Class 11 commerce students can refer to Chapter 2 We are Not Afraid to Die If We Can All Be Together notes given below which is an important chapter in the class 11 English book. These notes and important questions and answers have been prepared based on the latest CBSE and NCERT syllabus and books issued for the current academic year. Our team of English teachers has prepared these notes for class 11 English for the benefit of students so that you can read these revision notes and understand each topic carefully.

We are Not Afraid to Die If We Can All Be Together Notes Class 11 English

Refer to the notes and important questions given below for We are Not Afraid to Die If We Can All Be Together which is really useful and has been recommended by Class 11 English teachers. Understanding the concepts in detail and then solving questions by yourself will help you to learn all topics given in your NCERT Books.

The story, ‘We’re Not afraid to Die—if We Can All Be Together” is a story of extreme courage and skill exhibited by Gordon Cook, his family and crewmen in a war with water and waves for survival.

Round the world voyage

• In July 1976, the narrator, his wife Mary, son Jonathan and daughter Suzanne set sail from Plymouth, England.
• repeating the round-the-world voyage made 200 years earlier by Captain James Cook.
• took the voyage in the Southern Indian Ocean in their professionally built ship, the Wavewalker, a 23 meter long and 30 ton Wooden boat.
• accompanied by two experienced sailors – Larry Vigil, an American and Herb Seigler, a Swiss.
• The first part of the journey, that is, about 105,000 kilometres up to Cape Town passed

Attack of the big wave

• On the second day ,they began to encounter strong Gales up to 15 metres, as high as the main mast.
• On 25th December, the writer’s ship was in the southern Indian Ocean, 3500 kilometres to the east of Cape Town and celebrated their new Year in the ship.
• At dawn on January 2 due to unfriendly weather and gigantic waves
  ø the sailors slow their speed,
  ø drop storm jib and take other precautions.
  ø sailors complete life-raft drill,
  ø attach life lines and life jackets.
• Suddenly at 6 pm, a tremendous explosion shook the Wave walker, and the author was thrown overboard.
• The ship was about to capsize when another gigantic wave hit it tossing it upright once again.
• in spite of his injuries, the narrator took charge of the situation. Somehow he found the wheel, lined up the stern for the next wave and hung on till Mary appeared and took charge of the wheel.
• Larry and Herb started pumping out water like madmen.
• The whole starboard side bulged inwards.
• The narrator managed to cover canvas across the gaps to prevent water from entering the ship.
• Then came more problems. Their hand pumps stopped working and electric pumps short-circuited.
• the narrator found a spare electric pump under the chartroom that worked.
• The entire night was spent in pumping, steering, repairing and sending radio signals.
• The narrator checked charts and calculated that lie Amsterdem, a French scientific base was their only hope.
• Sue’s head was swollen and she had a deep injury. Ultimate victory
• Finally they reached Ile Amsterdam, a volcanic island where they were welcomed by 28 inhabitants.
• Thus, the collective strength and never failing optimism of the sailors made it possible for them to come out of the jaws of death.
• Though, Jonathan and Suzanne did not do anything to save Wave walker but their courage, faith and optimism gave extra strength and persistence to the narrator and his team.
• in spite of his injuries, the narrator took charge of the situation. Somehow he found the wheel, lined up the stern for the next wave and hung on till Mary appeared and took charge of the wheel.
• Larry and Herb started pumping out water like madmen.
• The whole starboard side bulged inwards.
• The narrator managed to cover canvas across the gaps to prevent water from entering the ship.
• Then came more problems. Their hand pumps stopped working and electric pumps short-circuited.
• the narrator found a spare electric pump under the chartroom that worked.
• The entire night was spent in pumping, steering, repairing and sending radio signals.
• The narrator checked charts and calculated that lie Amsterdem, a French scientific base was their only hope.
• Sue’s head was swollen and she had a deep injury. Ultimate victory
• Finally they reached Ile Amsterdam, a volcanic island where they were welcomed by 28 inhabitants.
• Thus, the collective strength and never failing optimism of the sailors made it possible for them to come out of the jaws of death.
• Though, Jonathan and Suzanne did not do anything to save Wave walker but their courage, faith and optimism gave extra strength and persistence to the narrator and his team.

Short Questions and Answers

Question. How did she make her father laugh when the situation was almost hopeless?
Ans. The situation was hopeless and the parents were still tense. She made a card and drew their caricatures, laugh. The card also thanked them and gave a message of hope.

Question. What preparations were made by the narrator before their round the world Voyage?
Ans. The writer wanted to go around the world voyage as captain James Cook had done about 200 years earlier. For about 16 years, both he and his wife used to spend all their free time in improving their sailing skills on the British sea. They made a 23 m long boat wave walker, with great skill. They tested it in the roughest weather. Finally, the started their Voyage in July 1976.

Question. How does the author describe Wave walker?
Ans. Wave walker was the name given to the narrator’s boat. It was professionally built. It was a 23-metre long, wooden-hulled 30-ton boat. The narrator spent months fitting it out and testing it in the roughest weather.

Question. “We are not afraid to die.” Who speaks the words and when?
Ans. The narrator’ Son Janathan, 6 years old, made this remark when his father went in to comfort the children. “But Daddy,” he went on, “We are n’t afraid of dying if we can all be together- you and mummy, She and I”.

Question. How did the first leg of the journey pass? What happened to them immediately after they left?
Ans. The first leg of the journey was from Plymouth (England) to Cape Town (Southernmost trip of Africa). It was a journey of 1,05,000 kilometres. It passed quite pleasantly. But after leaving Cape Town, they had to face strong galer.

Question. What did the travellers find at dawn on 2 January and what preparation did the make?
Ans. On this dawn, the waves were gigantic. The ship rose to the top of each wave that came their way. There was fear of shipwreck. So they made all possible preparations to save the ship and themselves as follows :
1. They dropped the storm jib to slow down ship.
2. They secured everything rightly.
3. The attached lifelines to the life-rafts.
4. They put on their oilskins and life-jackets.

Long Questions and Answers

Question. 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 our 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 Ile Amsterdam; and. Mary stayed at the wheel for all those crucial hours. She did not lose hope or courage either.

Question. 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.

Question. 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.

Question. What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are bee to face with death?
Ans. Hazardous experiences may bring us face to face with death, but they irr:at 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 :; 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 surre-: 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.