A Swiss family is traveling to a new colony when their ship is blown off course in a six-day storm and runs aground near an uninhabited island. The father, mother, and their four sons escape the wrecked ship and make their way ashore to find that they are the only survivors of the wreck. Salvaging what resources they can from the wreck, the family begins carving out a solitary existence on the island, uncertain when or if a rescue ship will arrive. Despite dangerous animals, torrential monsoons, and the loneliness of isolation, they face all their hardships with energy, ingenuity, and the knowledge that God is with them. The years pass by without rescue. Then one day, Fritz, the oldest son, discovers a note from a young Englishwoman who has also been shipwrecked. Fritz sets out on his own hoping to rescue her, and he soon adds another citizen to their little Swiss colony. A short time later, the family hears the boom of a ship's cannon echo across the sea. They respond by firing their own guns as a signal, unsure if their rescue is imminent, or if they will be attacked by Malay pirates. And even if they are rescued, the family is unsure whether they want to leave the island that has become their home. A Special Note about this Study Guide: This study guide for The Swiss Family Robinson is based on the W. H. G. Kingston translation of the text. Although the Kingston translation has become the English-language standard, publishers of the Kingston translation still differ on chapter divisions. For this study guide we have relied on the chapter divisions found in the edition published by Yearling Books (a division of Random House) ISBN 978-0-440-41594-7. For those using a different edition of the Kingston translation, we have provided, in the Table of Contents of the study guide, the opening sentence of each lesson section to help you follow along. |