Introduction

The narrator Gordon Cook, his wife Mary and their children, Jonathan and Suzanne set sail on a ship to imitate the historical round-the world voyage undertaken by James Cook in 1768. The journey began from Plymouth, England and headed south to Cape Town, South Africa. It was expected to journey to Australia through the endless Indian Ocean and finally return to England. Unfortunately the ship partially wrecked in the Indian Ocean and the sailors faced death very close.The narrative describes the near death experience of these hapless people, their hard work, the children’s encouraging messages, their willingness to die with their father and mother, hours of endurance and finally their reaching Ile Amsterdam, a tiny island.

SummaryThe narrative describes how optimism, determination and strong will power raise one’s spirits and help us overcome all forms of stressful situations.

The narrator was a 37 years old businessmen. His dream was to travel around the world through sea just like Captain James Cook which he wished to complete in three years. He was along with his wife Mary, his daughter Suzanne and his son who was only six years old.

The first phase was about 105,000 kilometres up to the South African seaport of Cape Town, which passed off very pleasantly. The second part of the journey was for 150,000 kilometres. This phase was completed in Australia. On 25th December, the writer's ship was in the southern Indian Ocean, 3500 kilometres to the east of Cape Town. The family celebrated their new year (1977) on board the ship. Next came a phase when the ship was caught in the stormy seas. The weather suddenly became very terrible. The writer thought that their ship would ride over the waves but were heavily caught amidst the stormy situations at the sea. There was water everywhere and they found the ship to be sinking.

The condition was extremely helpless and very pathetic. Water was gushing in from everywhere. Debris was floating across the cabins. The electric pump was also not working as it had short-circuited. They had to keep pumping and steering all night long. The writer's daughter's head had swollen and she had a deep injury. However, the bravery of the strong-willed children is noteworthy in the story.

On January 4, they breathed a sigh of relief after having survived 36 hours of continuous pumping. However, their relief seemed to be quite short-lived because by evening that day the sea again witnessed bad weather. This is the turning point of the story when we see the author consoling the children. It was quite amazing that the children exclaimed ...we aren't afraid of dying if we can all be together. This led to the building energy and enthusiasm inside a very extremely fatigued writer. He decided to heave and fight the sea.

Next day saw a very bright morning. He was welcomed by his children who exclaimed You are the best daddy in the world. He rushed to the deck and to his amazement, gazed at the stark outline of Ile Amsterdam. It seemed to him to be the most beautiful island in the world.

They anchored off shore for the night and then were welcomed by the 28 inhabitants of the island the next morning. All along, the only thing which filled the writer's mind was the

undeterred courage which his wife Mary showed, his daughter who didn't worry about her head injury and his son who wasn't afraid of dying.

Short Answer Questions

Q. Why does the reader find the two children, Jonathan and Suzanne, worth significant mentioning?

Ans. Along with the adults, the two children too are worth mentioning as they showed exemplary courage and understanding even in the face of death. Fear and fear factors are associated with death but love conquers both. When the captain – the children’s father – lost the last speck of his hope, it was the children who rekindled it.

Q. The incident established nature’s overpowering fury and compassion.

Ans. The idea of losing one’s life can throw even the mightiest out of gear. Hence, natural calamities like Earthquake, tsunamis and floods strike us with fear and defeat us with death but this very nature has in its bosom tiny pinpricks where man can run to for safety. In the sea was death but in the same sea was hope.

Q. What for did the narrator and his family undertake an adventurous trip?

Ans. The author with his wife Mary and their two children-Jonathan and Suzanne-was the family of extreme adventure nature. They tried to duplicate the round the world voyage accomplished by their forefather Captain James Cook in their professionally built ship - The Wavewalker

Q. What for did Cook take two crewmen from Cape Town? Did that decision turn out good?

Ans. Cook and his family picked up two crew men-American Vigil and Swiss Herb to tackle of the world’s roughest seas-The Southern Indian Ocean. This very soon turned out for good because the two men – vigorous and adventurous – helped the family. when the ship was sinking. Though silent in the narrative, their contribution is matchless.

Q. How did Jonathan react to the desperate situation they found themselves in on 5th January?Ans. Jonathan asked his father if they were all going to die. On the father’s reassurance, he said that they were not afraid of dying if they could all be together – his dad, mom, Sue and himself.

Q. How did the narrator respond to little Jon’s words? What do his actions reveal about his character?Ans. The narrator could not find any words to respond to his son’s remark. However, as he left his children’s cabin, he was determined to fight the sea with everything he had. This shows his courageous nature and his love for his children. He was a caring father who wanted to save his children at all costs.

Q. How did Sue try to enliven the gloomy atmosphere?

Ans. Sue tried to enliven the gloomy atmosphere by trying her hand at making a card for her parents. She had drawn their caricatures and written that she had drawn some funny people. She had written that she loved both her parents. The card expressed her heartfelt thanks to them and she hoped for the best.

Q. Who do you think did the narrator call Ile Amsterdam ‘the most beautiful island in the world’?

Ans. The island was only a bleak piece of volcanic rock with little vegetation – the author called it the most beautiful island in the world because it had given them a ray of hope for survival. They could at least anchor there and repair their ship.

Q. What did the narrator think of on landing at Ile Amsterdam? Why?

Ans. On landing at Ile Amsterdam, the narrator’s thoughts were full of Larry and Herbie, his crew members who remained cheerful and optimistic throughout the hardships. He thought of his wife also, who stayed at the wheel for all those crucial hours? He also thought of his daughter, who had been so brave all through the ordeal and had not bothered about her head injury.

Q. How can you say that Suzanne’s injuries were serious?

Ans. Suzanne’s injuries were serious because she had to undergo six minor surgeries to remove a recurring blood clot between her skin and skull. She had also injured her arm and had two black eyes.

Q. “Optimism and courage help to tide over difficulties”. How did the narrator succeed in searching the small island?

Ans. Despite the lost compass and a faulty compass, the author did not lose hope. He used his intelligence to estimate the influence of the westerly currents which flowedthrough that part of the Ocean. He asked Larry to steer a course of 185 degrees and remained optimistic about spotting the island at about 5 pm.

Q. Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?Ans. People undertake such adventurous expeditions due to two reasons. They have the passionate thrive for risk, thrill and uncertainty and they push their limits of skill and endurance. They seek such adventures for pure joy and exhilaration. They also want to do certain things for attaining name, fame and recognition.

Q. Why did the narrator undertake the round the world voyage? What did he do for this mission?

Ans. The narrator wanted the achievement of duplicating the round the world voyage made two hundred years earlier by Captain James Cook. He had spent sixteen years preparing for this brave adventure. He acquired

experience in sailing around the British waters. They had tested their boat ‘Wave walker’ in the roughest weather.

Q. When did the narrator set sail for its round the world voyage and how did it pass in the beginning?

The narrator set sail from Plymouth, England in July 1976 with his wife Mary, six year old son Jonathan, seven year old daughter Suzanne and two crew men, an American called Larry Vigil and a Swiss Herb Seigler. The first part of the voyage remained uneventful and it passed pleasantly from the west coast of Africa to Capetown.

Q. What happened on January 2nd? What did the narrator do to face the strong or high waves?

Ans. Early morning on January2, the waves were huge and sea was extremely rough. Their ship was hit by strong mighty waves. They slowed down the speed of the boat and double lashed everything. They got ready to face the danger by wearing life jackets and they waited for the worst.

Q. What happened to the narrator and what did he do to face the disaster?

Ans. The roar of the thunder increased and then a huge torrent of sea water broke over the ship. The narrator’s head smashed into the wheel and he accepted his approaching death. His lifeline was tightly stretched and he felt that his left ribs were cracked, his mouth was filled with blood and broken teeth. He still found the wheel and hung on.

Q. What was the scene before the narrator’s eyes after the crash of the Giant wave?           The boat was filled with water. Larry and Herb were pumping water out of the ship. Broken timber, clothes, crockery, charts, tins and toys were floating everywhere.Give a brief description of the narrator’s boat. How did the narrator equip and test it?The narrator’s boat named ‘Wavewalker’ was 23 metres long, 30 ton wooden boat. It was built professionally and had been tested in the roughest weather. The author had spent months in fitting it out.

Q. When and with whom did the narrator begin his voyage?

The narrator began his voyage in July 1976 with his wife Mary, son Jonathan, 6, and daughter Suzanne who was seven years old. Later they were joined by two crewmen Larry and Herb Seigler.

Q. “I had no time to worry about bumped heads”, says the narrator. What problems do you think deserved his immediate attention?

Ans. The problem that deserved immediate attention was the repair of the starboard side which had bashed open and with every wave, it was letting

water enter the boat. If he did not make some repairs, the boat would have surely sunk and they would have drowned.

Q. What problems ‘in plenty’ did the narrator face during the night of January 2, 1977?

Ans. On the night of January 2, around 6 pm the wind dropped and the sky grew dark. A growing roar came and an enormous cloud formed in the sky right above the ship. The narrator thought it was a cloud but it was actually a gigantic wave and was twice the height of other waves. The wave hit the ship hard and the narrator’s head hit the wheel and he became unconscious.

Q. “I didn’t want to worry you when you were trying to save us all”, said Sue. What has happened to her?

Sue had hit her head somewhere and a huge bump had formed above her eyes. Later her head became swollen alarmingly and she had a deep cut on her arm. She had been brave and did not want to worry her father.

Q. What do you observe about the reaction of the adults and the children when faced with disaster?

Ans. The children show amazing maturity and resilience in the face of disaster. They remain strong and composed. Despite serious injuries, both the children show courage and patience. Suzanne was brave enough to write a card. John said that they were not afraid to die if they could all be together. The adults also reacted with a fighting spirit and optimism. Their undaunted efforts helped them to survive the disaster.

Q. When do you think, Mary and the narrator feel the end was near? Why did they feel so?

Ans. As the motion of the ship brought more and more water in the boat through the broken planks, the author and his wife felt that their end was near. He had tried his best to repair the ship but had not been completely successful.

Long Answer QuestionsQ. How did the narrator and his family face the disaster in the form of a huge wave that struck the ‘Wave Walker’?

Ans. The narrator dropped the storm jib and tied heavy rope attached to the anchor in a loop across the stern. Along with his crew, he double fastened everything. The first mighty wave seemed to have destroyed everything and in order to remain afloat they had to act fast. The narrator handed over the wheel to Mary. He stretched canvas and fastened water proof hatch covers across the gaping holes in the star board side. As the two pumps got blocked and the electric pump short circuited. He found another electric pump and started it. The narrator checked the charts and found that there were two small islands, a few hundred kilometres to the east. But their chances of

sailing to those islands were slim because the wind and sea did not seem to abate. He re-checked his calculations. They had lost the main compass but he made discount for magnetic variation in the spare one and then asked Larry to steer a course of 180degrees. They succeeded in reaching Ile Amsterdam in 4 hours.

Q. What impression do you form about the narrator on the basis of this extract?

Ans. The narrator was a lover of thrill and adventure. He had dreamt of going on round the world sea voyage since childhood. He had worked with diligence and prepared for the trip with great care and attention. He had a practical approach and he remained alert and strong willed. He engaged two crew men to assist him and he received full co-operation and help from his family. They made advance and immediate arrangements to face the violent storms during their voyage. He did not lose hope and remained calm and courageous in the face of difficulties. He had his priorities fixed. Repairing the damaged ship was essential despite his injuries. He worked and motivated everyone in the rescue operations. He was resourceful and quick to improvise. He managed to calculate a new course and his precise calculations brought them safely to an island. His presence of mind helped them to overcome troubles. He was levelheaded and his courage and practical knowledge made him a good captain. His children also proved to be sensible, mature and resilient in the face of adversity.

Q. What do you think of the narrator as a captain? How did the crew and the family members show courage during distress?

Ans. This is a story of human endurance, selflessness and courage in the face of adversity. Traditionally, the captain of the ship must go down with it and attempt only to save the passengers. However, in this story, we see other traits in the narrator which make him a good captain.

The narrator was able to think rationally, prioritize and recall important information under distress. He was able to recall the backup electric pump, waterproofed the ship and performed repairs as required, identified nearest land/port and performed intense calculations despite the lack of proper equipment, did not convey his fears to his crew and presented a confident face throughout enhancing the morale of his team.

The narrator's family and crew showed unconditional team spirit during adversity. His wife helped with the navigation of the ship while his children offered moral support. The crew members Larry and Herb worked tirelessly and did not abandon ship.Despite their young years, Jonathan and Suzanne showed courage and optimistic fervour. Suzanne did not bother her parents with her injuries no matter how extensive they were. She also made a card for her parents to show her love and gratitude. Jonathan claimed he was not afraid even to die if he were with his family.