We'Re Not Afraid To Die

We're Not Afraid to Die
Objectives
• Sea voyage-main incidents (date wise)
• Qualities/Values necessary to overcome adversities
• Crewmen
• Ile Amsterdam
• Children (Suzanne & Jonathan)
• The ship-Wavewalker
2 marks
How did Jonathan react to the desperate situation they found themselves in on
5th January?
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.
How did the narrator respond to little Jon’s words? What do his actions reveal
about his character?
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.
How did Sue try to enliven the gloomy atmosphere?

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.
Who do you think did the narrator call Ile Amsterdam ‘the most beautiful island
in the world’?
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.
What did the narrator think of on landing at Ile Amsterdam? Why?

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

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.
“Optimism and courage help to tide over difficulties”. How did the narrator
succeed in searching the small island?
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 flowed
through 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.
Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the
risks involved?
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.
Why did the narrator undertake the round the world voyage? What did he do
for this mission?
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.
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.
What happened on January 2nd? What did the narrator do to face the strong or
high waves?
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.
What happened to the narrator and what did he do to face the disaster?
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.
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.
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.
“I had no time to worry about bumped heads”, says the narrator. What
problems do you think deserved his immediate attention?
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.
What problems ‘in plenty’ did the narrator face during the night of January 2,
1977?
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.
“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.
What do you observe about the reaction of the adults and the children when
faced with disaster?
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.
When do you think, Mary and the narrator feel the end was near? Why did they
feel so?
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.
10 marks
How did the narrator and his family mates face the disaster in the form of a huge
wave that struck the ‘Wave Walker’?
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 180
degrees. They succeeded in reaching Ile Amsterdam in 4 hours.
What impression do you form about the narrator on the basis of this extract?
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 ot
a island. His presence of mind helped them to overcome troubles. He was level
headed 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.

We'Re Not Afraid To Die

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We're Not Afraid to Die

How did Sue try to enliven the gloomy atmosphere?

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

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

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