Unit 7 Section B 1b

The Secret Garden

(A summary of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden)

In this story, Mary Lennox, a spoiled and selfish 10-year-old girl goes to live with her uncle, Mr Craven, after her parents pass away. Her uncle has a huge house, but he is seldom there. Mary spends a lot of time alone and gets bored. At night she often hears crying coming from somewhere.

One day, Mary hears about a beautiful garden. It belonged to her uncle’s wife. After she died, the garden became a painful memory for him, so he locked it up. No one has seen it for ten years. One morning, Mary finds an old key. When it unlocks a half-hidden door, she discovers the secret garden inside! Unfortunately, nobody has taken care of the plants, and therefore, much of it is in a bad state.

Later, Mary tells her secret to a new friend, Dickon. The young boy knows a lot about gardening, and they work together to make the garden beautiful again. One night, Mary hears someone crying again and discovers Colin, her cousin. He is unhappy and weak because he has lived alone in a hidden room since his mother’s death. He has not walked for years because he thinks he has an illness. Mary and Dickon tell him stories about the garden and take him secretly to see it.

Over time, Colin grows stronger. The fresh air and beautiful garden are good for him, and he proves that he is not ill when he gets to his feet for the first time in years! The three friends spend time together in the garden and grow happier day by day.

In the end, Mary’s uncle returns home. To his great surprise, he sees Colin walking and running, and he discovers that the secret garden has become as alive and beautiful as it ever was!