The villagers believed Michael to be an unfortunate son of Helen’s late brother, George Turrell and his beloved (not wife). Actually, it was not so. She had created a false story about Michael’s parents. Michael was born when Helen was in the southern part of France. She had told lies about her trip that she had long troubles. Because of the fear of social stigma she had told another lie that she had arranged for the passage of the child and a nurse from Bombay. She was thirty-five when she gave birth to the child. She showed much fondness to the child despite the fact that she was not the child lover.
Michael got maturity in due course of time but his interest in Helen was constant and increasing throughout. Though Helen wanted him to go to Oxford University, he took war as his career. The World War I was going on. Many soldiers were killed during the war. Michael was killed by the shell-splinter explosion. After getting full proof about his death, Helen, being a next of –kin, prepared to go and see his grave in Hazenzeelein the third Military Cemetery with perfect information.
Next morning she walked alone towards the grave. As she was searching at the meantime she saw a man knelt behind a line of headstones-evidently a gardener. He did not introduce with her neither did he salute her. He asked her who she was looking for. She said it was Lieutenant Michael Turrell, her nephew. He had finite compassion in his expression and eyes. He said he would show her where her ‘son’ lay. She went away, supposing him to be the gardener when she left the cemetery.
Understanding (page 180)
1. What is the real relationship Between Helen and Michael?
Ans: The Relationship between Helen and Michael is they were mother and son.
2. What is the truth behind each of the lies Helen tells the village at the beginning of the story? Why does she tell these lies?
Ans: Helen turrel always told lies to the villagers because when Helen Turrell was a thirty-five years independent young woman. She fell in love with a young man of lower status than her and became pregnant. Frightened with criticism of society, she made a false story that her brother George Turrell had a relationship with the daughter of the retired non-commissioned police officer. She also says that before George Terrell’s death. George gave birth to a child, later on, George died falling from a horse.
She had to take care of that child.
Since she was unmarried so she was afraid of society to declare Michael as her son hence she told lies.
3. How do we know who the gardener really is?
Ans: In the story, At last there is mentioned one gardener whose role is very suspencial. He told Helen directly Michael directly as her son. ‘The Gardener’ ends surprisingly revealing the reality of Helen, the protagonist, and her relationship with Michael.The gardener is a mysterious character who does not appear at first and in the middle but only at the last of the story creating confusions in the readers who directly Claimed Michael as Helen's son .The person who was the eyewitness of the death of Michael was a gardener. According to this story, the gardener reveals the truth. The Gardener is seen at the end of this story at the graveyard. And when Helen reaches the graveyard, the gardener asks Helen who she is looking for. When Helen replies that, she is looking for her nephew. Then the Gardener says “Come with me and I will show you where your son lies.” The gardener was able to show her Michael’s name through Helen hadn’t said any grave number. So I think that God was incarnated in form of a gardener. So the gardener must be God. So, by observing his activities we can know(Guess) who the gardener is really is.
Tips for exam
* The same above questions are asked in exam but for 5 marks or sometime for 10 marks
You should elaborate the answers.
You should elaborate the answers.
* To Elaborate Every time you write a short summary in 1st paragraph,
* Now give the answer of asked questions in 2nd paragraph,
* If you don't feel bore writing answers you can make it of 3 paragraphs by concluding the main theme of answer in 3rd paragraph.
Example :: How do we know who the gardener really is?
Rudyard Kipling, in his Story "The Gardener" he explains a character Helen Turrel who unfortunately had a child before marriage.‘The Gardener’ ends surprisingly revealing the reality of Helen, the protagonist, and her relationship with Michael. Michael, whom Helen calls nephew, is in reality, her son whose father is unknown throughout the story. The gardener is a mysterious character who does not appear at first and in the middle but only at the last of the story creating confusions in the readers.
In the story, At last there is mentioned one gardener whose role is very suspencial. He told Helen directly Michael directly as her son. ‘The Gardener’ ends surprisingly revealing the reality of Helen, the protagonist, and her relationship with Michael.The gardener is a mysterious character who does not appear at first and in the middle but only at the last of the story creating confusions in the readers who directly Claimed Michael as Helen's son .The person who was the eyewitness of the death of Michael was a gardener. According to this story, the gardener reveals the truth. The Gardener is seen at the end of this story at the graveyard. And when Helen reaches the graveyard, the gardener asks Helen who she is looking for. When Helen replies that, she is looking for her nephew. Then the Gardener says “Come with me and I will show you where your son lies.”
The gardener was able to show her Michael’s name through Helen hadn’t said any grave number. So I think that God was incarnated in form of a gardener. So the gardener must be God. So, by observing his activities we can know(Guess) who the gardener is really is.
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