We’re Not Afraid to Die If We Can All Be Together 2024 PDF

Courage to face near-certain death The title “We Are Not Afraid to Die” is significant because it captures the essence of the story’s main theme: the courage to face near-certain death. It reflects the protagonists’ bravery and their determination to persevere despite the dire circum...

Courage to face near-certain death The title “We Are Not Afraid to Die” is significant because it captures the essence of the story’s main theme: the courage to face near-certain death. It reflects the protagonists’ bravery and their determination to persevere despite the dire circumstances they encounter on their journey. “We’re Not Afraid to Die If We Can All Be Together” is a biographical account of a journey in the southern Indian Ocean. It is written by Gordon Cook and Alan East and represents the awakening of survival instincts in adverse situations. The story is told in a narrative mode. The narrator here is a businessman who is 37 and has always wanted to complete an around-the-world voyage as Captain James Cook did many years ago. His love for his children – Suzanne and Jonathon – make him stronger in the face of uncertainty and devastation. He and his family learned seafaring skills for sixteen years and finally set out for the journey on a professionally- built ship – the Wavewalker. They tested the ship by exposing it to the roughest weather for several months. https://msroclassroom.com/class-11-were-not-afraid-to-die-full-analysis/ WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO DIE… SUMMARY SUMMARY Writing a summary of a story requires understanding its plot, characters, themes, and significant events. The goal is to provide the reader with a concise, comprehensive overview of the story. This article will guide you through the process of writing a summary using the story “We Are Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together” by Gordon Cook and Alan East. Table of Contents Step 1: Read and Understand the Story Step 2: Identify Key Elements Step 3: Write the Introduction Step 4: Detail the Story in a Concise Manner Step 5: Discuss Themes  Step 6: Conclude the Summary Step 7: Review and Polishing We Are Not Afraid to Die… Summary Example #1 We Are Not Afraid to Die… Summary Example #2 We Are Not Afraid to Die… Summary Example #3 Step 1: Read and Understand the Story The first step in summarizing a story is to read it thoroughly and understand it. “We Are Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together” is a thrilling narrative of a family’s survival against the odds at sea. Step 2: Identify Key Elements To write an effective summary, identify the key elements of the story. Plot: The story recounts the Cook family’s harrowing journey around the world on a ship, which nearly capsizes after encountering a severe storm, and their struggle for survival. Characters: The main characters include Gordon Cook, his wife Mary, their children, and the crew members Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler. Theme: The story revolves around themes of courage, survival, family unity, and the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Step 3: Write the Introduction The introduction should provide a brief overview of the story. For example: “We Are Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together” by Gordon Cook and Alan East is a riveting account of the Cook family’s perilous voyage around the world, their battle against a violent storm, and their unyielding spirit of survival and family unity. Step 4: Detail the Story in a Concise Manner The body of your summary should provide a brief description of the story. Gordon Cook, along with his wife, children, and crew, embark on a journey around the world on a ship called the Wavewalker. After a successful start, they encounter a massive storm that severely damages their ship. Despite the danger, the family and crew work together to repair the damage and keep the ship afloat. The children show remarkable courage, declaring they are not afraid to die if they all stay together. Their ordeal continues for several days until they sight land. With the help of local islanders, they manage to repair their ship and eventually continue their journey. Step 5: Discuss Themes Discuss the major themes of the story briefly. The story highlights the themes of courage, resilience, family unity, and survival. The Cook family and their crew demonstrate immense bravery and tenacity in the face of potential disaster. The family’s unity is a crucial element of their survival and their determination to stay together, even in the face of death, is a powerful testament to their bond. Step 6: Conclude the Summary In conclusion, “We Are Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together” is a gripping tale of a family’s resilience and unity in the face of adversity. Their courageous journey serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of familial bonds. Step 7: Review and Polishing Finally, review your summary to ensure it accurately reflects the essence of the story and that it is free from grammatical errors. In summarizing a story like “We Are Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together,” understanding the plot, characters, and themes is as important as narrating the events. It requires a careful reading and comprehension of the story, followed by a concise retelling that encapsulates its essence. With practice, you’ll be able to craft summaries that accurately convey the crux of a story to readers. We Are Not Afraid to Die… Summary Example #1 “We Are Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together” is an inspiring narrative by Gordon Cook and Alan East, recounting a real-life adventure at sea. The story begins with the narrator, Gordon Cook, his wife Mary, and their two children, embarking on a journey to duplicate the round-the-world voyage made by Captain James Cook in 1772. They are accompanied by two crew members, Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler. Their vessel is the Wavewalker, a 23-meter-long ship that had been previously docked in Plymouth, England. Their voyage starts smoothly, and they spend their first few months exploring various places. However, on January 2, 1974, as they are sailing in the southern Indian Ocean, they encounter bad weather. The waves are enormous, and a gigantic wave hits the ship, causing significant damage. The ship is flooded, the decks are broken, and the crew suffers injuries. The situation seems dire, and survival appears nearly impossible. Despite the grave circumstances, the family and crew display remarkable courage and resilience. They work tirelessly to pump out the water and make necessary repairs to the ship. The children, in particular, show extraordinary bravery. Even in the face of possible death, they declare that they are not afraid to die if they can all be together. The family’s predicament continues for several days. At last, on the sixth day, they sight land. It is the island of Ile Amsterdam, a French scientific base. With the help of the islanders, they repair their ship and, after a restful stay, continue their journey. “We Are Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together” is a gripping tale of survival, bravery, and family unity. The story highlights the strength of the human spirit, the power of hope, and the unbreakable bonds of family in the face of adversity. We Are Not Afraid to Die… Summary Example #2 Absolutely, here’s another summary of “We Are Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together” by Gordon Cook and Alan East. The tale is a riveting first-person account of a family’s adventurous journey at sea and their determination to survive against all odds. Gordon Cook, the narrator, his wife Mary, their children, and two crew members, Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler, set out to replicate the global voyage made by Captain James Cook in 1772. Their ship, the Wavewalker, is a sturdy 23-meter vessel. Their expedition commences on a high note, with the family enjoying the initial months exploring different places. However, the situation takes a drastic turn when they sail into a tremendous storm in the southern Indian Ocean on January 2, 1974. The Wavewalker is severely damaged by colossal waves, including a monstrous one that floods the ship, wrecks the decks, and injures the crew. Despite the dire circumstances, the family and crew exemplify remarkable courage and resilience. They tirelessly work to pump out the water and repair the ship, demonstrating an unwavering will to survive. The children show an exceptional level of bravery, stating that they are not afraid to die as long as they are together. After enduring several days of hardship, they finally spot land – the island of Ile Amsterdam. The island’s inhabitants assist them in repairing the Wavewalker, and after a recuperative stay, they resume their journey. In summary, “We Are Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together” is a powerful narrative of courage, survival, and familial unity. It underscores the indomitable human spirit and the strength of family bonds when faced with life-threatening adversity. We Are Not Afraid to Die… Summary Example #3 The story is an engaging narrative that recounts the harrowing sea voyage of the Cook family and their unwavering determination to survive in the face of adversity. The narrator, Gordon Cook, his wife Mary, their children and two crew members, Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler, initiate an ambitious journey to circumnavigate the globe, emulating Captain James Cook’s voyage in 1772. Their vessel, the Wavewalker, a 23-meter-long ship, carries them on this adventurous journey. The initial phase of the journey is enjoyable and relatively peaceful, with the family spending a few pleasant months exploring various destinations. However, their circumstances dramatically change when they confront a massive storm in the southern Indian Ocean on January 2, 1974. The Wavewalker is critically damaged by gigantic waves, causing flooding within the ship, breaking decks, and inflicting injuries on the crew. In spite of the seemingly hopeless situation, the family and crew members demonstrate exceptional courage and tenacity. They work relentlessly to drain the water and carry out necessary repairs on the ship. The children, in particular, display extraordinary bravery and resolve, asserting that they are not afraid of dying as long as they are together. After enduring several days of struggle, their ordeal ends when they sight the island of Ile Amsterdam. With the assistance of the island’s inhabitants, they manage to repair the Wavewalker and, after a period of rest and recovery, they continue their voyage. In essence, “We Are Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together” is a gripping tale of survival, resilience, and the power of familial bonds. It underscores the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the most challenging circumstances and the strength derived from unity in times of crisis. https://www.mrgregenglish.com/we-are-not-afraid-to-die-summary/ “We’re Not Afraid to Die Introduction We are not Afraid to Die Written by Gordan Cook and Alan East, the story is about a 37 year old businessman who is the narrator of the story. He has a wife named Mary and two children, Jonathan, aged 6 and Suzanne, aged 7. He and his wife both dream of a voyage around the world on their ship ‘Wave walker’ which is a 23 meter long, 30 ton wooden-hulled, just like that of the famous Captain James Cook. The whole family started sailing from Plymouth, England on July 1976. The initial phase of the three-year-long journey was from Africa to Cape Town. It was pleasant. While heading east, along with two newly hired crewmen, strong waves hit them and their survival became a question. The story tells us about how they fought each day and survived till the end. We are Not Afraid To Die Summary – The narrator and his wife plan a voyage around the world just like famous Captain James Cook. They have been preparing and perfecting their seafaring skills for the past 16 years. They get a ship which is 23 meters long and weighs 30 tons wooden-hulled, named Wave Walker. They test it in the rough weather for months. In July 1976, they all start their journey from Plymouth, England. They sail from Africa to Cape Town which was quite a pleasant journey. Before heading East, the narrator hired two crewmen, Larry Vigil, and Herb Seigler, to help them tackle one of the roughest sea – the Southern Indian Ocean. They encounter strong and alarming waves during the second day. By December 25, they all manage to reach 35,000 kilometers east of Cape Town. The family, somehow, manages to surpass the bad weather and celebrates Christmas together. The weather changes for the worse and on January 2, the big waves hit them. They try to slow the ship down by dropping storm jib and hit a heavy mooring rope in a loop across a stern but it doesn’t help much. They carry their life-raft drill, attach lifelines, don life jackets and oilskins. Later, in the evening, a vertical and huge wave strikes the ship and the narrator is thrown off from the ship. He accepts his ‘approaching death’ and starts losing consciousness. When the ship is about to overturn, a huge wave hit again and turns it right back. He suffers injuries in ribs and mouth. He grabs the guard rail and sails into the ship’s main boom. He instructs his wife Mary to guard the wheel as he realizes that the ship has water in the lower parts. His crewman starts pumping out the water. The narrator goes to his children’s cabin and checks on them. His daughter, Sue, informs him about a bump on her head which he ignores because his major concern is to save the ship. The narrator does water-proofing on the gaping holes. This makes water to deviate on the right side. The hand pump gets blocked due to debris and electric-pump gets short-circuited. However, he later finds a spare electric pump and connects it to drain the water. They all keep pumping the water all night long. Their Mayday calls are not answered as they are in the remotest corner of the world. Sue, on the other hand, has now a swollen black eye and a deep cut in her arm. On being asked by her father about her injuries, she tells him she didn’t want him to worry as he was trying to save them. After 15 hours the situation gets under control. The narrator decides to work in rotation and rests. The water levels are controlled but the leaks were still there, below the waterline. The ship is in bad shape now. It is not in a condition to reach Australia, and so, they decide to reach the nearest island, lle Amsterdam, a French Scientific base. As their supporting engines were also damaged, the chances of the ship to reach the destination are low. After pumping the water out continuously for 36 hours, they took a sigh of relief. Only a few centimeters of water was left to be pumped out of the boat. They hoisted the storm jib as the mainmast was destroyed. They ate their first meal in two days, some corned beef and crackers. The weather soon started changing and again the black clouds took over by the morning of January 5. His son, Jonathan, told him that he didn’t fear death as long as they were all together. This filled him with determination to fight the sea. The struggle continued and the narrator tried his best to protect the weakened starboard side. The same evening, the narrator and his wife sat together holding hands, thinking that their end was near. His children continuously supported him which gave him moral support to keep going. The Wavewalker sailed through the storm and made it. The narrator then calculated their exact position by working on the wind speed. While he was brainstorming, Sue, gave him a card that she had made expressing her love and gratitude towards the family. He instructed Larry to steer the course to 185 degrees. He said that if they were lucky, they could hope to find an island by 5 pm. He dozed off and suddenly got up around 6 pm. He believed that they didn’t make it and was disappointed. His son came and informed him about how they reached the lle Amsterdam Island and he called him ‘best daddy’ and ‘best captain’. They reached the island with little struggle and with the help of inhabitants. The whole team, the family and two crew members, never stopped trying. Their struggle and hard work finally saved them. “We’re Not Afraid to Die Lesson Explanation Passage: IN July 1976, my wife Mary, son Jonathan, 6, daughter Suzanne, 7, and I set sail from Plymouth, England, to duplicate the round-the-world voyage made 200 years earlier by Captain James Cook. For the longest time, Mary and I — a 37-year-old businessman — had dreamt of sailing in the wake of the famous explorer, and for the past 16 years, we had spent all our leisure time honing our seafaring skills in British waters. Our boat Wavewalker, a 23 meter, 30-ton wooden-hulled beauty, had been professionally built, and we had spent months fitting it out and testing it in the roughest weather we could find. Word Meaning: Voyage – a long journey by sea or space Leisure – free time Honing – sharpen, improving Seafaring – regularly traveling by sea Honing our seafaring skills – improving the skills required to travel by sea Wooden-hulled – a watertight body of a ship Explanation of the above passage: The narrator, 37-year-old businessman, along with his wife Mary and two children – Jonathan (age 6) and Suzanne (age 7) went on a voyage on their ship in July 1976. They started from Plymouth, England. They wanted to complete the sea trip around the world just like the one that had been completed 200 years ago by the famous Captain James Cook. The narrator and his wife spent 16 years improving their seafaring skills. They got a ship built professionally, a 23 meter long, 30 ton heavy wooden-hulled called ‘Wavewalker’. They took several months to test it in the roughest of weathers. Passage: The first leg of our planned three-year, 105,000 kilometre journey passed pleasantly as we sailed down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town. There, before heading east, we took on two crewmen — American Larry Vigil and Swiss Herb Seigler — to help us tackle one of the world’s roughest seas, the southern Indian Ocean. On our second day out of Cape Town, we began to encounter strong gales. For the next few weeks, they blew continuously. Gales did not worry me; but the size of the waves was alarming — up to 15 metres, as high as our main mast. Word Meaning: Gales – A very strong wind Mast – a tall upright structure on a boat or ship Explanation of the above passage: The initial phase of the three-year long journey of 105,000 kilometre passed pleasantly. They sailed down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town. The narrator hired two crewmen before heading towards the east to tackle the roughest sea- the southern Indian Ocean. Their names were Larry Vigil, an American and Herb Seigler, a Swiss. On the second day in Cape Town, they encountered a strong wind which continued for several weeks. A strong wind was not a problem but 15 metres high waves, which were the height of the mast, worried the narrator. Passage: December 25 found us 3,500 kilometres east of Cape Town. Despite atrocious weather, we had a wonderful holiday complete with a Christmas tree. New Year’s Day saw no improvement in the weather, but we reasoned that it had to change soon. And it did change — for the worse. At dawn on January 2, the waves were gigantic. We were sailing with only a small storm jib and were still making eight knots. As the ship rose to the top of each wave we could see endless enormous seas rolling towards us, and the screaming of the wind and spray was painful to the ears. To slow the boat down, we dropped the storm jib and lashed a heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stern. Then we double-lashed everything, went through our life-raft drill, attached lifelines, donned oilskins and life jackets — and waited. Word Meaning: Atrocious – bad; of a very poor quality Gigantic – huge; of a big size Jib – a triangular staysail set forward the mast in a ship Knots – a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, used especially of ships, aircraft, or winds Enormous – a very large size Lashed – to hit with a lot of force Mooring – the ropes, chains, or anchors by or to which a boat, ship, or buoy is moored Loop – a shape produced that bends round and crosses; bent Stern – the back part of a ship or a boat Donned – put on, wore Oilskins – heavy cotton cloth waterproofed with oil Explanation of the above passage: On December 25, they had travelled 3,500 kilometres east of Cape Town. They celebrated Christmas together, despite the bad weather. The weather remained the same till New Year’s Day but they hoped for it to change soon. The weather conditions worsened. On the early morning of January 2, the waves were very huge. They were sailing with a small storm jib, at a speed of eight knots. When the ship was sailing with the huge waves, they could see the huge sea in front of them. The noise of the waves and strong winds was painful for the ears. They dropped the storm jib to slow down the ship and hit a heavy mooring rope across the back part of the ship in a loop. They lashed everything with double force. They put on their oilskins and life jackets, attached lifelines and went through the life raft drills and waited. Passage: The first indication of impending disaster came at about 6 p.m., with an ominous silence. The wind dropped, and the sky immediately grew dark. Then came a growing roar, and an enormous cloud towered aft of the ship. With horror, I realised that it was not a cloud, but a wave like no other I had ever seen. It appeared perfectly vertical and almost twice the height of the other waves, with a frightful breaking crest. Word Meaning: Impending – about to happen Ominous silence – unpleasant or threatening silence Aft – near the stern of the ship Frightful – very unpleasant or shocking Crest – reach the top of a wave Explanation of the above passage: Around 6 pm, an unpleasant silence rolled over, it was an indication of a disaster which was about to happen. The wind suddenly dropped and the sky was darker with heavy clouds. A huge cloud was coming towards the stern of the ship but later the narrator realized it was a huge wave. The wave was perfectly vertical and it was twice the height of the previous waves they saw withthe top of the wave looking unpleasant due to its height. Passage: The roar increased to a thunder as the stern moved up the face of the wave, and for a moment I thought we might ride over it. But then a tremendous explosion shook the deck. A torrent of green and white water broke over the ship, my head smashed into the wheel and I was aware of flying overboard and sinking below the waves. I accepted my approaching death, and as I was losing consciousness, I felt quite peaceful. Word Meaning: Tremendous – very great in amount Shook – past tense of shake (vibrate) Deck – a floor of a ship Torrent – a fast moving stream of water Smashed – shattered or violently broken Explanation of the above passage: The thunder increased and the waved moved the stern up. They thought that it would not do any damage but a huge explosion vibrated the deck. A strong moving stream of green and white water broke over the ship. The narrator’s head smashed in the wheel of the ship, he flew overboard and sank below the waves. He accepted that his death was approaching and started losing consciousness. He felt quite peaceful. Passage: Unexpectedly, my head popped out of the water. A few metres away, Wavewalker was near capsizing, her masts almost horizontal. Then a wave hurled her upright, my lifeline jerked taut, I grabbed the guard rails and sailed through the air into Wavewalker’s main boom. Subsequent waves tossed me around the deck like a rag doll. My left ribs cracked; my mouth filled with blood and broken teeth. Somehow, I found the wheel, lined up the stern for the next wave and hung on. Water, Water, Everywhere. I could feel that the ship had water below, but I dared not abandon the wheel to investigate. Suddenly, the front hatch was thrown open and Mary appeared. “We’re sinking!” she screamed. “The decks are smashed; we’re full of water.” “Take the wheel”, I shouted as I scrambled for the hatch. Word Meaning: Capsizing – be overturned in the water Hurled – throw with a great force Taut – stretched or pulled tightly Boom – pole that controls the angle and shape of the sail Scrambled – climb; claw one’s way Hatch – door Explanation of the above passage: The narrator’s head popped out of water. The ship was about to overturn but a wave turned her upright. His lifeline jacket was stretched, he grabbed the guard rails and sailed to the ship’s main pole. The waves tossed him around the deck. He was injured as his left ribs cracked, his mouth filled with blood and he had a broken tooth. He found the wheel, lined the stern for the next wave and waited. There was water everywhere. The narrator could feel water below the ship but he didn’t leave the wheel alone. Suddenly, the front door opened and his wife, Mary, came screaming that they were sinking. She said, ‘the decks are smashed; we’re full of water’. The narrator handed her the wheel and climbed towards the door. Passage: Larry and Herb were pumping like madmen. Broken timbers hung at crazy angles, the whole starboard side bulged inwards; clothes, crockery, charts, tins and toys sloshed about in deep water. I half-swam, half-crawled into the children’s cabin. “Are you all right?” I asked. “Yes,” they answered from an upper bunk. “But my head hurts a bit,” said Sue, pointing to a big bump above her eyes. I had no time to worry about bumped heads. After finding a hammer, screws and canvas, I struggled back on deck. With the starboard side bashed open, we were taking water with each wave that broke over us. If I couldn’t make some repairs, we would surely sink. Word Meaning: Timbers – wood board used in building of a ship Starboard – side of a ship which is on the right side when one is facing forward Bulged – swell Sloshed – move through liquid with a splashing sound. Bashed – strike hard; hit Explanation of the above passage: The crewman Larry and Herb were pumping the water very fast. The timbers of the ship were broken and were hanging badly. The starboard of the ship had sunk, clothes, crockery, charts, tins and toys were roaming around in deep water. The narrator swam and crawled to the children’s cabin and asked the children whether they were alright. The children replied ‘yes’. Sue, his daughter complained about a big bump on her head. The narrator didn’t pay much attention to it as his major concern was to save them. The narrator found screws, hammer and canvas, he went back to the deck. The broken starboard side was letting so much water in, if the narrator could not fix the problem, they would all sink in the sea. Passage: Somehow I managed to stretch canvas and secure waterproof hatch covers across the gaping holes. Some water continued to stream below, but most of it was now being deflected over the side. More problems arose when our hand pumps started to block up with the debris floating around the cabins and the electric pump short-circuited. The water level rose threateningly. Back on deck I found that our two spare hand pumps had been wrenched overboard — along with the forestay sail, the jib, the dinghies and the main anchor. Then I remembered we had another electric pump under the chartroom floor. I connected it to an out-pipe, and was thankful to find that it worked. Word Meaning: Deflected: turned aside Canvas – a strong unbleached cloth Debris – rubbish Wrenched – pull suddenly, removed Forestay – a rope to support ship’s foremast Dinghies – a small boat for recreation with mast or sail Explanation of the above passage: The narrator stretched the canvas cloth and secured the waterproof hatch which covered the gaping holes. Some water streamed below and some was now deflected over the side. The handpump was blocked as rubbish was floating around the cabins and entered it, the electric pump short-circuited. As the water level rose, the narrator found two hand pumps had been removed along with a rope, jib, a small boat, and the main anchor. He found another electric pump under the chartroom. He connected it to an out pipe and it started working. Passage: The night dragged on with an endless, bitterly cold routine of pumping, steering and working the radio. We were getting no replies to our Mayday calls — which was not surprising in this remote corner of the world. Sue’s head had swollen alarmingly; she had two enormous black eyes, and now she showed us a deep cut on her arm. When I asked why she hadn’t made more of her injuries before this, she replied, “I didn’t want to worry you when you were trying to save us all.” Word Meaning: Mayday calls –words used to signal ships stuck in a disastrous situation through radio Explanation of the above passage: The whole night was about the endless routine of pumping out the water, steering the wheel and working the radio. There were no replies to their signals sent over the radio as they were in the remotest part of the world. Sue’s head was now more swollen and she had two back eyes with a deep cut in her arm. When upon being asked why she didn’t tell him about her injuries earlier, she said that she didn’t want to worry him as he was trying to save all of them. Passage: By morning on January 3, the pumps had the water level sufficiently under control for us to take two hours’ rest in rotation. But we still had a tremendous leak somewhere below the waterline and, on checking, I found that nearly all the boat’s main rib frames were smashed down to the keel. In fact, there was nothing holding up a whole section of the starboard hull except a few cupboard partitions. We had survived for 15 hours since the wave hit, but Wavewalker wouldn’t hold together long enough for us to reach Australia. I checked our charts and calculated that there were two small islands a few hundred kilometres to the east. One of them, Ile Amsterdam, was a French scientific base. Our only hope was to reach these pinpricks in the vast ocean. But unless the wind and seas abated so we could hoist sail, our chances would be slim indeed. The great wave had put our auxilliary engine out of action. Word Meaning: Smashed – badly broken Keel – steel structure along the base of the ship Pinpricks – a prick caused by a pin Pinpricks in the vast ocean – the two small islands in the vast ocean were very tiny like the prick caused by a pin Abated – something unpleasant to become less intense Auxiliary engine – small secondary engine used to board ships to operate a windlass in the ship Explanation of the above passage: The water level was under control by the morning of January 3, so all of them took two hours rest in rotation. But there still was a leak somewhere below the waterline. Upon checking, the boat rib structure was badly broken down till the base of the ship. The whole section of starboard was held together with a few cupboard partitions. The ship’s condition was so bad that it would not make it till Australia. The narrator checked the charts and calculated that there were two small islands a few kilometres to the east, one of them was lle Amsterdam, which was a French Scientific base. Their only hope was to search and reach that island. But only if the wind and the sea do not cause further damage, else their chances were slim. The wave had destroyed the ship’s auxiliary engine. Passage: On January 4, after 36 hours of continuous pumping, we reached the last few centimetres of water. Now, we had only to keep pace with the water still coming in. We could not set any sail on the main mast. Pressure on the rigging would simply pull the damaged section of the hull apart, so we hoisted the storm jib and headed for where I thought the two islands were. Mary found some corned beef and cracker biscuits, and we ate our first meal in almost two days. But our respite was short-lived. At 4 p.m. black clouds began building up behind us; within the hour the wind was back to 40 knots and the seas were getting higher. The weather continued to deteriorate throughout the night, and by dawn on January 5, our situation was again desperate. Word Meaning: Rigging – the ropes and wires supporting the structure of the ship Hull – the framework of the vessel Respite – a short period of rest Deteriorate – get worse Explanation of the above passage: After 36 hours of continuous pumping, on January 4, the water was only a few centimetres left to be pumped out. But they still had to pump out the water which was coming in. They could not set sail on the main mast. They hoisted the storm jib and sailed towards the two small islands. They had their first meal in two days, some corned beef and cracker biscuits found by Mary. The rest period was short-lived as black clouds built up around 4 pm. The wind was now 40 knots and the sea was getting higher. The weather got worse and by the early morning of January 5, the situation was bad. Passage: When I went in to comfort the children, Jon asked, “Daddy, are we going to die?” I tried to assure him that we could make it. “But, Daddy,” he went on, “we aren’t afraid of dying if we can all be together — you and Mummy, Sue and I.” I could find no words with which to respond, but I left the children’s cabin determined to fight the sea with everything I had. To protect the weakened starboard side, I decided to heave to — with the undamaged port hull facing the oncoming waves, using an improvised sea anchor of heavy nylon rope and two 22 litre plastic barrels of paraffin. That evening, Mary and I sat together holding hands, as the motion of the ship brought more and more water in through the broken planks. We both felt the end was very near. Word Meaning: Heave to – to raise or lift with effort Paraffin – colorless flammable oil liquid Explanation of the above passage: When the narrator went to comfort his children, his son asked him whether they were going to die. He tried to assure him that they would make it. His son replied that they were not afraid to die till they all were together. This filled the narrator with a determination to fight back. He made efforts to protect the weakened starboard side. He used an improvised sea anchor made of heavy nylon rope and two 22 liter plastic barrels of kerosene. That same evening, the narrator and his wife sat holding hands and they believed that their end was near. Passage: But Wavewalker rode out the storm and by the morning of January 6, with the wind easing, I tried to get a reading on the sextant. Back in the chartroom, I worked on wind speeds, changes of course, drift and current in an effort to calculate our position. The best I could determine was that we were somewhere in 150,000 kilometres of ocean looking for a 65 kilometre-wide island. While I was thinking, Sue, moving painfully, joined me. The left side of her head was now very swollen and her blackened eyes narrowed to slits. She gave me a card she had made. On the front she had drawn caricatures of Mary and me with the words: “Here are some funny people. Did they make you laugh? I laughed a lot as well.” Inside was a message: “Oh, how I love you both. So this card is to say thank you and let’s hope for the best.” Somehow we had to make it. Word Meaning: Sextant – an instrument with graduated arc of 60 degrees for taking altitudes and navigation Caricatures – picture of a person; cartoon Explanation of the above passage: The ship made it through the storm and by the morning of January 6, the narrator tried to get reading on the sextant. He worked with wind speeds, drift and current and calculated their position. They were in 150,000 kilometres area of ocean, looking for a 65 kilometer wide island. While the narrator was still thinking, his daughter Sue, joined him and she was in pain. The left side of her head was swollen and her blackened eyes had narrowed down to slits. She gave him a card which she had made herself. On the front of the card was a cartoon image of her parents with words written about them being funny people and how they made her laugh. On the inside of the card, she told them how she loved them both and she thanked them. This made the narrator realize that they had to make it to the island. Passage: I checked and rechecked my calculations. We had lost our main compass and I was using a spare which had not been corrected for magnetic variation. I made an allowance for this and another estimate of the influence of the westerly currents which flow through this part of the Indian Ocean. About 2 p.m., I went on deck and asked Larry to steer a course of 185 degrees. If we were lucky, I told him with a conviction I did not feel, he could expect to see the island at about 5 p.m. Then with a heavy heart, I went below, climbed on my bunk and amazingly, dozed off. When I woke it was 6 p.m. and growing dark. I knew we must have missed the island, and with the sail, we had left, we couldn’t hope to beat back into the westerly winds. At that moment, a tousled head appeared by my bunk. “Can I have a hug?” Jonathan asked. Sue was right behind him. Word Meaning: Tousled head – disarranged hair of the narrator’s son, Jonathan Bunk – bed Dozed off – went off to sleep Explanation of the above passage: The narrator rechecked his calculations. They lost their main compass and were using the spare one which was not corrected for magnetic variations. He estimated the influence of the westerly currents which flow through the Indian Ocean. Around 2 pm, he went on deck and asked Larry to steer the wheel to 185 degrees. He felt, if they were lucky, they would see the island by 5 pm. Then he went below and slept. He woke up around 6 pm and it was dark outside. He thought that they might have missed the island. He started worrying about how they would tackle the westerly wind more as the ship wasn’t capable to sail more. His son came and asked him for a hug, his daughter followed. Passage: “Why am I getting a hug now?” I asked. “Because you are the best daddy in the whole world — and the best captain,” my son replied. “Not today, Jon, I’m afraid.” “Why, you must be,” said Sue in a matter-of-fact voice. “You found the island.” “What!” I shouted. “It’s out there in front of us,” they chorused, “as big as a battleship.” I rushed on deck and gazed with relief at the stark outline of Ile Amsterdam. It was only a bleak piece of volcanic rock, with little vegetation — the most beautiful island in the world! Word Meaning: Bleak – an area of land lacking vegetation Stark – sharply defined Explanation of the above passage: He asked that why was he getting a hug. His son replied that he was the best daddy in the world and also called him the best captain. The narrator replied that he was afraid. Sue told him then that they had found the island which was as big as a battleship. The narrator rushed to the deck and gave a sigh of relief. They could see the complete outline of lle Amsterdam. There was a bleak piece of volcanic rock in front of them. It had a little vegetation. It was the most beautiful island in the world. Passage: We anchored offshore for the night, and the next morning all 28 inhabitants of the island cheered as they helped us ashore. With land under my feet again, my thoughts were full of Larry and Herbie, cheerful and optimistic under the direst stress, and of Mary, who stayed at the wheel for all those crucial hours. Most of all, I thought of a seven-year-old girl, who did not want us to worry about a head injury (which subsequently took six minor operations to remove a recurring blood clot between skin and skull), and of a six-year-old boy who was not afraid to die. Word Meaning: Anchored – moor a ship to the sea bottom Offshore – situated at the sea some distance from the shore Ashore – on the shore of the land Optimistic – hopeful and confident Explanation of the above passage: They moored the ship at some distance from the shore and the next morning, 28 inhabitants of the Amsterdam island helped them to move on the shore of the land. As he felt the land again on his feet, he thought of his crewmen and his wife. He also thought of his seven-year-old daughter who was injured badly. She had to go through six minor operations to remove the blood clot in her head. His son who never gave up and was not afraid to die. We are not Afraid to Die NCERT Solutions Understanding the Text 1. List the steps taken by the captain (i) to protect the ship when rough weather began. (ii) to check the flooding of the water in the ship. Ans: (i) the narrator decided to slow down the ship to protect it from bad and stormy weather. He dropped the storm jib and lashed heavy mooring rope across the stern of the ship. Then, they double – lashed everything. They carried their life-raft drill, attached lifelines, donned life jackets and oilskins. (ii) to check the flooding of the water, the narrator put waterproof hatch which covered the gaping holes. This diverted the water flow to the side. His hand pumps were blocked due to debris and his one electric pump was short-circuited. He found a hand pump and a spare electric pump. He connected the electric pump to the out pipe and started it. 2. Describe the mental condition of the voyagers on 4 and 5 January. Ans: On January 4, the voyagers felt relieved as they were continuously pumping out water for the past 36 hours and only a few centimetres of water was left. They had their first meal in two days. Mary found some corned beef and cracker biscuits. Later, around 4 pm, the weather changed as black clouds marched towards them. The wind was now 40 knots and the sea was getting higher. The weather got worse and by the early morning of January 5, the situation was bad. This gave them mental stress. 3. Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text. Give a subtitle to each section. Ans: The first section: Beginning of the Round – the – Voyage The first section was cheerful and full of hope as the family began their planned voyage just like the one done 200 years ago by the famous Captain James Cook. They had perfected their seafaring skills for 16 years. They built a ship ‘Wavewalker’ professionally which was a 23 metres long, 30 tons wooden-hulled ship. They celebrated Christmas on the ship despite the bad weather. The Second Section: the struggle with the big attack This section changed from cheerful to intense. The family was under great pressure to survive the oncoming waves and bad weather conditions. A giant wave created chaos and the ship was about to overturn. The narrator was thrown off into the water and he almost drowned and got injured. Along with two hired crewmen, the narrator pumped out the water from the ship for a continuous 36 hours. He also tried repairing the parts of the ship. He almost lost his hope and believed they would die. But his children were fearless and courageous enough which gave him the determination to fight back. The third section: Victory With the support of his children, the narrator kept trying to save the ship in order to reach the two small islands, lle Amsterdam. They finally reached their destination and got help from the inhabitants of the island. His son called him the best daddy and best captain. Talking about the Text 1. What difference did you notice between the reaction of the adults and the children when faced with danger? Ans: There was a huge difference between the reaction of the adults and the children. The adults lose their hope at the end and wait for their fate of death. On the other hand, the children were hopeful and gave the narrator moral support. With the support of his children, Jonathan and Suzanne, he decided to make it to the island at any cost. The children showed maturity. His son expressed courage as to how he wasn’t afraid to die if they all were together. His daughter made him a card expressing her love and affection towards her parents and wrote a beautiful message. She was injured still, she didn’t let it become a hurdle for her parents who were trying to save the ship. 2. How does the story suggest that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”? Ans: Optimism is the determination to overcome any challenges. Without optimism, it is impossible to face difficulties and solve problems. The family fought with the sea with great optimism and determination which ultimately saved them. Again and again, on being attacked by the sea, they didn’t stop trying which helped them get to the shore of the lle Amsterdam island. When the son of the narrator told him,” we aren’t afraid of dying if we can all be together — you and Mummy, Sue and I”. This showed the maturity of the children and how they played an important role in motivating the narrator who had almost lost hope. Sue, his daughter who made him a card showed how she was proud of her parents and didn’t make a big deal of her injuries which were in a bad condition. With the struggles and efforts, they finally made it to their destination. 3. What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face-to-face with death? Ans: Life is never about being happy all the time. We are constantly tested and how we tackle every problem and rise through it is the ultimate lesson. Such hazardous situations teach us how we should react towards them. We must never lose hope and keep trying as it will lead to success. In certain situations, one must keep calm and think logically. No matter how bad the situation is, there is always a way to get out of it. Significance of being extra cautious and making sure that the situation doesn’t get worse is required at such moments. 4. Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved? Ans: The willingness to accept challenges drives people to take such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risk involved. People like to try different elements of nature and some do it as a passion. Surely people already know of the risks involved in such activities, but still, they do not hesitate to try it out. We are Not Afraid to Die Grammar Exercises Thinking about Language 1. We have come across words like ‘gale’ and ‘storm’ in the account. Here are two more words for ‘storm’: typhoon, cyclone. How many words does your language have for ‘storm’? Ans: In Hindi, there are many words for ‘storm’ – toofan, aandhi, andhad, etc. 2. Here are the terms for different kinds of vessels: yacht, boat, canoe, ship, steamer, schooner. Think of similar terms in your language. Ans: ‘Kashti’, ‘Naav’, ‘Nauka’, ‘Jahaz’ are some terms in Hindi. 3. ‘Catamaran’ is a kind of a boat. Do you know which Indian language this word is derived from? Check the dictionary. Ans: The word ‘Catamaran’ is derived from the Tamil language word ‘Kattumaram’. 4. Have you heard any boatmen’s songs? What kind of emotions do these songs usually express? Ans: Yes, Such Boatmen songs express love and nostalgia. They also express the longing to meet the loved ones. Working with Words 1. 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 Ans: Knot: a) a tangled mass in something b) interlacing, looping, etc. Stern: harsh, firm, strict, etc. Boom – a) to experience a sudden rapid growth b) to increase in popularity Hatch: a) to cause an egg to break in order to allow a young animal to come out b) to make a plan Anchor: a) host of an event b) a person who can be relied upon for support 2. The following three compound words end in -ship. What does each of them mean? airship flagship Lightship Ans: Airship: a power-driven aircraft which is kept buoyant by a body of gas Flagship: the ship in the fleet which carries commanding admiral Lightship: an anchored boat with a beacon light to warn ships at sea 3. 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 Ans: In the third paragraph, in lines “… we took two crewmen to help us tackle.. roughest seas”, the word ‘took on’ means to take somebody or to hire somebody.