The Secret Garden

by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Grades 5-8; Genre - Fiction; GRL U; AR pts. 13.0

After the sudden death of her parents in India, Mary Lennox is sent 'home' to England, and the Yorkshire estate of a distant relative. Sad and lonely, her only interest lies in a secret garden, abandoned after a tragic accident. With the help of Dickon, a local country boy, and Colin, her guardian's invalid son, Mary's spirit is reawakened as they bring the garden back to life.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. Describe the main character and how she became alone. Mary Lennox; disagreeable looking, spoiled, sickly, thin, yellow hair and face, born in India; was raised by a servant because her mother didn’t want her since she was a girl; her parents, Ayah and other servants died of cholera; she was alone and was going to live with her uncle p.7

Chapter 2

1. Describe Mrs. Medlock. Mary’s uncle’s housekeeper; short and stout; stern and would take no nonsense from children p.16
2. Describe her uncle’s house. has a hundred rooms with doors that are mostly locked; gloomy; on the edge of a moor p.17

Chapter 3

1. Define a moor. Miles of wild land without trees; used for animals to graze on p.21
2. Summarize this chapter. Mary and Mrs. Medlock travel in the carriage for the last leg of their journey to her uncle’s house p.19

Chapter 4

1. Describe Martha. Pleasant, good attitude, talkative, hard worker, has 11 siblings, strong p.24
2. What does the following phrase mean, “give you some stomach for your meat”? Help her be hungry so she’ll eat p.29
3. What did Mary learn about herself in this chapter? She’s lonely; she’s not pretty and has a nasty temper p.35

Chapter 5

1. Summarize why Mary’s uncle hates the garden. He and his wife used to tend the garden and spend time together in it; one day she sat on a branch which broke and she died p.40
2. List two good things that have happened to Mary since arriving at Misselthwaite Manor? She understood the robin; she’s run in the wind until her blood ran warm, she was hungry for the first time in her life; she felt sorry for someone p.41

Chapter 6

1. How did Mary amuse herself in the chapter? Wandered the house and explored p.45
2. Why did Mrs. Medlock get angry with her? Mary heard crying and left her rooms p.48

Chapter 7

1. How did Mary acquire the old key? The robin landed in a hole that had been dug by a dog p.53

Chapter 8

1. What did Mary say for the first time in her life and why? Thank you; Martha’s mother had purchased her a skipping rope p.56
2. How did Mary find the secret garden door? She was skipping rope and the robin landed on a vine that blew in the breeze and uncovered it p.59

Chapter 9

1. Summarize this chapter. Mary goes into the Secret Garden and explores; she finds bulbs growing and digs around them to give them room to grow; she wrote to Dickon and sent him some shillings to purchase garden tools and seeds; Mary heard the crying sound again p.62

Chapter 10

1. Describe Dickon. 12 years old; Martha’s brother; purchased seeds and tools for Mary and brought them to her; he has a way with animals; he’s kind; round blue eyes; wears clothes with patches; is trustworthy p.76

Chapter 11

1. Summarize what Dickon and Mary did in this chapter. Explore the Secret Garden and look for plants that were alive p.82

Chapter 12

1. Describe Mr. Craven. Mary’s uncle; kind and handsome; worried and distracted; miserable; tall with crooked shoulders; black hair with white streaks 91

Chapter 13

1. Describe Colin. Mr. Craven’s son; sickly; said he’s going to die young; 10 years old; black hair; big eyes; delicate face the color of ivory; doesn’t like people talking about him p.97
2. How did Colin feel about the Secret Garden and how did Mary stop him from telling others about it? He was curious and wouldn’t stop asking about it; Mary described it, pretending she hadn’t been there and said it was important to keep a secret p.102

Chapter 14

1. Why does everyone want Colon to remember he’s sick? So he doesn’t get better p.115

Chapter 15

1. How are Colin and Mary similar? Colin’s father doesn’t want him and Mary’s mother didn’t want her; they both have lived without love in their lives; they are spoiled, both have been given everything they want, p.124

Chapter 16

1. Why was it good for Mary to stand up to Colin? He’s never had anyone stand up to him p.130

Chapter 17

1. How did Mary stop Colin’s tantrum? She didn’t have sympathy and wasn’t scared of him; she told him to stop and that he didn’t have a lump on his back and that he wouldn’t die p.134

Chapter 18

1. Choose a word that describes how Mary feels about Colin. Explain. Compassionate; trusting; love; friendship. Listen to your child’s answer p.139

Chapter 19

1. Summarize Colin’s reaction to meeting Dickon and his animal friends. He was speechless and in awe p.151

Chapter 20

1. Why did Colin feel stronger and healthier? He has something to look forward to, a reason to live; he was distracted from his illness p.158
2. Why did he feel like he will live forever? He felt good and had hope p.160

Chapter 21

1. Why were the children so joyous to see spring? Mary and Colin had never seen it blossom before p.161
2. Why didn’t Mary and Dickon want to talk about the old tree with the broken branch? They thought it would be too sad for Collin to know that his mother died from the broken branch p.163
3. Why did Ben Weatherstaff cry when he saw Colin stand? He was so happy p.169

Chapter 22

1. Summarize this chapter. Ben Weatherstaff came into the garden and asked Colin what he could do for him; Collin told him to keep the garden a secret; Ben had been the one coming in to the garden; Colin planted a rose as a king in his new place p.170
2. Why was this chapter so special? Colin is learning he is strong and will be healthy; Colin has people who love and support him p.174

Chapter 23

1. Why does Colon talk of Magic? What is it to him? The Magic in the garden is what’s going to make him stronger like the sun and the flowers p.176

Chapter 24

1. Explain Colin and Mary’s predicament and how it’s solved. They were eating so much food it was going to ruin Colin’s secret that he was getting strong; Colin wanted to show his father that he’s strong and walking; Dickon’s mother made buns for them and told Dickon to take a bucket of fresh milk for them; Dickon baked potatoes and carrots in a little oven he concocted in the woods near the manor; they didn’t need to request more food from the cook in the manor p.188

Chapter 25

1. How did the children entertain themselves on rainy days? Exploring the house and using the empty rooms to do their exercises and run about p.198
2. Why is Colin going to keep the curtain pulled back? So he can see his mother laughing and being happy for him p.201

Chapter 26

1. List two names used to describe God in this chapter. Magic; the Big Good Thing; the Good Thing; the Joy Maker p.207
2. How did Susan Sowerby respond when Colin said he wanted her for a mother. She gave him a hug and said his mother is in the garden p.208

Chapter 27

1. Summarize the conclusion of this story. Mr. Craven started to awake out of his despair and went home; he went to the Secret Garden; Colin ran into him and told him everything; Mr. Craven was joyous to see his son p.209