we are not afraid to die class 11

1. By Gordon Cook and Alan East
WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO DIE,IF WE CAN ALL
BE TOGETHER

4. Theme
The story ‘We’re Not Afraid to Die’ shows how unity, teamwork and an indomitable spirit helps to overcome
the toughest of situations. The family members trust the Narrator and their faith in him boosts his confidence
to keep going against all odds.The story also shows the struggle of a father determined to save his family
who leaves no stone unturned to bring the situation under control. In this story, all the characters are brave
and love each other immensely. The little boy Jonathan exhibits a great courage and is also ready to die if all
his family members are together. All that matters is that they are together. The young girl Suzanne is
seriously injured but chooses not to add to her father’s worries who is struggling to save everyone.The story
beautifully highlights the struggle of each member of the family and the combined efforts of all the members
that helped them to survive in such adverse conditions.

5. JAMES COOK
(1728-1729)
British explorer, navigator,
cartographer,and captain in the Royal Navy.
Cook was attacked and killed in 1779 during
his third exploratory voyage in the Pacific.
The Narrator and his family tried to replicate
the historical round the world voyage
undertaken by Cook in 1768.
Route of the voyage- Plymouth, England---
to---Cape Town , South Africa

6. Main characters
Narrator– A 37-year old businessman who had a dream to sail around
the world and replicate Captain Cook’s voyage. He spends sixteen years
honing his seafaring skills to finally embark on a voyage and achieve his
dream of sailing in British Waters.
Mary – Narrator’s wife, a woman with courage. She supports her
husband’s dream of sailing and is always ready to face any adversity.
Jonathan – Narrator’s 6-year-old son. A little boy with great wisdom
who understands the importance of family and wishes to be together
even if they all die.

7. Main Characters:
Suzanne –Narrator’s 7-year-old daughter who displays
patience and perseverance. She endures pain and remains
silent, as she doesn’t want to add to her father’s troubles.
She understands the gravity of the situation and behaves in
a manner much beyond her age.
Larry Vigil – An American crewman who helped the narrator
to tackle the rough Southern Indian Ocean.
Herb Seigler – A Swiss crewman who helped the narrator
to tackle the rough Southern Indian Ocean.

8. IMPORTANT WORDS AND PHRASES
● Voyage – a long journey by sea or space
● Honing – sharpen, improving
● Seafaring – regularly travelling by sea
● Honing seafaring skills – improving the skills required to travel by sea
● Jib – a triangular staysail that sets ahead of the foremast in a ship
● Knots - a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, used
especially for ships, aircraft, or winds
● Mooring – the ropes, chains, or anchors by or to which a boat, ship, or
buoy is moored
● Stern – the back part of a ship or a boat

9. IMPORTANT WORDS AND PHRASES
● Oilskins – heavy cotton cloth waterproofed with oil
● Capsizing – be overturned in water
● Taut – stretched or pulled tightly
● Boom – a pole that controls the angle and shape of the sail
● Keel – steel structure along the base of the ship
● Pinpricks in the vast ocean – the two small islands in the
● ocean were l tiny like the prick caused by a pin
● Rigging - the ropes and wires supporting the structure
○ of the ship
● Hull - the framework of the vessel
● Sextant – an instrument with graduated arc of 60
degrees for taking altitudes and navigation

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20. Justify the title of the story ‘We are not afraid to die….’
The title of the story "We are not afraid to die...if we can all be together." is
perfectly justified. The message conveyed by the title is that the story is
about the positive attitude and endurance shown by the courageous family
of the author in the face of the storm that had endangered their survival.
The adults as well as the six year old son and seven year old daughter
behaved courageously and bravely in the face of the storm. The six year old
son Jon reassured his dad that he was not afraid to die if he could be
together with his family. These fearless words motivated the author to do
his best to save the damaged boat and later on became the title of the
story.

21. “The person without a purpose is like a ship
without a rudder.” – Thomas Carlyle