The Secret Garden | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Chapter 1, "There's No One Left"

1. What do most people think of Mary when they first meet her at the beginning of the book?

2. Why does Mary rarely see her parents while living in India?

3. What does Mary do when she plays outside in India?

4. What does Mary think about her mother at the beginning of the book?

Short Essay Question - Chapter 2, "Mistress Mary Quite Contrary"

5. What nickname is Mary given when she temporarily lives with a clergyman in England?