We're Not Afraid to Die Class 11 Questions Answers

We’re Not Afraid to Die

Understanding the Text

Q1. List the steps taken by the captain

1. to protect the ship when rough weather began

2. To check the flooding of the water in the ship

Ans: 1. In order to protect the ship from rough weather, the captain decided to slow it
down. So he dropped the storm jib and lashed heavy mooring rope in a loop across the
stem. Then they double fastened everything and went through

their life-raft drill.

2.Larry and Herb started pumping out water. The captain stretched canvas and secured
water proof hatch covers across the gaping holes. When the two hand pumps blocked
and electric pump short circuited, he found another electric pump, connected it to an out
pipe and started it.

Q2. Describe the mental condition of the voyages on 4th and 5th January.

Ans: On January 4, the voyagers felt relieved after 36 hours of continuous pumping out

water. They had their first meal in almost two days. Their respite was short-lived. They
faced dangerous situation on January 5. Fear of death loomed large. They were under
great mental stress.

Q3. Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections
of the text. Give a subtitle to each section.
Ans: The first section describes a peaceful journey from Plymouth (England) to 3500 km
east of Cape Town (Africa). The narrator is relaxed and full of confidence. As the
weather deteriorated, they faced gigantic waves. They took precautions to save
themselves and struggle with the disaster. The narration becomes grim. But it exudes
the fighting spirit, confidence and strong will power. By the morning of January 6, Wave
walker rode out the storm and by evening they sighted He Amsterdam island.

The narrator is now relaxed. Joy, relief and complete confidence are apparent.

The subtitle to each section is—Section 1 – Cheerful Journey, Section 2-Facing the
Wave, Section 3-Searching the Island.

Talking About the Text

Q1. What difference did you notice between the reaction of the adults and the children
when faced with danger?

Ans: There is a lot of difference between the way in which the adults and the children
reacted when faced with danger. The adults felt the stress of the circumstances but
prepared themselves to face the dangers. They took sufficient precautions to protect the
ship when the rough weather began. They equipped everyone with lifelines, water proof
clothes, and life jackets. Larry and Herb worked cheerfully and optimistically for three
days continuously to pump out water from the ship. Mary replaced the narrator at the
wheel when the deck was smashed, and steered the ship. She also served them meal
after two days of struggle against odds. The narrator performed his role as captain with
courage, determination, resourcefulness and full responsibility. He undertook repair
work and provided apparatus and directions needed to protect the ship. He also helped
in steering the ship towards the island. The children suffered silently and patiently. Sue
did not want to bother her father with her troubles. Jon acted courageously. He was not
afraid to die if all of them perished together.

Q2. How does the story suggest the optimism helps to “endure the direst stress”?

Ans: The story suggests that optimism certainly helps to endure the direst stress. The
behaviour of the four adults during crisis bears it out. Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler were
two crewmen. As the mighty waves smashed the deck, water entered the ship through
many holes and openings. Right from the evening of January 2, Larry and Herb started
pumping out water. They worked continuously, excitedly and feverishly for 36 hours. It
was a result of their continuous pumping that they reached the last few centimetres of
water on January 4. They remained cheerful and optimistic while facing extremely
dangerous situations. The narrator did not lose his courage,hope or presence of mind
while facing problems. He did not worry about the loss of equipment. He used whatever
was available there. His self confidence and practical knowledge helped them to steer
out of storm and reach the lie Amsterdam island. Mary stayed at the wheel for all those
crucial hours. She did not lose hope or courage either.
Q3. What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face to
face with death?

Ans: Hazardous experiences may bring us face to face with death, but they impart us
many important lessons of conduct. Life is not always a bed of roses. We must react to
dangers and risks with patience and fortitude. Adversity is the true test of character. The
purity of gold is judged by putting it in fire. The hazardous experiences bring out the
best in us. Coward persons die many times before their death. Fear is a negative feeling
and leads to inactivity and abject surrender to circumstances. Such sailors or soldiers
lose the battle against the odds in life. On the other hand, persons with self confidence,
courage, resourcefulness and presence of mind face all the dangers boldly and
overcome all disasters.

Their sharing and caring attitude inspires others also to face the adverse circumstances
boldly and tide over them.

Q4, Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the
risks involved?

Ans: Man is adventurous by nature. The greater the risk, the more the thrill. The thrill of
exploring unknown lands, discovering wealth and beauty lying hidden in far off lands
inspires brave hearts to stake their life of rest and repose. Perhaps they value one
crowded hour of glory more than a long uneventful life of sloth and inactivity. It is true
that sometimes adventures are quite risky and prove fatal. The failures of some persons
do not daunt (discourage) the real lovers of adventure. They draw lessons from the
shortcomings and errors of others and make fresh attempts with greater zeal. Part of
the charm of an adventurous expedition lies in adapting oneself to the circumstances
and overcoming the odds. The success of an adventurous expedition brings name,
fame and wealth. History books are replete with accounts of famous explorers like
Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Captain Cook and Captain Scott.

Some Important Questions Answers

Q1. What did the narrator plan to do? What preparations did he make for it?

Ans:The narrator planned to go on a round-the-world sea voyage on the same pattern

as Captain James Cook had done 200 years earlier. For the past 16 years, he and his
wife had spent all their leisure time developing and improving their skills with work –
related to travel on the sea.

Q2. Give a brief description of the narrator’s boat. How had the narrator equipped and
tested it?

Ans: The narrator’s boat was called ‘Wave-walker’. It was a beautiful 23 metre long, 30
ton wooden-hulled ship. It had been professionally built. They had spent months fitting it
out and testing in the roughest weather they could find.
Q3. How long did the narrator plan his voyage to last?

Ans:The narrator had planned his round the world journey to cover 105,000 kilometres
in three years.

Q4. When and with whom did the narrator begin his voyage?

Ans:The narrator began his sea voyage in July 1976. He had his wife Mary, six year old
son Jonathan and seven year old daughter Suzanne with him. They set sail from
Plymouth, England.

Q5. Whom did the narrator employ and why? When did he do so?

Ans: The narrator employed two crewmen—American Larry Vigil and Swiss Herb
Seigler in order to help them tackle the southern Indian Ocean which is known as one of
the roughest seas of the world. He engaged them before leaving Cape Town.

Q6. What happened on their second day out of Cape Town? What worried the narrator
and why?

Ans: On their second day out of Cape Town, they began to face strong storms. These
storms blew continuously for the next few weeks. He was worried about the waves.
Their size was alarming. This rose up to 15 metres i.e., as high as their main mast.

Q7. How did they celebrate the Christmas holidays?

Ans: They were 3,500 kilometres east of Cape Town on 25 December. The weather
was very bad. Still they had a wonderful holiday—compplete with a Christmas tree. New
Year’s Day saw no improvement in weather.

Q8.How did the weather change on January 2? How did they feel?

Ans:The weather changed for worse on January 2. Now the waves were gigantic. As
the ship rose to the top of each wave, they saw endless enormous seas rolling towards
them. The screaming of the wind and spray was painful to the ears.

Q9. What efforts were made to face the rough weather?

Ans: In order to face the rough weather, the speed of the ship was slowed down. They
dropped the storm jib. They lashed heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stem. Then
they fastened together everything and went through their life-raft drill. They attached
lifelines, put on waterproof clothes and life-jackets.

Q10. What sort of wave hit the ship? How did the narrator react?
Ans:It was a mighty and huge wave. It appeared perfectly vertical. It was almost twice
the height of the other waves. It had a very unpleasant breaking crest. The narrator had
never seen such an enormous wave, so he was filled with horror.

Q11. What was the impact of the torrent on the narrator and Wave walker?

Ans:A tremendous explosion shook the deck. The narrator’s head struck the wheel and
he flew over board and was sinking below the waves. Unexpectedly his head came out
of water. Wave walker was almost capsizing. Her masts were almost horizontal.

Q12. How did the narrator manage to survive through the attacks of subsequent waves?

Ans: One of the waves threw the ship upright. The narrator was able to reach its main

boom. Subsequent waves tossed him around the deck like a rag doll. His left ribs
cracked. His mouth was filled with blood and broken teeth. Somehow, he found the
wheel, lined up the stem for the next wave and remained firm.

Q13. How did the narrator, and the other members react to the presence of water in the
ship?

Ans:The narrator could not leave the wheel to examine the damaged parts. Mary
shouted that the decks were broken and they were sinking. Larry and Herb were
pumping out water like madmen. Sue had a big bump over her eyes but the children
said that they were all right.

Q14. “I had no time to worry about bumped heads,” says the narrator. What problems
do you think deserved his immediate attention?

Ans:The starboard side had been struck open. They were taking in more water with
every wave breaking over them. If he did not make some repairs urgently, they would
sink. The narrator managed to cover the gaping holes with canvas and waterproof hatch
covers.

Q15. What problems did the narrator face during the night of January 2, 1977?

Ans: The hand pumps started to block up with the debris floating around the cabins. The
electric pump short circuited. The water level rose threateningly. The two spare hand
pumps had been wrenched over board. The waves had also carried away the forestay
sail, the jib, the dinghies and the main anchor from the deck.

Q16. How did the narrator react to the problems? What does it reveal?

Ans: The narrator did not lose his calm or courage in the face of problems. He thought
calmly. Then he remembered that they had another electric pump under the chart room
floor. He found it in working order. They were not getting any reply to their distress radio
signals. He was not surprised as they were in a remote comer of the world.

Q17. “I didn’t want to worry you when you were trying to save us all,” said Sue. What
has happened to her?

Ans: Sue’s head had a bump. It had swollen alarmingly. She had two enormous black
eyes. She also had a deep cut on her arm. She did not bother her daddy about her
injuries as he was busy in more important task.

Q18. Why do you think the narrator searched for an island so eagerly?

Ans: The wave that hit Wavewalker had caused extensive damage. Nearly all the boat’s
main frames had been smashed down to the keel. A whole section of the starboard hull
was being held up by a few cupboard partitions. Wavewalker could not hold together
long enough for them to reach Australia. So he searched for an island to repair the boat.

Q19. Why could they not set any sail on the main mast on 4 January?

Ans: The hull of the ship had been damaged badly. Pressure on the ropes supporting
the masts and sails would simply pull the damaged section of the hull apart. So they
hoisted the storm jib and headed towards the islands.

Q20. How did little Jonathan react to the desperate situation they found themselves in
on 5 January?

Ans: Jonathan asked his daddy if they were going to die. The narrator tried to assure
him that they would overcome the situation. Then little Jon declared bravely that he was
not afraid of death provided they could all be together.

Q21. How did the narrator respond to little Jon’s words? What do his actions reveal
about his character?

Ans:He could not find proper words to respond. However, he felt inspired to fight the
sea with everything he had. He decided to stop the ship and protect the weakened
starboard side. He did so with an improvised anchor of heavy nylon ropes and two 22
litre plastic barrels of paraffin. This shows his resourcefulness and determination.

Q22. When do you think, Mary and the narrator feel the end was near? Why did they
feel so?

Ans: On the evening of 5 January 1977, Mary and narrator felt that the end was very
near. They sat together holding hands. The movement of the ship brought in more and
more water through the broken planks.
Q23. “Optimism and courage help to tide over difficulties”. How did the narrator succeed
in searching the small island?

Ans: The narrator was searching for a 65 kilometre wide island in an ocean of 150,000
kilometres. He worked optimistically on wind speeds, changes of course, drift and
current. He calculated their position with the help of sextant also.

Q24. How did Sue try to enliven the gloomy atmosphere?

Ans: Sue forgot her swollen head and blackened eyes and prepared a funny card. On
the front it had caricatures of Mary and the narrator. She called them funny people who
had made her laugh. There was a message also. It expressed her love, thanks and
good wishes.

Q25. The narrator says, “I told him with a conviction I did not feel.” What led him to
believe so?

Ans: The narrator had lost his main compass. He was using a spare one. It had not
been corrected for magnetic variation. He had to make allowance for this as well as for
the influence of the westerly currents. Though he checked and rechecked his
calculations, he was not sure. He depended on luck as well.

Q26. What gloomy thoughts occurred to the narrator? What pleasant surprise was in
store for him?

Ans: The narrator thought that they might have missed the island. They couldn’t hope to
beat back into the westerly winds with the sail they had been left with. When Jonathan
called him the best daddy in the world and the best captain and asked for a hug, he
refused to do. When Sue remarked that he had found the island, he felt surprised.

Q27. What did Sue tell her Daddy about the island? What did he notice himself?

Ans: Sue told her Daddy that the island was as big as a battleship and it was out there
in front of them. The narrator gazed at its complete outline. It was a bare piece of
volcano rock with little vegetation.

Q28. Why do you think, did the narrator call lie Amsterdam ‘the most beautiful island in
the world’?

Ans: Ile Amsterdam was a very small island made of volcanic rock. It had little
vegetation and only 28 inhabitants. However, the island provided them safety from the
huge waves of the sea as well as opportunity to repair the damaged ship.

Q29. What did the narrator think of while landing at lie Amsterdam? Why?
Ans:He thought of his companions. Larry and Herb had remained cheerful and
optimistic under the most serious tension. His wife Mary had stayed at the wheel during
the crucial hours. His daughter Suzanne did not bother him about her head injury. His
son Jonathan was not afraid to die.