We’re Not Afraid to Die... If We Can All be Together

Question

Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text. Give a subtitle to each section.

Answer

“We are not Afraid to Die.........” is a first person account of an adventurous ordeal that a family experiences during the voyage. There are three sections of the text. The narration of events matches the mood of the voyage. The first section describes how the voyage began with great hope and fanfare in July 1976. They were attempting to ‘duplicate the round-the-world voyage made 200 years earlier by Captain James Cook. Wavewalker had been professionally built. It was thoroughly tested in the roughest weather. They sailed down to Cape Town. The trouble started only when they left Cape Town. On January 2, the waves were gigantic. The narration of the events mirrors the hectic efforts of the captain and the crew to protect Wavewalker.

The second section : “Search for an Island” describes their struggle for survival for the last 15 hours. On January 4, they ate their first meal in almost two days. But the respite was short lived. This also captures the highly emotional response of the children. Jon declared : 'We aren’t afraid of dying if we can all be together—you and Mummy, Sue and I.”

In the last section “Cheerful Landing” the narration shifts back to the relaxed style. The captain was sure to reach lle Amsterdam. Jon gave the good news. The island was in front of them. All the 28 inhabitants were there to cheer and help them ashore.

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Some More Questions From We’re Not Afraid to Die... If We Can All be Together Chapter

The following words used in the text as ship terminology are also commonly used in another sense. In what contexts would you use the other meaning?

knot

stern

boom

hatch

anchor

The following three compound words end in-ship. What does each of them mean?

airship

flagship

lightship

The following are the meanings listed in the dictionary against the phrase ‘take on’. In which meaning is it used in the third paragraph of the account:

take on sth: to begin to have a particular quality or appearance ; to assume sth

take sb on: to employ sb ; to engage sb

to accept sb as one’s opponent in a game, contest or conflict

take sb / sth on: to decide to do sth ; to allow sth/sb to enter e.g. a bus, plane or ship ; to take sth/sb on board

Given on the next page is a picture of a yacht. Label the parts of the yacht using the terms given in the box.

bow

cabin

rudder

cockpit

stern

boom

mainsail

mast


Here is some information downloaded from the Internet on lle Amsterdam. You can view images of the isle if you go online.

Location

South Indian Ocean, between southernmost parts of Australia and South Africa

Latitude and longitude

37 92 S, 77 67 E

Sovereignty

France

Political status notes

Part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Population

35

Census notes

Meteorological station staff

Land area in square kilometres

86

Locate lle Amsterdam on the world map. Ans. For self-attempt.

Whom did the narrator and his family want to duplicate and why?

Describe the boat and the plan of the journey.

How did they pass the first leg of their journey?

When and how did they encounter their first troubles during the long voyage?