Final answer:
Frances Hodgson Burnett's personal experiences of hardship and her love for nature deeply influenced 'The Secret Garden,' where themes of growth and renewal reflect her life views. Burnett believed in nature's therapeutic effects, which is evident in the transformative journey of her characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The life experiences and views of Frances Hodgson Burnett regarding the novel "The Secret Garden" reflected in her work are closely tied to the themes of rejuvenation and the healing power of nature. Burnett's own life, marked by hardships such as the death of her father and the financial instability of her family, showed her the stark contrasts between joy and sorrow, health and ailment. This personal background informed the transformative journey of the novel's protagonist, Mary Lennox, a once sour and unloved child who blooms into a compassionate and lively individual thanks to the discovery of a hidden, neglected garden. Burnett's affinity for gardens and the natural world is evident through the intricate descriptions of the garden's revival paralleling that of the characters. This motif illustrates her belief in the therapeutic effects of nature—reflecting her personal retreat into gardening during times of stress. Themes of growth and renewal are central to Burnett's novel, mirroring her own life's ups and downs. She often wrote about children overcoming dire situations, much like her own experiences of facing adversity and finding solace and strength in nature.