The Secret Garden: Chapters 13, 14 and 15
Please use this thread for discussing Chapters 13, 14 and 15 of "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. You may also create your own threads if you'd like to make comments that don't necessarily pertain to specific chapters.
Chapter 13 http://www.online-literature.com/burnet ... garden/13/
Chapter 14 http://www.online-literature.com/burnet ... garden/14/
Chapter 15 http://www.online-literature.com/burnet ... garden/15/
-
In total there are 5 users online :: 0 registered, 0 hidden and 5 guests (based on users active over the past 60 minutes)
Most users ever online was 871 on Fri Apr 19, 2024 12:00 am
The Secret Garden: Chapters 13, 14 and 15
- Chris OConnor
-
- BookTalk.org Hall of Fame
- Posts: 17024
- Joined: Sun May 05, 2002 2:43 pm
- 21
- Location: Florida
- Has thanked: 3513 times
- Been thanked: 1309 times
- Gender:
- Contact:
- Ophelia
-
- Oddly Attracted to Books
- Posts: 1543
- Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:33 am
- 16
- Location: France
- Been thanked: 35 times
I've read up to chapter 14. It's a pleasant book.
I don't really have any comments, as everything seems so transparent, so I'll just write a few remarks.
Mr Craven is a stereotype, one of those many absentee upper-class British fathers and uncles in literature.
Martha and her family are almost too nice to be true. It seems that the good people in the book really Are good. Is this typical of children's literature?
You could almost say the author idealizes the poor: happy loving family, living in a very clean cottage. The daughter, Martha, is delighted to spend her one free day per month helping her mother with the washing and baking.
By the way, did servants really only have one day off per month? That's not what I remember from other books.
Anyway, it's not overdone, it doen't become irritating, and of course it's necessary for Mary's development.
I don't really have any comments, as everything seems so transparent, so I'll just write a few remarks.
Mr Craven is a stereotype, one of those many absentee upper-class British fathers and uncles in literature.
Martha and her family are almost too nice to be true. It seems that the good people in the book really Are good. Is this typical of children's literature?
You could almost say the author idealizes the poor: happy loving family, living in a very clean cottage. The daughter, Martha, is delighted to spend her one free day per month helping her mother with the washing and baking.
By the way, did servants really only have one day off per month? That's not what I remember from other books.
Anyway, it's not overdone, it doen't become irritating, and of course it's necessary for Mary's development.
Ophelia.
- realiz
-
- Amazingly Intelligent
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:31 pm
- 15
- Has thanked: 42 times
- Been thanked: 72 times
I noticed a few times the emphasis on cleaniness . Martha's mom keeps a clean house, and Dickon is a clean boy. Goodness and cleaniness, neatness and tidiness. And Dickon is so good and the family is so happy despite having 14 of them living in one house. I've read this book before, my kids loved it, and I'll admit it does make me smile, but it also gets a little dull. There are no surprises here. Maybe I am becoming irritated, but it might be because reading it is bringing back memories of reading to my kids and making me miss them. Maybe it is just the day today.happy loving family, living in a very clean cottage.
- Robert Tulip
-
- BookTalk.org Hall of Fame
- Posts: 6502
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:16 pm
- 18
- Location: Canberra
- Has thanked: 2723 times
- Been thanked: 2665 times
- Contact:
The book is not a narrative drama, with goodies and baddies, but an idealised didactic parable about natural theology. It is intrinsically dull, because it does not use the convention of the novel requiring dramatic plot. Rather, the unfolding drama is the connection between people and the cosmos. In pointing to this magical unity, Burnett is defining a path of salvation. She weaves these complex ideas into a pleasant tale of human redemption, seen in a rather Buddhist fashion of analysing and detaching from personal delusion, and using the knowledge gained to recognise freedom to create the future in accord with the natural law of love.realiz wrote:I noticed a few times the emphasis on cleaniness . Martha's mom keeps a clean house, and Dickon is a clean boy. Goodness and cleaniness, neatness and tidiness. And Dickon is so good and the family is so happy despite having 14 of them living in one house. I've read this book before, my kids loved it, and I'll admit it does make me smile, but it also gets a little dull. There are no surprises here. Maybe I am becoming irritated, but it might be because reading it is bringing back memories of reading to my kids and making me miss them. Maybe it is just the day today.
- giselle
-
- Almost Awesome
- Posts: 900
- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:48 pm
- 15
- Has thanked: 123 times
- Been thanked: 203 times
[quote="Robert TulipThe book is not a narrative drama, with goodies and baddies, but an idealised didactic parable about natural theology. [/quote]
So, if I choose to read this book as a narrative drama designed for the 9-12 year old reader (according to Indigo books), does this mean that I have missed the point of the book? who decides what that "point" is? perhaps my "point" is to entertain my kids ?
So, if I choose to read this book as a narrative drama designed for the 9-12 year old reader (according to Indigo books), does this mean that I have missed the point of the book? who decides what that "point" is? perhaps my "point" is to entertain my kids ?
-
-
Genius
- Posts: 759
- Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:09 am
- 16
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 13 times
- Robert Tulip
-
- BookTalk.org Hall of Fame
- Posts: 6502
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:16 pm
- 18
- Location: Canberra
- Has thanked: 2723 times
- Been thanked: 2665 times
- Contact:
Hi Giselle, yes, I think that is right. Briefly, the 'narrative drama' barely scratches the surface of the purpose of the book, although kids can read it at this superficial level. I think many will find it dull if they are after excitement, as it has no protagonist/antagonist like in Harry Potter, but is intended to convey a message that human psychology separates us from nature and that we can bridge this chasm. Robertgiselle wrote:So, if I choose to read this book as a narrative drama designed for the 9-12 year old reader (according to Indigo books), does this mean that I have missed the point of the book? who decides what that "point" is? perhaps my "point" is to entertain my kids ?
Last edited by Robert Tulip on Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- realiz
-
- Amazingly Intelligent
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:31 pm
- 15
- Has thanked: 42 times
- Been thanked: 72 times
All my kids loved this book and I think that they get more out of it than the superficial level you speak of here even if they cannot define what it makes them feel. It is what makes good children's literature good, the different levels that can be introduced and begun to be understood by kids even before they have the ability to completely grasp these concepts.although kids can read it at this superficial level. I think many will find it dull if they are after excitement
-
-
Genius
- Posts: 759
- Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:09 am
- 16
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 13 times
Well, that's what kids need - a point blank simple demonstration that good wins over bad.
Always be a good person . . . that's what the book is saying.
The uncle, the housekeeper . . . we start out seeing them as being possible 'bads'. But they're just people really.
The uncle is doing what he thinks he has to do . . . the housekeeper is doing what she thinks she has to do.
The kids will lead them into the light, I'm sure.
Always be a good person . . . that's what the book is saying.
The uncle, the housekeeper . . . we start out seeing them as being possible 'bads'. But they're just people really.
The uncle is doing what he thinks he has to do . . . the housekeeper is doing what she thinks she has to do.
The kids will lead them into the light, I'm sure.
-
-
Genius
- Posts: 759
- Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:09 am
- 16
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 13 times