About the Author:
Daniel Defoe (1660- 1731) was an English writer and journalist. A prolific and versatile writer, Defoe is also known for pamphlets and journals on various topics. He is the most famous for his novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’. In 1719, Defoe finished and published ‘Robinson Crusoe’, a long imaginative literary masterpiece. It became popular and has never lost its appeal to an adventurous and romantic bent of mind. Other novels soon followed, in addition to his multitude of articles and essays.
About the Text:
The following text is adapted from a section of Daniel Defoe’s famous novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and tells us how Crusoe, after being Shipwrecked, found himself on a dismal island. The story of the novel is full of adventure and romance. It also gives us an inspiring account of how he makes the island habitable with his hard work.
A Shipwrecked Sailor
– Robinson Crusoe
Short Questions and Answers:
1) What name did Crusoe give to the dismal island?
Ans- The name Crusoe gave to the dismal island was the Island of Despair.
2) How did Crusoe go over the fence?
Ans- Crusoe went over the fence by using a short ladder.
3) Where did he pinch the tent?
Ans- He pinched his tent on the flat green surface just before the hollow on the hill.
4) Why did he keep a journal?
Ans- He kept a journal to record the details of his everyday affairs in the island.
5) Why did the incident of Shipwreck occur?
Ans- The incident of Shipwreck occurred because of a violent storm in the sea.
6) What for was Crusoe fearful in the dismal island?
Ans- Crusoe was fearful about the wild animals which might devour him.
7) Why did Crusoe decide to sleep on a tree at night?
Ans- Crusoe decided to sleep on a tree at night for fear of wild creatures.
Also read: S.A.Q Answers From “Mild The Mist Upon The Hill” Class-9
8) How was the weather, after Robinson reached the island?
Ans- After Robinson had reached the island, rain continued for a week thereafter.
9) Why did Crusoe swim to the wreck?
Ans- Crusoe swam to the wreck to rescue some food and other provisions for survival.
10) How was the hollow on the rocky wall of the hill?
Ans- On the rocky wall the hollow was like the entrance of a cave.
11) How did the author use the stakes he made to fence his tent?
Ans- Crusoe drove the stakes into the ground in a semicircle around his tent for protection.
12) What did the narrator put around the stakes to make a strong fence?
Ans- The narrator put cables around the stakes to make a strong fence.
13) How did the shape of the fence look like?
Ans- The shape of the fence looked like a semicircle.
14) Where did Robinson keep his stores and provisions?
Ans- Robinson kept his stores and provisions in small wood boxes.
15) What did Crusoe see in his bag?
Ans- In his bag, Crusoe saw only husks and dusts.
16) What did Crusoe collect from the valley?
Ans- From the valley Crusoe collected different kinds of fruits like melons, grapes, oranges etc.
17) What were the items Robinson Crusoe collected from the wrecked Ship?
Ans- From the wreck Robinson Crusoe rescued some wood, cable, string, a knife, nails, a gun, a hammock, some canvas, some paper and ink and some money.
18) How did Crusoe keep track of the number of days he spent on the island?
Ans- Crusoe had cut with his knife upon a large post, the date of his landing. Thereafter he put a notch with his knife for every day.
19) In what way did Crusoe make himself a lamp?
Ans- Crusoe collected a little tallow and a small clay dish. To this he added a wick. In this way he made himself a lamp.
20) Describe how Crusoe, after being Shipwrecked, found himself on a dismal island.
Ans- With shipwreck, the rest of the people of Crusoe’s ship’s company were drowned. He himself was almost dead. But somehow he came on the shore of a dismal island.
21) What happened to him on the first night?
Ans- He had no knowledge about that unknown island. So when night fell, he slept on a tree for fear of wild creatures. It also rained all night.
22) Why was the money which the sailor found useless to him?
Ans- From the wreck, among other things, the sailor found some money. But it was useless because the island was without any human habitation.
23) How did Robinson count days and months?
Ans- Robinson counted days and months by putting a notch with his knife for every day on a large post after 30. 09. 1659.
24) What did he find in the woody part of the island?
Ans- In the woody part of the island, Crusoe found melons and grapes in great abundance. He also found cocoa, orange and lemon trees.
25) What did Crusoe see at the time of a more particular survey of the island?
Ans- At the time of particular survey of the island, Crusoe found a brook with pleasant meadows by the bank, plain, smooth and covered by grass.
26) Why did he not change his habitation to the valley of fruits?
Ans- No passing ship could find Crusoe in the valley of fruits. So, he wished to stay in view of the sea. Hence he did not change his habitation.