Swiss Family Robinson- Author, theme, question & answers notes
About Author:
Johnn David Wyss was a priest in Berner, Switzerland. He was born on 28th may 1743. He could speak four languages. He had four sons. He loved nature and often took the boys on long walks and hunting trips. He also enjoyed reading to children and wrote stories for their entertainment.
Swiss Family Robinson was created for his sons who loved adventures like Daniel Dedoe’s “The adventures of Robinson Crusoe”. Johann David Wyss based the characters in the story on his own family, so the main characters are Pastor, his wife and four sons. The writer wanted to teach his sons about the importance of respecting nature and seeking knowledge as well as about human kindness so, he uses the story to talk about these things and teach a lesson to his children.
However, the story remained incomplete and disorganized, as it was created mainly for entertainment. When he grew older, Johann Rudolf found his father’s manuscript of the story and got his permission to edit and publish it. Another son, Johann Emmanuel Wyss, made illustrations and the book was finally published in German in 1812. It became popular and was translated into English in 1814. Along with the various translations, came numerous adaptations of the book, which offer variations and different endings of the story. There have been various adaptations of the story in books, TV series and the films. The basic ideas, however, are survival, family love and love for nature.
OUTLINE OF STORY-
Swiss Family Robinson adapted by H Q Mitchell and Marileni Malkogianni
Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Bell’s ship pushed towards an island during a thunderstorm- the crew met a man named Pastor on the island- Pastor was living on the island with his wife and four sons for four years after their ship wrecked in a storm- captain asked the Pastor to join them, if he wants to go back- Pastor told the captain that he would be here in the morning with his family- Pastor gave Lieutenant Bell, a diary where everything was written about his life on the island-he requested the captain to handover this diary to his brother in Switzerland-Pastor went inside island to bring his family to the ship- Captain Johnson and lieutenant Bell started reading the Pastor’s diary- the diary tells the adventures of the family and the story goes on from here- the family’s survival, struggle and bonding on the island- Captain Johnson’s crew slept in the ship-another thunderstorm hit the ship-broke the anchor-the uncontrolled ship left the island without taking the Pastor’s family.
THEME
The basis themes of novel Swiss Family Robinson are:
Don’t lose hope, be calm, be kind to animals, nature is teacher, respect nature’s laws, be grateful, be patient, be faithful, theme of survival
Main characters:
Pastor (head of
family), Elizabeth (his wife), his four sons: Fritz 14, Earnest 12, Jack 10,
Franz 8.
Side characters:
Lieutenant Bell,
Captain Johnson
CH# 1
Q 1. What happened to the Pastor’s ship?
The Pastor’s ship was crashed into the rock during a thunderstorm.
Q. Why the family
couldn’t get into lifeboats?
When they went to the deck, there was no body, even no lifeboats. They realized that they were left alone.
Q. How the family
reached nearby island?
Working on Jack’s idea of a big tub, Pastor joined eight empty casks together in order to create a boat made of barrels. After connected by two long pieces of wood, the raft finally floated towards near island carrying the family.
Q. What did the
family find after searching through the ship?
They found many useful things: gunpowder, nails, fishing rods, hammer, axes, and scissors. They also found a cow, chickens, two dogs and pigeons on the ship.
Q. Why was Swiss
family travelling?
Swiss family was going to Australia to start a new life.
Q. How did the Pastor
and his son manage to bring the animals to the island?
They put casks on both sides of the animals and let them float to the sea.
Q. How the family
arranged their crockery on the island?
The family used oyster shells as spoons. They used gourds’ shells to make bowls, plates, kitchen utensils and bottles.
Q. What surprise did
Jack and Earnest have for his father and Fritz?
Jack made a belt using animal skin.
Q. Why Elizabeth
suggested making a tree house?
She suggested so they could sleep without worrying about the jackal and other dangerous animals.
Q. What else did the
family make working together?
They made a family bridge, tree house, a ladder together.
Q. Why Elizabeth felt
dizzy and what happened to her?
Elizabeth was working hard to serve her family. She was not getting any house help from the family. One day, she was climbing down the stairs, when she felt dizzy. She fell down of the wooden stairs. Her foot swelled. His sons helped her to take to the bed. The family promised to help her in house chores.
Q. What happened to
donkey named Grizzle?
One day Grizzle disappeared. The family felt sad and hoped that Grizzle would come back one day. After a few days, Grizzle came back with his friend who was pregnant. The family was cherishing on Grizzle’s new life when Franz saw a long snake passing by. The snake hid in the bushes. Grizzle was roaming near the bushes when snake attacked and swallowed him. Pastors shoot the snake. Boys took Grizzle’s body out of snake and buried him. Franz put a sign on the grave:
Old Grizzle final
home
He saved six lives by
giving his own.
Q. What was the idea
to survive the cold weather on the island?
The families dig a cave to use as their home. It was a beautiful crystal cave having 3 rooms.
Q. What did the
Captain Johnson think when he finished reading the pastor’s diary? Do you agree
with them?
Captain Johnson thought it was a paradise. They live, eat and sleep like kings. They had learnt to make everything. They were living a comfortable life. yes, I agree with him because it was a life full of freedom and adventures.
Q. Imagine you’re
Lieutenant Bell. Write a letter to the Pastor’s brother in Swizerland arranging
for you to meet and give him the pastor’s diary. Tell him about the pastor’s
family and their life on the island?
Lieutenant Bell
Adventurer
Australia
Dear pastor’s
brother,
Hope you’re fine. I’ am writing to inform you
about your brother’s family. The family of your brother is safe. They’re
staying on an island. I met them during my recent voyage. Pastor has given me a
diary, so that I can deliver it to you.
They’re living a good
life on that island. They have learnt many things. They have their own tree
house, a cave house and a tent house. They have tamed many animals to help
them. Pastor wants to let you know about his survival story.
Please see me on the
national museum this weekend, so that I can hand over pastor’s diary to you.
Regards,
L.B.
Q. What