Robinson Crusoe
Realistic Fiction
261
Robinson Crusoe was born in the English town of York in the year 1632. He sought a seafarer's life, which contradicted with what his parents wanted him to become. When he was old enough, he broke free of his future of studying law, and embarked on a trading expedition to Africa. During the trip, he learned fundamental survival and sailing skills, which would help him later in life. After the successful first expedition, he embarked on a second one, but was not so lucky. He was captured by Moors, the people of Morocco, and enslaved. However, our resourceful Robinson soon escaped along with another slave and sailed to south America, where Robinson soon started a plantation. The plantation made Crusoe fabulously wealthy, but he wanted more. He embarked on yet another adventure to Africa in order to start trafficking human cargo. But on the way there, he encountered a storm, and became shipwrecked on a caribbean island, with him being the only survivor. Robinson, however, realized that he was very fortunate for someone in his position. He could salvage supplies from the wreck, the island appeared to be uninhabited, and god gave him a chance to “cleanse himself of his sins.” He salvages supplies from the ship, and builds himself a formidable shelter, a cellar, and a pent-house under some grapevines. Over his years, of being there, he perseveres through everything, even through realizing that he may not be alone. But in the end, something happens that will change everything.
MY OPINION:
As I was reading the first page of the book, I was thinking to myself that this book will be a pain to read. And indeed it was, as the language used in that book was renaissance-era english, and the vocabulary was very advanced. The writing was very heavy and dense and in some places even hard to understand. However, other than that, the book was great. The story was a little slow at first, but after about sixty pages, I was greeted with a riveting tale of adventure, shipwrecks, caribbean islands, and the fear of the unknown. A very good job was done by Daniel DeFoe of using figurative language and bible references to describe Crusoe’s situation very vividly. This book is very unique, and overall, I am glad that I chose to read it. I would give this book a nine-and-a-half out of ten stars rating, and I would like to recommend this book to all eighth, ninth, and tenth graders.
STUDY QUESTIONS AND VOCABULARY:
FIRST SECTION
1. When and where was Robinson Crusoe born?
1a. Robinson Crusoe was born in the year 1632 in York, England. (pg. 5)
2. Describe Crusoe’s oldest brother.
2a. Sir William Lockhart, Crusoe’s oldest brother, was born in 1621 and died in 1676 after being
defeated by the spanish at Dunkirk, a seaport in northern France. (pg. 5)
3. In what country was Robinson held as a slave and with who did he make his escape?
3a. Robinson was imprisoned in Morocco, and he escaped with a boy named Xury. (pg. 19)
4. What did Crusoe name the island he was shipwrecked on?
4a. Crusoe named the island he was shipwrecked on “The Island of Despair.” ( pg 61)
5. What was the weather on November 13th, 1659?
5a. On November 13th, 1659, it rained. (pg. 63)
parable (pg. 10)
prodigal (pg. 10)
contrivance (pg. 20)
pretence (pg. 20)
coup-de-grace (pg. 39)
MIDDLE SECTION
6. What was the first piece of clothing that Crusoe crafted with the animal pelts he was collecting?
6a. The first thing that Crusoe crafted was a hat to protect him from the rain and the sun. (pg. 114)
7. What caused Crusoe to lose all religious hope?
7a. The Fear of some native islanders finding his boat and killing him made Robinson lose all religious hope. (pg. 130)
8. Was Robinson paranoid about attacks from the natives?
8a. Yes, Robinson was very paranoid. (pg. 130)
9. What triggered Crusoe’s fear of natives living on his island?
9a. Crusoe saw a human footprint that was not his in the sand. (pg. 130)
10. What did R.C. make candles out of?
10a. Crusoe made candle out of goat tallow. (pg. 141)
iniquity (pg. 112)
bushels (pg. 128)
cogitations (pg. 135)
moidores (pg. 162)
sovereignty (pg. 175)
LAST SECTION
11. What did Crusoe name the Spaniard that he rescued from the cannibals?
11a. R.C. named him Friday. (pg. 178)
12. How long was Crusoe on his island?
12a. Crusoe was on his island for 27 years. (pg. 231)
13. Name the exact date that Crusoe left the island.
13a. Robinson left his island on December 19, 1686. (pg. 231)
14. Why does Robinson choose to return to England by foot?
14a. Because of his shipwreck 27 years ago, Robinson is afraid of sea travel, so he chose to go across land to the coast of France. (pg. 239)
15. When did Robinson depart for the East Indies as a private trader.
15a. Robinson departed in the year 1694. (pg. 253)
Wranglings (pg. 184)
strife (pg. 184)
abate (pg. 193)
shoulder-of-mutton sail (pg. 207)
algerines (pg. 239)