Independent+Novel+Study

**The Secret Garden** **Frances Hodgson Burnett** **Journal Entry #1 ****Kate LeBere ** **Pages: 1-58 **  **Date: December 2, 2011 **  **1. Why did you select this novel? ** I selected the novel “The Secret Garden” simply because I love classics. I had heard a lot about this book and I always had an interest in reading it. The story takes place in the early 1800’s like a lot of other books I had read and enjoyed. I also love stories with magic and mystery that still have some historical evidence behind them. **4. What is happening when the novel begins?** There is a lot happening when the story begins. The novel starts by introducing a young girl named Mary Lennox who is living in India with her parents. Mary is nine years old and has lived in India her whole life because her father is there working for the English government. The author describes her as the “most disagreeable-looking child seen” because she is a very depressed and sickly girl. The novel begins by Mary waking up and seeing that her usual servant Ayah, is no where to be seen. None of the other servants will tell her what is wrong so she goes outside to play in the flower-beds. There, she overhears her mother talking to a young man. Her mother is distressed and worried because a disease called cholera had broken out in its most dangerous form. Mary’s servant Ayah has died as well as other servants. Now the disease is spreading quickly throughout the household. Everyone begins to panic, and the servants are leaving. Mary who is lost in the chaos goes to the kitchen and finds a half-eaten meal on the counter. Stricken with hunger, she eats it and drinks a cup of wine. Without realizing how strong the wine was, Mary becomes extremely tired and goes up to her bedroom to sleep and wait for someone to come. Hours later she wakes up to the sound of men’s voices. She learns that she was forgotten, and both of her parents have died. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character? ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The first problem faced by Mary is when her parents die and she is left an orphan. Mary has no choice but to go live with her depressed uncle, Mr. Craven, who has a crooked back and lives in a six-hundred year old mansion. She does not know her uncle, nor has she ever been out of India. She also has no one to take care of her, because Mr. Craven wants nothing to do with her. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Journal Entry #2 ****<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kate LeBere ** <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pages: 58-102 **  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Date: December 9, 2011 **  <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**15. Who is telling the story? How does this person’s perspective effect the way the story is told?** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">Mary Lennox is the character telling the story, “The Secret Garden”. Her view is out of the eyes of a nine year old girl. She is very innocent and curious in the novel. Because she is a very sad person, most things that would make the average person happy have no effect on her. She is never satisfied until she finds the key and door to the garden. Her secret hideaway always cheers her up. She loves the idea of having something to keep to herself. Mary begins to love the mansion and moor more as the book progresses. She even meets Dicken who becomes her best friend. Because the novel is based out of her eyes, you get to see a lot of mystery in the story. She is always looking for adventure and finds it. If Mary was not the one telling the story, we would have never learnt about the garden or many other things that Mary still has to discover. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**13. To what age group is the novel aimed? Support your answer with evidence.** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">The novel “The Secret Garden” is aimed at a very large variety of ages. The language is not extremely difficult, but would be if you were too young. It is technically a children's book, but anyone could read it because it is a classic. I think it is most popular for older kids and people, because when you are younger you never have the patience to read long books. It is also a novel that has a deeper meaning, so you have to be old enough to understand the full theme. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**8. How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest?** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">The author holds your interest by always adding new mysteries. Mary begins to hear crying in the house. All of the maids try too convince her that it was the wind, but Mary knows otherwise. You also meet a lot of new characters such as Martha and Dicken who add a lot to the story. You also hear rumours about old Mr. Craven. In every chapter, there is a new secret for Mary to discover. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">** Journal Entry #3 **** Kate LeBere ** <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">** Pages: 102-151 **  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">** Date: December 15, 2011 **  <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">** 20. Is the novel believable? ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">The novel “The Secret Garden” is definitely a believable book. There was actually a chorea pandemic in the early 1800s that started in India. The idea of a young orphaned girl having to move into a large mansion is also very possible. Even though the chances of Mary finding the key to the garden are slim, it could still happen. This book is an example of historical fiction; it is not a true story but it is possible that it could have been. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">** 11. Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events? ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">It is extremely easy to follow the events in the novel “The Secret Garden”. The main reason why is because it is only told from Mary's point of view, so you never have any confusion of who is speaking. There is a lot of mystery in the book, but it is never hard to follow. It is not a story where you can try to figure out what is happening from the events, because there are no real clues given. The only clues you get are solved in a few pages so there is always new problems. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">** 9. What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses? ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">The initial problem in “The Secret Garden” is that Mary has been forgotten and now she is an orphan. There are many new problems such as her living with her uncle, and hating the moor and place she lives. She also starts hearing crying and learns that she has a spoiled, unhealthy cousin named Colin living in the house. He dreams of being able to walk, even though he has never tried. This frustrates Mary, but she decides to help. Another main problem is that the garden keeper, Ben Weatherstaff, suspects something. Now the trio, Mary, Dicken, and Colin have to hide the garden without anyone finding out. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">** Journal Entry #4 **** Kate LeBere ** <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">** Pages: 151-225 ** ** Date: January 6, 2012 **  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**6. What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why?** <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">The setting in "The Secret Garden" is extremly important to the novel because of many reasons. Fistly, there had to be a mysterious garden that could live almost all year round, which means that the setting had to have a moderatly warm climate. The story takes place in England because it rains a lot and is often cloudy. This climate adds another layer onto the book because when Mary first moves, she finds England to be very deppressing because it is always grey out. She learns to love nd appreaciate it. By the end of the book, it becomes sunnier and happier, which also happened to Mary. The weather in the book almost represents Mary's growth throughout the novel. It drastically changes as she learns to love it more. If the story did not take place back in the early 1800's, alot of things would have had to change, including their clothing, the house and how Mary's parents died. There was a cholera breakout in the early 1800s and now it is a rare disease that few die from. Now if Mary's family caught cholera they would have a higher percent of lliving then they did in the novel. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**21. Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend?** <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">I would recommend this book to only a few certain people. Lots of my friends do not like to read classics, but a few do. It isn't a very hard read, and the writing and story are really good. You just have to appreaciate the story. It is not an adeenture book, or scary in anyway and it is not very sad either. I would recommend "The Secret Garden" to people who love to read and love classics, but not to anyone who is looking for an exciting read. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">**16. What is the climax of the novel?** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">The climax of the novel is when Colin learns to walk and run and Mary, Dickon and him are playing tag in the garden. Dr. Craven, who had just returned from his trip abroad, hears their voices and opens the door to the garden. At excatly the moment Dr. Craven opens the door, Colin spills out and runs straight into his fathers arms. It is the turning point in the novel, because for once, Dr. craven is proud of his son. Colin is also proud himself. He is healthy and happy becaues he can run and play just as Mary and Dickon do. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">** Journal Entry #5 **** Kate LeBere ** <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">** Pages: 225-274 **** Date: January 13, 2012 **  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">**19. What message did you get from the novel? How was this message conveyed?** The message I got from the novel "The Secret Garden" was that magic and miracles are real as long as you believe. This was conveyed in many different ways. Once orphaned, Mary becomes even more depressed then she already was. She thought that her new home would be even lonelier than India, and that she would never make friends. Mary later met Dickon, and she thought that it was a miracle because he was the first person to ever become her friend. She also believed that the garden was magic because she was becoming healthier and stronger. Mary and Dickon believed that the "magic" in the garden was what was making Colin better when it was actually just the fresh air and exercise. Colin believed it too, and he was not afraid to try walking in the garden because he thought it would help him. Dr. Craven believed in miracles when he saw Colin run, and he also believed in magic; not the magic produced by the garden, but the magic of friendship. It was the first time Mary and Colin could say they belonged, and that made them happier which eventually made them healthier. Before the novel began, Mary's father, who was working for the English Government, got a job in India. Mr. Lennox, Mary, and Mary's mother all moved. They lived in a luxurious mansion and always attended amazing parties and banquettes. Mrs. Lennox always used to ignore Mary because she loved to party and dress up. She spent more time on herself than her child, and Mary was left alone to be raised by her Indian servants. The novel definitely met my expectations. It was very well-written and I enjoyed reading it. It was a fairly happy book and eventful. I knew it was a classic, so I suspected a lot from it. I can understand why it is still such a popular book considering its age. The message in the book about miracles and magic can be related to all ages of readers. Adults could read it and enjoy it, and so can kids. The characters were all very inspiring and were developed well which made the book even more fun to read.
 * 3. What has happened before the novel began?**
 * 22. Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations?**

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">** Focus Assignment – Plot Summary ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">//The Secret Garden// takes place in the early 1800s and is about Mary Lennox, a sickly, disagreeable-looking English girl, who is living in India with her parents. A deadly Cholera epidemic breaks out and everyone in the Lennox's household dies except for Mary. She is found by a group of soldiers and is sent to live in Yorkshire with her hunchback uncle, Archibald Craven. Once settled in, Mary learns of a secret garden that once belong to Dr. Craven’s wife. After her death ten years earlier, Dr. Craven decided to lock it up. Mary begins to search for the key and finds it buried by the door to the garden. Mary and her new friend Dickon begin to secretly re-plant the garden together. Later in the novel, Mary begins to hear distant cries in one of the manor’s corridors. The maids refuse to speak of the crying so Mary goes searching for their source. She finds sickly, bedridden Colin, Dr. Craven's hidden son. She learns that Colin was born shortly before his mother's death, and that Dr. Craven hates to look at the boy because he reminds him too much of his deceased wife. Colin believes he will become a hunchback just like his father and is constantly miserable. When Dr. Craven goes on a trip abroad, Mary and Dickon bring Colin outside to the garden in a wheelchair to cheer him up. He becomes stronger and happier the more he visits the garden and can now run like a regular boy. The children believe that the garden is magic, and decide to surprise Dr. Craven with Colin’s progress when he returns from his trip. When Colin's father returns, Dickon’s mother Susan, tells him to go to the garden. The climax of //The Secret Garden// is when Craven opens the door to the garden and Colin comes running out and accidentally falls into his arms. Craven is amazed by Colin's recovery and the father and son are reunited. The novel ends with Craven and Colin walking together happily to tell the rest of the household of this miracle. I really enjoyed //The Secret Garden// and its plot. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable to read. It was written in a way that you actually thought you knew the characters. I believe that the central conflict of the story is how Mary and Colin both were unhappy and felt alone. The title of the book is //The Secret Garden// which is very important because the whole book revolves around the garden. The garden is actually what solves the central conflict because it was able to cheer the children up. In the book, Mary and Colin believe that the garden is magical and is helping them become healthier, when actually all they needed was to believe and make friends. //The Secret Garden// was a very moving and powerful book that made you feel that magic could actually be real. media type="custom" key="12114706"