We are not afraid to die Flashcards
Describe the mental condition of the voyagers on 4th and 5th January.
On 4th January, after pumping out water continuously for 36 hours, the voyagers felt relieved. They consumed their first meal in two days. But their break was short-lived. On 5th January, they faced a dangerous situation. The fear of death appeared huge and they underwent great mental stress.
Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text. Give a subtitle to each section.
The first section explains a peaceful journey from Plymouth in England to 3500 km east of Cape Town in Africa. The narrator is fully confident and relaxed. Then they faced huge waves as the weather deteriorated. To save themselves, they took precautionary measures and struggled with the disaster. The narration becomes grim, but exudes confidence and illustrates their fighting spirit and strong will power. The Wave-walker rode out of the storm by 6th January morning, and by evening, they sighted the Ile Amsterdam Island. Now the narrator is relaxed. Relief, joy and confidence are apparent.
What difference did you notice between the reaction of the adults and the children when faced with danger?
There are lots of differences in the way the children and adults reacted when faced with danger. The adults initially felt the stress of the situation. But they soon garnered strength and prepared themselves to face it. When the rough weather began, enough precautions were taken to protect the ship. Everyone was equipped with water-proof clothes, lifelines and life jackets. Herb and Larry worked optimistically and cheerfully for three continuous days to pump the water out from the ship. The narrator at the wheel was replaced by Mary who steered the ship when the deck was smashed. She served them meals after a struggle of two days against all odds. As a captain, the narrator performed his role with determination, courage, responsibility and resourcefulness. He undertook the repair work by providing apparatus and giving the directions which were required to protect the ship. He helped in steering the ship towards the island. The children suffered patiently and silently. Sue, with her troubles, did not bother her father. Jon behaved courageously and was not scared to die if everyone perished together.
How does the story suggest that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”?
The story suggests that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”. The behaviour of four adults throughout the crisis bears it out. Herb Seigler and Larry Vigil were the two crewmen. As the deck was smashed by the huge waves, water entered the ship from the openings and holes. From the evening of 2nd January, Herb and Larry started to pump out water. They worked feverishly, excitedly and continuously for about 36 hours. As a result of pumping continuously, they reached the last few centimeters of water on 4th January. They stayed optimistic and cheerful while facing dangerous situations. The narrator did not lose his presence of mind, hope or courage while facing problems. He was not worried about the equipment loss and used whatever was present there. His practical knowledge and self-confidence helped them steer out of the storm and reach the Ile Amsterdam Island. In those difficult hours, Mary remained at the wheel. She did not lose courage or hope either.
What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face-to-face with death?
Hazardous experiences bring us face-to-face with death and impart a few crucial lessons. Our life is not always a bed of roses. We must respond to risks and danger with fortitude and patience. The real test of character is adversity. The purity of gold is decided by putting it on fire. So, hazardous experiences of life bring the best out of us. Before death, cowards die many times. Negative feelings like fear lead to inactivity and abject surrender to situations. Such soldiers or sailors lose the war against difficulties in life. On the other hand, people with courage, self-confidence, presence of mind and resourcefulness face the dangers bravely and successfully come out of all disasters. Their caring and sharing attitude inspires others to face difficult situations boldly and steer through them with fortitude.
The message behind the quote, “We’re Not Afraid to Die if We All Can Be Together,”
The message behind the quote, “We’re Not Afraid to Die if We All Can Be Together,” emphasizes the importance of togetherness, unity, selflessness, and sacrifice. It encourages people to prioritize the well-being of others over their personal comfort and safety and work towards a common goal.
Character sketch if Jonathan
He is an optimist and believes that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. He is strong-willed and determined to fight for justice, even if it means putting his own life on the line. He possesses immense courage and is not afraid to die for a cause he believes in.
What is the role of Mary in we are not afraid to die?
Mary was the narrator’s wife. She was a courageous and brave woman. She stood by her husband after the wave badly damaged the boat. She steered the boat according to her husband’s instructions.
What Was the Narrator’s Dream?
The narrator’s dream was to go on a voyage around the world. He got his inspiration from captain James Cook and wanted to break his record.
The Sailing Was Set from Which Place to Which Other?
The sailing was set from England and it was to end in Australia.
Who Were the Voyagers That Set Sail from England to Reach Australia?
- The voyagers belonged to the same family. The family had- the narrator who was a 37-year-old businessman, his wife Mary and their son Jonathan and a daughter Sue.
Name the Two Crewmen That Went With the Family on the Voyage? How Did They Contribute to the Project?
The crewmen were Larry, an American, and Herb, a Swiss. The narrator stopped at Cape Town and picked the crewmen before heading Eastward. They were there to help the family to tackle the world’s roughest sea, the Southern Indian Ocean. They also helped the family by pumping out water.
What Were the Preparations That Were Made by the Narrator for the Journey?
The narrator’s dream was to sail around the world. He worked hard for sixteen years on the project and mastered navigation in his spare time. He also built a boat. It was 23-meter long and weighed 30 tons. He named the boat Wave walker.
On January 6, What News Was Given to the Narrator by His Children?
At 6 p.m. on January 6, the narrator’s son Joe goes to him and wakes him up hugged him, and said: “he was the best daddy in the world, and the best captain”. His daughter gave him the good news that they had reached Ile Amsterdam.
How the Narrator Got Inspired to Take a Risky Voyage.
Answer-The narrator was a businessman by profession but he always had a dream of going around the world in a boat. The narrator was inspired by the achievement of Captain James Cook and wanted to match his record of 200 years ago. Although the narrator knew about the risks involved with going on the voyage and the dangers of the Southern Indian Ocean, he showed courage and took the step and went on the voyage. He showed the spirit of a true adventurer and fighter and never lost the will to voyage through any tough situations that came in his journey.
