have to go inside for lunch every day.

5)Where did Dickon learn about exercising?

A: Dickon learned about  exercising from his mom.

Thought Questions:

1)Was it fair for Colin and Mary to deceive the staff? Was it unkind?

A: I don’t really know if it was fair or unkind for them to do that… I would say it’s not the kindest thing to do.

2)Do you think Mary would’ve changed as much as she did if she had not met Colin? Who do you think is the main focus of the story, Mary of Colin?

A: I don’t think that Mary would’ve changed as much. I think that Mary and Colin are both kind of the focus of the book… I can’t tell which one is more of a focus.

The Secret Garden Chapter 23

The Secret Garden Chapter 23

1)What was Colin’s chief peculiarity according to Mary?

A: Mary said that Colin’s chief peculiarity was that he didn’t know how rude he was.

2)What was Colin’s scientific experiment?

A:Colin’s experiment was to see if he could tell ‘magic’ what to do.

3) How did Colin distinguish between right and wrong magic?

A:The right magic is magic for good things, the opposite for wrong.

4)What did Colin do to keep his experiment a secret?

A: Colin didn’t tell anyone besides Mary and Dickon about his experiment.

Thought Questions:

1) Why was it helpful for the children to think of what happened in the garden was magic?

A:I think that it was helpful because it was just easier to think about something that they knew.

2) How would you define what Colin calls magic?

A: Nature is what Colin calls magic.

3)Can you make nice things happen if you say they are going to happen?

A:I don’t think that we can, because God’s the only one that can do that.

4) This book was written in 1909, when scientists like Einstein and Pavlov were experimenting with physics and physiology. How do you think this growing interest in science might have influenced Burnett’s writing?

A:I think that since all of that was going on at the time it made sense for her to write about it.

The Secret Garden Chapter 22

The Secret Garden Chapter 22

1)What was the magic according  to Dickon?

A: According to Dickon Magic was something that some people have and some don’t

2)How had Ben entered the garden? For what purpose?

A: Ben had entered the garden over the wall because before Colin’s mom died she made him promise that if she ever left, or got sick or anything that Ben would have to take care of her roses.

3)What did Colin want to do before the sun set?

A: Colin wanted to plant a rose bush before the sun went down.

Thought Questions:

1)How did Ben justify breaking orders and coming into the Garden? Were his reasons valid? What does his reasoning tell you about his character?

A:Ben said that Colin’s mom wanted him to take care of her roses forever. I think that his reasons were valid. I think that Ben is a little rough on the outside, but once you get to know him, he’s really sweet.

2) Why do you think Burnett used the word “magic”  so frequently? Think about Mary’s childhood and her love of fantasy books. Think also about the way the children’s growth was related to discovering joy in life and seeing ordinary things in a new way?

A: I think that that’s just part of the book that makes it special.

The Secret Garden Chapter 21

The Secret Garden Chapter 21

1)How was Colin distracted from the old tree? Why did he need to be distracted?

A: Colin got distracted from the tree because he saw the robin, Colin needed to be distracted because he was looking at the tree where his mom died.

2)When did Dickon say Colin would walk again?

A: Dickon said that Colin could walk again as soon as he got stronger.

3)Who interrupted the stillness of the afternoon? Why was he  angry?

A: Ben Weatherstaff was on a ladder looking into the Secret garden. He was angry because Mary hadn’t told him about it.

4)What did the newcomer assume about Colin? How did Colin prove him wrong?

A: Ben assumed that Colin was crippled. Colin stood up and yelled at him.

Thought Questions:

1) Discuss Dickon’s suggestion that Mrs.Craven was looking after Colin. Why do you think people want to believe that their loved ones are still present even after they die? Does that belief have any basis in truth?

A:  I think that it sometimes helps people if they are told that. It really doesn’t have any basis of truth in it.

2) Why do  you think Ben was so protective of the garden? What did the garden symbolize to him?

A: I think that Ben was so protective of the garden because it meant so much to Mrs.Craven. I think that him protecting it symbolized his care for Mrs.Craven.

The Secret Garden Chapter 20

The Secret Garden Chapter 20

1)How did the children arrange to get Colin in the garden without being seen?

A: The children decided that it would be best if they could get all of the gardeners out of the gardens, so that no one would be around.

2) What orders did Colin give Mr.Roach?

A: Colin told Mr. Roach that he had to take all of his gardening men inside when they went out.

3)What did Colin announce when he saw the Secret Garden?

A: Colin announced that he should live for ever and ever, when he got pushed into the Secret Garden.

Thought Questions:

1) Was there any magic in Dickon’s ability to make Colin and Mary feel better? If not, how did he do it? What unspoken lesson did he teach them?

A: I don’t think that it was Dickon at all, I think that it was the outdoors. I think that Dickon taught them to like the out of doors.

2) Why do you think the springtime and the garden had such a profound impact on Colin?

A: I think that just thinking about being somewhere that his mother had been and how beautiful it was helped Colin.

The Secret Garden Chapter 19

The Secret Garden Chapter 19

1)Why did Dr.Craven come?  What did he expect to find? What did he find?

A: Dr. Craven came to see Collin, for a check up after his temper tantrum. Dr.Craven thought that he would find Colin all white-faced, crying and screaming, but he found Colin talking with Mary and sitting up on his couch.

2)What, according to Mrs.Sowerby do children learn from other children?

A:According to Mrs. Sowerby children learn how to act from other people.

3)How would Dr. Craven have explained Colin’s better health in the morning? How did Colin explain it?

A: Dr.Craven really couldn’t explain how he had gotten better. Colin said that it was Mary that made him feel better.

4)What did Dickon bring along with him when he came to visit?

A:Dickon brought with him two squirrels, a fox, a lamb and a bird.

Thought Questions:

1)Why do you think the animals made it easier for children to converse?

A: I think that when animals are around, then kids have something to do while they get to know each other and it makes it less awkward.

The Secret Garden Chapter 18

The Secret Garden Chapter 18

1)According to Mrs.Sowerby, what were the two worst things for a child?

A: The two worst things for a child is being neglected and spoiled.

2)What did Dickon say was good for sick people?

A: Dickon said that fresh air is good for sick people.

3)How did Mary make Colin laugh?

A:Mary made Colin laugh by talking a bunch of Yorkshire.

4)What did Mary decide to tell Colin?

A: Mary decided to tell Colin that she had found the secret garden about a month ago.

Thought Questions:

1)Do you think it is better for a child to be neglected or spoiled? Why? Are these two things similar in any way? What type  of damage does each cause?

A: I don’t know which one is better, because if they’re spoiled then they act all stuck up, but if they’re neglected then  they don’t know how to act. I think that they are similar a little bit. Both of these can cause tons of different damage.

2)What did Mary, Colin, and Ben Weatherstaff have in common? How did they help each other grow?

A: Mary, Colin and Ben all have tempers. They can help each other grow by working together to improve.

3)Why do you think Dickon seemed like an angel to Mary? What does this comparison tell you about her understanding of angels?

A: I think that just by the way that he acts is cool to Mary. This tells me that Mary doesn’t really know that much about angels but that she knows that they are kind and caring.

The Secret Garden Chapter 17

The Secret Garden Chapter 17

1)What awakened Mary in the middle of the night?

A: Colin had another crying fit that night about his back.

2)What did the Nurse ask Mary to do?

A: The Nurse asked Mary to go see if she could get him to be quiet.

3)Did Colin have a lump on his back?

A: Mary looked at Colin’s back and there wasn’t a lump on it.

4)What did Colin agree to do with Mary and Dickon?

A: Colin agreed to go outside with Mary and Dickon in the morning.

Thought Questions:

1)How might Colin have grown up  differently if he had been around other children?

A: I think that Colin would’ve been less demanding and I think that  he would just have a better life overall.

2)Does this book imply that most illness has a mental, not physical cause?

A: This book does imply that all sicknesses have a mental part of it

3)Is the truth always enough to convince people to put aside their superstitions?

A: I think that it depends on the person and how hard they are to prove.

The Secret Garden Chapter 16

The Secret Garden Chapter 16

1)What did Mary do to offend Colin?

A: Mary chose to go play in the garden instead of hanging out with Colin.

2)What made Mary angry with Colin? Was she being hypocritical?

A: The thing that made Mary made was that Colin was having a temper tantrum, because she didn’t go talk to him that morning. I don’t think that she was, necessarily.

3) Why did the nurse laugh?

A:The nurse laughed because she had seen the look on Colin’s face, because he had never gotten yelled at before, everyone always did what he wanted?

4)What did Mr.Craven send Mary?

A:Mr. Craven send Mary a pack of seeds.

Thought Questions:

1)Is it strange to you that Mary was excited about getting fatter? How are your standards of beauty different than Mary’s?

A: I think that it seems strange to us, but I think that since she was so skinny and not very pretty, getting fatter was good for her to make her body not so skinny and give color to her body. My standards and Mary’s are probable really different.

2)When is anger a healthy emotion? What makes it a unhealthy?

A: I think that anger is only healthy when you control it and you have a reason for it. Anger most of the time is unhealthy because  it can be dangerous sometimes.

The Secret Garden Chapter 15

The Secret Garden Chapter 15

1) Why didn’t Colin like strangers to see him?

A:Colin didn’t like it when strangers saw him because they always said that  he would die and they would look at him weirdly.

2)What creatures did Dickon bring with him to the garden?

A:Dickon brought a crow and a little fox with him in the garden.

3)What was the robin doing in the garden?

A:  The robin was making a nest so then he could get a mate.

4) Had Dickon known about Colin?

A: Dickon did know about Colin and he said that it was hard for him to not tell Mary about Colin.

5)Did Dickon tell his mother about the garden?

A: Dickon didn’t tell his mom about the garden.

6)What did Dickon say would be good for Colin?

A: Dickon said that it would be good for Colin to get outside.

Thought Questions:

  1. Mary said Colin “knows a good many things out of books but he doesn’t know anything else.” Could the same statement apply to Mary?

A: I think that that statement is kind of true about both of them, but that it’s kind of not.

2) What are some similarities and differences  between Mary and Colin? Did Colin’s  weakness make Mary stronger?

A: Mary and Colin were both sick and they both hated going outside and they were mean children but Mary changed, and I don’t know if Dickon did or not.

3) Do you agree with Mrs.Sowerby that unwanted children almost never thrive? Why?

A: I do agree with Mrs.Sowerby  because if your not wanted, then you always feel bad for yourself and you never have any time to look ahead in your future.

4)How much power does fear have in your life? What is stronger than fear?

A: Fear doesn’t have much power in my life because if i’m afraid of something, then I just give it to God. God is stronger that fear.

The Secret Garden Chapter 14

The Secret Garden Chapter 14

1) How did Martha react when Mary first told her about finding Colin?

A: Martha was really afraid that she was going to loose her job when Mary told her that she had met Colin.

2) What was wrong with Colin, according to Martha?

A: Martha told Mary that Colin had a hunch back.

3) What scene from India did Mary think of when she looked at Colin?

A: Colin reminded Mary of this man that ordered everyone around, and if they didn’t listen to him then, they got killed.

4) Who came into Colin’s room while Mary was there?

A: Mrs.Medlock came in with Dr.Craven when Mary was in there.

Thought Questions:

1)Why do you think Colin let Mary look at him? What made her different?

A: I think that Colin let Mary look at him because she was a kid, and his cousin. I think that Mary is different because she doesn’t let people boss her around and tell her what to do.

2) Several times Mary compared people to individuals she saw in India. Why do you think she used her childhood in India as a way to understand life in England?  Why might that be a problem?

A: I think that Mary is still getting used to living in England so sometimes to help her understand things, she reminds herself of things that are more common for her.  I think that that might become a problem because she needs to get used to living in England and not always go back to her life in India.

The Secret Garden Chapter 13

The Secret Garden Chapter 13

1)What symbol did Dickon leave his note for Mary? How did she interoperate it?

A:Dickon left a picture of a missel thrush in a nest on his note. Mary thought that it meant that he would keep her secret.

2)Why couldn’t Mary go back to the garden the next day? What did she do instead?

A: Mary couldn’t go to the garden because it was raining really hard. Instead of going outside, Mary went to explore where she had heard the crying before.

3)What did Mary find behind the tapestry door?

A: Mary found a boy behind the tapestry door.

4)Why didn’t Mr.Craven  want to see Colin?

A: Mr.Craven didn’t like to see Colin because he reminded him about his wife, Colin’s mom.

5)How did Mary convince Colin he should not demand to see the garden?

A: Mary asked Colin if  he would like to keep the garden a secret so that only Mary and Colin would know about it.

6) What did Colin show Mary behind the curtain?

A: Colin showed Mary a picture of his mother behind the curtain.

Thought Questions:

1)Why did Colin think he would not live to grow up? Did he really believe that, or was he trying to convince himself? What does this first encounter tell you about his character?

A: Colin thought that he wouldn’t live because that’s what everyone else told him, so he started believing them. I kind of think that he is doing a little bit of both. So far I think that Colin can be bossy but that he is just like any other kid, he can be calm sometimes, but he can also have a lot of energy.

2)When Colin said he didn’t want to live or die, what do you think he really wanted?

A: I don’t know what he really wants, because he has a boring life on earth, but he’s also afraid of dying.

3)Colin said his father almost hated him because his mother died, and Mary replied that Mr.Craven hated the garden for the same reason. Do you see any similarities between the garden and Colin?

A:There are a lot of things that are alike with Colin and the garden…1) They are both kind of forgotten

2) Mr.Craven hates both of them

4) Did Colin really hate his mother? Explain. Is hate a convenient emotion when you don’t know what you feel? Can you think of other examples in which this might be true?

A: I don’t think that Colin really hated his mom, I think that hate is a easy emotion to go to when you don’t know what to feel.

The Secret Garden Chapter 12

The Secret Garden Chapter 12

1)How did Mary describe Dickon to Martha?

A:Mary said that Dickon is beautiful

2)Who wanted to see Mary after she had eaten dinner? Why?

A: Mr.Craven wanted to see Mary to make sure that she was coming along all right.

3)What did Mary ask for? How did Mr. Craven respond?

A:Mary asked for a bit of earth to plant her own garden. Mr. Craven said that she could have as much earth as she wanted.

4)What had Dickon left for Mary in the garden?

A:Dickon had left Mary a note that said that he would come back.

Thought Questions:

1)Do you think Mary was being deceptive when she asked for “a bit of earth”?

A: I think that she was being deceptive because she was afraid that Mr.Craven had found out about her going into the secret garden.

2)How do you think Mr.Craven felt about Mary? What makes you think so? Was he a good guardian?

A:I think that after Mr.Craven talked to Martha’s mother, then he began to feel bad about Mary, never meeting her before. I think the way he acted showed his emotion. I don’t think that he was a good guardian based on not really caring that Mary was even there for a long time.

The Secret Garden Chapter 11

The Secret Garden Chapter 11

1)Had Dickon known about the secret garden?

A:Dickon had heard about the garden from Mary many times, so he did know about the garden.

2)Were all the roses dead? How did Dickon know?

A:Not all of the roses were dead, Dickon knew that there were still some alive based on how the wood was in the stem, how much was old and how much was still alive.

3)Why did Dickon think someone else had been in the garden?

A:Dickon thought that someone else had been in there since ten years because it looked like there had been someone that had been pruning a couple of the trees.

4)How many people did Mary like?

A: Mary only likes 5 people.

5)What question did Mary ask Dickon in Yorkshire?

A: Mary asked Dickon if he liked her.

6)Why did Dickon compare Mary to a missel thrush?

A: Dickon compared Mary to a missel thrush because then she would be a bird, and he could tell anyone what a bird thinks, or does without the bird knowing.

Thought Questions:

1)What makes people contrary? Is it a decision?An unfulfilled need? How does someone stop being contrary? Do you have to replace those traits with a  positive trait like love, or compassion or kindness?

A: I think that it can be a decision, but that it can also be in someone’s personality. I think that you have to decide to not be contrary anymore. I don’t think that you have to fill that space in with different traits, but that it’s a good thing to do.

2)How many people do you like? Have you ever thought to count? How did Mary’s counting reflect the changes taking place in her life?

A: I like a lot of people, but I’ve never really thought to count. I think that Mary liked to count because when she was little she probable didn’t like a lot of people.

3)Why do you think Mary compared Dickon to an Indian native? Did she see it as complementary or insulting?

A: I think that it was just the way that Dickon acted, was why she compared him to that. I think that Mary meant it as a complement.

The Secret Garden Chapter 10

The Secret Garden Chapter 10

1)What improvements did Mary make on the garden? How did the garden change her?

A: Mary weeded and made the flowers look neater. The garden made her a better person, and made her happy more often.

2)What did the robin do to win Ben’s approval?

A:The robin won Ben’s approval by getting up close to him and  acting all nice and cheerful.

3)What had happened to the roses that had belonged to the young lady?

A:The roses had just spread and grew bigger.

4)What did Dickon look like? How did Mary meet him?

A:Dickon was really clean cut and proper, but he was also really nice. Dickon was playing a song to the animals when Mary first met him.

5)How did Dickon know Mary was friends with the robin?

A:Dickon said that he could tell that they were friends by the way that the bird acted when Mary was around.

Thought Questions:

1)Is the robin a character in this book? If so, what is his role in the story?

A:I think that the robin is a character in this book.

I think that the robin’s character is supposed to be the  person, or in this scenario the robin, that changes the person, or makes them better.

2)How would you describe Ben Weatherstaff? What does he reveal about Mary? What affect does he have on her?

A: I think that Ben Weatherstaff is shy when you first get to know him, but the longer you know him, the more he’ll warm up to you. I think that Ben had a really good impression on Mary because no one except Martha is very nice to Mary.

3) Why did Mary compare Dickon to a snake charmer? What allows someone to tame an animal? Does it take similar skill to relate to other people?

A:Mary said that Dickon was like a snake charmer because he was at ease with animals and the animals loved him. I think to be able to tame an animal you have to be patient and kind. I think that is exactly the same for people.

4)Why do you think Mary told Dickon about the secret garden?

A: I think that Mary told Dickon about the secret garden because she trusted him.

The Secret Garden Chapter 9

The Secret Garden Chapter 9

1)What made the secret garden so different from other gardens?

A: The Secret Garden was different because all of the plants were REALLY overgrown.

2)What did Mary do to improve the garden?

A:Mary started weeding the garden to make it look nicer.

3)What did Mary want to buy? How did she get the things?

A:Mary wanted to buy a spade so that she could dig up weeds better and plant some pretty flowers. Martha said that she could send some money to her brother Dickon and he could buy her some flowers and

4)What had Martha asked her Mother on Mary’s behalf?

A: Martha asked her mom if Mary could come to their house some time.

5)How did Martha explain the crying noises?

A:Martha said that is Mr. Craven found out that Mary had been listening in the hall, then she would get in trouble.

Thought Questions:

1)Is gardening a natural skill or do you have to learn it? What does this book suggest?

A: I think that you can be born with it, or you can learn how to do it. I think that in the book, it’s a natural talent for gardening.

2)Why do you think Mary wanted to meet Martha’s mother and Dickon? What made them different from Mary’s family?

A: I think that Mary wanted to meet Martha’s mom, and brother because then she could understand more about Martha?

The Secret Garden Chapter 8

The Secret Garden Chapter 8

1)What did Mary intend to do with the key?

A:Mary was going to keep the key in her pocket until she had found the secret door, then she was going to try to open it.

2)Where did Martha’s mother say when Martha told her about Mary?

A:Martha’s mother told her that she should try to cheer Mary up a little bit.

3)What did Martha bring back for Mary?

A:Martha brought Mary a skipping rope.

4)What did Mary find when the wind blew?

A: Mary found the door to the secret garden, when the wind blew the leaves.

Thought Questions:

1)Was it stealing for Mary to keep the keys? Why or Why not?

A: I kind of think that it was, but I kind of think that it wasn’t? I think it was because she probable should of given the key to an adult, or at least told them about it, but then, she found it?!

2) What did Mary emphasize in her stories about India?

A: She emphasized that India was a better place then England?!?

3)Does it seem strange for Martha’s family to pity Mary?

A:I think that it’s a little strange for them to pity Mary, when she had such a different , but sorta good life?

The Secret Garden Chapter 7

The  Secret Garden Chapter 7

1)Describe the moor after the storm.

A:After the storm had gone, the moor looked really pretty, and beautiful with the blue sky.

2)Where did Mary want to go?

A: Mary wanted to go and meet Martha’s mother.

3)What did Ben tell Mary about the locked garden?

A:Ben told Mary that he knew nothing about the garden because no one had been in there for 10 years.

4)What did the Robin show Mary?

A: The robin showed Mary where the key was.

Thought Questions:

1)Do you think Mary was correct in saying no one liked her? Is it important to be liked? To like yourself?

A: I think that Martha likes her, and the robin likes her, but I’m not sure about anyone else. I think that it’s good to have a least a couple people like you, so you don’t feel like you have to change, but I’m not sure… But I think it’s good to like yourself. 

2)Describe the relationship in this book between people and nature. How do the people interact with nature? How do they speak of it? Do they value it? In what way?

A: Ben and Mary are like the only people that like going outside. In this book, Mary only walks around the garden, and Ben tends for the plants.

The Secret Garden Chapter 6

The Secret Garden Chapter 6

1)What did Martha suggest Mary do to amuse herself while it was raining?

A:Martha said that she should sew, or knit.

2)What did Mary decide to do instead? Why didn’t she ask permission?

A:Mary went to go find the library. She didn’t ask for permission because she didn’t want to get in trouble.

3)What did Mary hear when she was lost?

A: Mary heard another cry, but like one of a child, not a long cry like last time.

4)Who appeared from behind the tapestry?

A: Mrs. Medlock came from behind the tapestry.

Thought Questions:

1)Why do you think closed doors and locked places are so fascinating?

A: I like going into places that are closed because you never know what’s behind the door.

2)How did you learn to ask for permission?

A: I learned to ask for permission by how many times I got in trouble.

3)Describe one of the rooms Mary entered. What  impression of Mr. and Mrs.Craven do you get from the description of the house?

A: One of the rooms that Mary entered was, what looked like a ladies sitting room, w/ velvet everything, from floor to curtains, to a ton of little elephants of all sizes. I think that Mr. and Mrs. Craven were really rich people, but I think that they were also really nice people.

4)How can you tell when someone is lying? Did the lies Martha and Mrs.Medlock told Mary seem consistent with their characters? If not, why would they lie to her?

A: I can tell someone’s lying just by how they’re acting. I think that it isn’t part of their character, but i think that for some reason, they’re hiding something. I think that they have something that they don’t want Mary seeing.

The Secret Garden Chapter 5

The Secret Garden Chapter 5

1)Why was it good for Mary to go outside? How did she begin to change?

A: It was good for Mary to go outside because it rushed up her blood that had been going slowly for such a long time, It was also good for Mary because she began to get color in her cheeks and brightness in her eyes.

2)Where did she go most often? Whom did she see?

A:Mary went to the garden often and she always was Ben

3)Why did Mr.Craven hate the garden?

A:Mr.Craven hates the gardens because his wife died in one of them.

4)What is wutherin’?

A: Wutherin is the howl that the breeze makes.

5)What four good things  had happened to Mary since she had come to Misselthwaite?

A: 1)She got color in her face 2) She learned that she liked going outside 3) She ate her porridge, 4) and she met a Robin

6)What did Mary hear? How did Martha explain the noise?

A:Mary thought that she heard someone crying, like a child. Martha said that it was either the wind, or one of the new servants.

Thought Questions:

1)Whom do you think Mr.Craven blamed for his wife’s death?

A: I think that Mr.Crave blamed the tree or himself for his wife’s death.

2)What do you think was behind the changes taking place in Mary? What did she need that life on the moor was able to provide?

A: I think that the gardens were behind the change in Mary. Mary needed the gardens in her life, and luckily the moor had plenty of them.