Abstract

Frances Hodgson Burnett’s greatest work, The Secret Garden, was opened by introducing the main character Mary Lennox. Mary was a sour-faced and quite contrary girl, who became an orphan because of a terrible cholera epidemic and she was sent to her uncle after that. It is at her uncle’s, she finds out the secret garden as well as her strange cousin, Colin, who is also presumptuous and liverish. It is in the secret garden, she revives with the garden and regains happiness. The Secret Garden, is titled as major contribution to children’s literature not only because the story is up rather strange, but for it reveals the unique value of “secrets” to children, which is only a tip of the iceberg on children’s psyche. Another meaning of “secret” is a recipe or a tip for something, therefore, the reveal of children’s secrets will also be discussed, which is the Law of Attraction. What is the Law of Attraction? What kind of “secrets” do children process? What do secrets mean to them? All the answers to these questions will be revealed in the thesis.

Key words: secret; growth; magic; The Secret Garden; the Law of Attraction

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

Introduction-1

1. The Secrets in the Growth of Children in the Secret Garden -4

1.1 Two Types of Secrets--- Hidden Secrets ＆ Light Secrets-5

1.2 Three Stages of Secrets-6

1.3 Secrets Promote the Development of Children -9

2. The “Magic” of the Law of Attraction in the Secret Garden -11

2.1 Like Attracts Like---Colin ＆ Mary-11

2.2 Bad Feeling Cannot Exist with Good Thoughts-12

2.3 The Secret Transfer--- Nature-13

3. The Power of the Initiation Guides  -15

3.1 Dickon’s magic-15

3.2 The Power of Martha, Ben Weatherstaff, and Robin -15

3.3 The Power of Motherhood---Susan Sowerby and Ms. Craven -16

Conclusion -18

Bibliography -19