Genre
Children's literature
Setting and Context
Turn of the 20th century in Yorkshire, England
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrator, Mary's point of view
Tone and Mood
The tone is realistic yet progressively hopeful as Mary gains back her health. It takes on a romantic mood throughout, highlighting the beauty of nature and human perseverance.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Mary Lennox, and to some degree Colin Craven | Antagonist: the despair and sickness that brings the characters down
Major Conflict
The major conflict is the effort by Mary Lennox to break through her own despondency as well as the negativity of the Craven household that has come about through unresolved pain and grief.
Climax
The climax of the novel arrives with the return of Colin's father and his encounter with his son in the secret garden. This is the first time any character other than Mary and Dickon sees that Collin is not actually sick.
Foreshadowing
Mary's own determination to nurture the health of the garden, which was at first thought to be a lost cause, foreshadows how she will later persist to help Colin gain back his health and maturity.
Understatement
The book understates much of the difficult time Mary has had in her life prior to arriving in Yorkshire. The story focuses on Mary's recovery and her interest in the garden rather than the fact of her losing her entire family overnight and moving to a completely different environment.
Allusions
The story often alludes to the political state of the British empire, through the position of Mary's parents in India, as well as Mr. Craven's travels.
Imagery
The strongest imagery is that of the garden, which serves as a major symbol of hope and rebirth. The imagery of vibrant nature is connected to the health and vibrancy of human beings.
Paradox
Throughout the book, the narrator seems to support the idea that personal outlook on health and life itself has a direct correlation with physical health. However, the story also suggests that it is “Magic” that restored Colin back to health.
Parallelism
Colln and Mary's transformation from sickly to healthy and rosy-cheeked is directly paralleled within the return of life to the gardens, as well as the flourishing of the roses that Colin's mother loved dearly.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The garden is personified as a living being by all characters who come to know it.
