We’re Not Afraid to Die... If We Can All be Together
Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text. Give a subtitle to each section.
“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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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?
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