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We Are Not Afraid To Die

1. Gordon Cook and his family set sail to recreate James Cook's historic voyage but faced peril when their ship was damaged in a storm in the Indian Ocean. 2. They endured towering waves, failing equipment, and rising water for 48 hours before spotting the tiny, uninhabited island of Ile Amsterdam where they took refuge. 3. Though their situation seemed dire, the children remained brave, saying they were "not afraid to die" with their parents, who guided the damaged ship through the storm to reach safety.

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Arnav Jain
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472 views2 pages

We Are Not Afraid To Die

1. Gordon Cook and his family set sail to recreate James Cook's historic voyage but faced peril when their ship was damaged in a storm in the Indian Ocean. 2. They endured towering waves, failing equipment, and rising water for 48 hours before spotting the tiny, uninhabited island of Ile Amsterdam where they took refuge. 3. Though their situation seemed dire, the children remained brave, saying they were "not afraid to die" with their parents, who guided the damaged ship through the storm to reach safety.

Uploaded by

Arnav Jain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Sri Venkateshwar International School

Sector-18, Dwarka, New Delhi-78


Class XI – ENGLISH
We are Not Afraid to Die - Gordon Cook and Alan East

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.

Characters
The narrator = captain of the ship Mary = wife of the narrator
Jonathan = six year old son of the narrator Suzanne = 7 year old daughter of the narrator
Larry Vigil = American crewman Herb Seigler = Swiss crewman

July, 1976
1. Journey Begins from Plymouth, England.
2. Good weather and cheerful days.
3. From England via west coast of Africa
4. Two sailors join the voyage in Cape Town – American Larry Vigil & Swiss Herb Seigler.
December 25, 1976
1. Voyagers reach 3,500 kilometres east of Cape Town.
2. The weather was still atrocious.
3. Celebrated Christmas.
4. New Year’s Day saw no improvement in the weather.
January 2, 1977
1. Gigantic waves in the morning.
2. Sailing with only a small storm jib and were still making eight knots.
3. Ship rises to the top of each wave
4. Endless, enormous seas rolling towards the ship
5. The screaming of the wind and spray painful to ears
6. Prepared to face the Sea’s fury
7. The storm jib dropped,
8. A heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stern lashed
9. Double-lashed everything
10. Went through life-raft drill
11. Attached lifelines
12. Donned oilskins and life jackets
January 2, 1977, 6:00 PM
1. Waves higher than the ship, chase the ship
2. The wave hits the back of the ship
3. The wave breaks the starboard
4. The ship was about to sink
5. Mary (the narrator’s wife) took the steering wheel
6. Larry and Herb pumped the water from the deck
7. An immediate action required
8. Water level rose threateningly
9. Pumps stopped functioning
10. Electric pumps used
11. All radio signals blocked. No communication with base.
12. Sue’s eyes bumped against
January 3, 1977
1. Survived 48 hours
2. Auxiliary engine failed
January 4, 1977
1. Water level almost dipped
2. Unable to hoist sail on the mast for fear of the ship’s possible wreckage.
3. Hoisted the storm jib
4. Headed to the direction of Ile Amsterdam (not very certain about it)
5. Ate a meal after 48 hours
January 5, 1977
1. Weather became worse.
2. Jonathan says “Daddy, if we are all dying, we are not afraid to die…”
3. More water flowed in.
4. Sue made a caricature and showed it to parents to laugh for a while.
5. Narrator went to sleep after predicting the ship’s reaching Ile Amsterdam
6. Before 6.00 pm the ship reached Ile Amsterdam

Short Answer Type Questions


1) What preparations did the author and his wife make for their round to the world sea-voyage?
2) When and how did they encounter their first troubles during the long voyage?
3) What were the first indications of the ‘impending disaster’ that ultimately struck them on
January 2?
4) How did the first ‘disaster’ strike the ship?
5) How did the narrator accept his ‘approaching death and why was he still peaceful’?
6) Who were Larry and Herb? What role did they play?  
7) How did Sue hurt herself and how did she bear the injury?
8) Describe the situation on the morning of January 3.
9) Why and when did the captain send ‘May day calls’? What was the response?
10)Describe the situation on January 4. Why did the narrator and Mary feel that ‘the end was
near’?
11)Why did Jonathan ask for a hug and called him the best daddy and the best captain in the
world?
12)Describe Ile Amsterdam. How did its inhabitants behave with the newcomers?
13)What did the narrator think of on landing at Ile Amsterdam? Why?
14)How can you say that Suzanne’s injuries were serious?
15)Justify the title: “We’re Not Afraid to die …”

Long Answer Type Questions


1) Describe the steps taken by the captain and the crewmen to protect the boat from the storm
and the gigantic waves. Were they successful?
2) Describe the behaviour of the narrator and his family, particularly of his children Jon and Sue,
during the voyage.
3) What do you think of the narrator as a captain? How did the crew and the family members
show courage during distress?
4) “We’re Not Afraid to Die” is a saga of patience and bravery. Comment.
5) “Optimism and courage help to tide over difficulties”. How did the narrator succeed in
searching the small island?

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