Class 11th: Ch 2 We're Not Afraid to Die...if We Can All Be Together English
Question/Answers
1. What did the narrator planned to do? What preparations did they made?
Ans. The narrator planned to duplicate around the world Voyage made 200 years ago by Captain James Cook. The narrator and his wife Marie had spent all their leisure time from the past 16 years improving their ceiling skills in British waters. They have spent months building Wavewalker and testing it in ruffest weather they could find.
2. Describe Wavewalker.
Ans. Wavewalker was a 23 m, 30 tonnes wooden boat that had been professionally built and equipped with all the necessary things required for a long voyage. It was also tested in ruffest scenes.
3. What happened on second day of journey out of Cape Town?
Ans. On the second day out of Cape Town they encountered storm hails for next few weeks they blew continuously with some of them making the waves rise up to the height of 15 m.
4. What sort away the ship and how did the narrator react?
Ans. Narrator and his crew had already double lashed everything on the ship deck. Their life jackets , oil stands and lifeboats were ready to be used. A giant wave hit the ship, at first narrator thought it to be a dark cloud but then he realised that it was a high wave he has not seen before. It seemed vertical twice the size of other waves with the frightful breaking crest.
5. What was the effect of huge wave on the ship?
Ans. When the wave hit the ship a tremendous explosion took place on the deck. Water smashed narrators head into the wheel and he was aware of flying overboard and sinking above the waves. First few moments he lost all consciousness. Starboard side of the ship was completely smashed.
6. How did narrator managed to survive?
Ans. One of the wave took boat high and editor was able to hold on the boom. Subsequent waves cost him around the deck like a doll. Although his ribs cracked, his mouth was filled with blood and broken teeth. He found the wheel and hung on.
7. When do you think Mary and narrator thought that there end was near and why?
Ans. On the evening of 5th Jan when they were hit by another massive storm they thought their end was near they were unable to stop the water into the ship and were convinced that it would sink.
8. How did Jonathan succeeded in motivating his father in crucial moment when the Ship was near sinking?
Ans. The bad weather conditions continue and by the day of 5th Jan the situation was out of control. Jonathan went to his father and asked him if they were going to die. When his father didn't reply he said he was not afraid of time if they all died together. This comment motivated the narrator to resolve, to fight all odds and make sure that they all were safe.
7. What were the afterthoughts of the narrator that night when things seem desperate?
Ans. The narrator and his wife start joining hands and they could feel the hand gripping them for the first time. They realised they may all sink if they were unable to find land soon water was still coming into the ship through broken planks and they both felt their end was near.
HOT'S Questions
1. Justify the name of the chapter We're Not Afraid to Die...if We Can All Be Together.
Ans. Challenges faced by the crew during the storm points towards trust, togetherness and optimism in the face of an adverse situation although Wavewalker could not withstand the natures fury the courage and the convenience shown by the crew made sure that they reach safely the title is absolutely appropriate.
2. What difference do you notice between the reactions of adults and children when face to danger?
Ans. The adults give in to stress and panic in face of danger the author took sufficient measures to protect the ship when faced with a rough weather the lifelines oil cans and waterproof jackets were in place the ship was steeled in the best manner it could and they all face the storm believingly each one of them was an embodiment of courage, determination, responsibility and resourcefulness. They understood the gravity of the situation and the realistic children on the other hand were largely unaware of the danger exposed by the storm and the difficulty it could cause for them on their part they tried to keep their father stress free by not talking about their own problems they showed great maturity in keeping their problems to their self when their parents very busy.
Value Based Question
1. How does the story suggest optimism helps in situation of stress?
Ans. The story instills a feeling of optimism and bravery within us the way the entire family reacted in the face of death shows the courage they had even under intense stress and panic they cope with the situation as best as they could. The children showed maturity beyond their years and all of them faced adversity with determination. The spirit of optimism helped them to conquer the worst situation many a times in life we are faced with dangerous experiences and stare at death in the faces quality required to overcome dangerous situations are taught in the story. "We're Not Afraid to Die...if We Can All Be Together".
The author and his family are portrait as best examples of bravery. Life is full of struggle and we cannot escape situations that are hazardous and dangerous. Situation is not to run away but to face them with at most courage like the narrator did determination, calmness and courage are the qualities in the phase of difficulties, Determination to fight the situation and calmness to analyse and handle the situation in a proper manner just like in the chapter children motivate their parents. Similarity in real life motivation is important.
