Poster Making

Poster Making / Poster Writing / Designing a Poster

What is a Poster : 

Posters are to be displayed in a public place. They are drafted to announce, appeal or advertise some event/idea/issue/cause.

Purpose :

Posters are generally made to spread a social message or to create awareness about issues related to social problems among the general public.

It also serves the purpose to advertise some event of common interest or even to extend public invitations and display notices. Posters fulfil the purpose of a notice, advertisement and even an invitation.

It can be used to promote a product, event, cause or sentiment such as patriotism, eye-donation, tree plantation, water harvesting, health hazards, etc.

Video on Speech Writing

Key features of a good poster:

·        It is visually attractive/eye catching/appealing.

·        Write a catchy title/heading.

·        Include slogan, quotation, proverb, phrases or short verse using persuasive language.

·        Make an appropriate sketch or drawing

·        Use variety of fonts in terms of size, style and shape

·        It should be appealing enough to fulfil the purpose towards which it is targeted.

·        It must be creative in terms of language, content and expression.

·        It aims to test the ability to present the theme through a significant message and a relevant slogan.

·        Follow the word limit (usually 50)

     Put the poster in a box.

Content Points:

·        Mention clearly the theme, topic or subject of the poster

·        All the prominent information related to the theme/topic needs to be included/highlighted. Include all the important details in case of event such as time, date, venue, any special programme/guest.

·        Mention the name of issuing authority/organisation at the bottom.

·        Captions and slogans must highlight the features/dangers/benefits of theme as needed.

·        Convey the message with clarity of language and thoughts.

·        All the value points must be organised in a proper layout and presented in a sequencing and cohesive manner.

 Video on Debate writing

Language Specifications :

1. They must be written in a language prominent enough to attract the attention of the readers, and strong enough to excite their imagination and influence their minds.

2. Posters are read from a distance. Do not write too much of text and long sentences. Write short, catchy and crisp sentences.

3. Use phrases, slogans, proverbs and short sentences.

4. Use present tense, future tense for warnings/consequences.

5. Use direct language/imperative sentences such as Don't use plastic, Don't miss the opportunity, Plant more trees, etc.

Categories:

On the basis of its purpose it is divided in two categories –

I. Event Posters

Event posters include events such as school fetes, book fairs and blood donation camps. Such a poster deals with events that are to take place. 

Some of its feature are:

Slogan

Name of the organiser

Statement of appeal/invitation

Date

Venue

Other important information/point/attraction

Special offer / points

Video on Integrated Grammar

II. Non Event Posters (For Awareness)

Non-event posters  include posters on social issues and social evils. 

Key features are :

Slogan

Statement

Name of the person or organiser who has issued the poster.

List of reasons/cause and effect relationship/measures

Sample Posters

Q. As the Director of National Agriculture Organisation, Rajasthan design a poster to be published in the newspaper making the people of Rajasthan aware of the necessity of conserving water and also how to do it. (50 words)

Video on Note Making

Q. You are student in charge of Science Club of Modern School, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi. Design a poster for the Science Exhibition to be organised in your school by Science Club. Include all the necessary details. (50 Words)

Deep Water

Deep Water

                               By William Douglas

 

Analysis :

§  The chapter ‘Deep Water’ is written by William O. Douglas who was an advocate and the longest serving judge of the court.

§  The chapter is an excerpt taken from 'Of Men and Mountains' by William O. Douglas. It reveals how as a young boy, William Douglas was nearly drowned in a swimming pool.

§  In this essay he talks about his fear of water and thereafter, how he finally overcame it. We are able to notice how the autobiographical part of the selection is used to support his discussion of fear.

§  The story is subjective as it describes the emotions of the writer associated with his childhood and his fear of water. It brings his childhood memories back when he was nearly drowned.

§  This chapter depicts the author's intense personal struggle with a traumatic experience and the subsequent journey of overcoming fear. The near drowning experience at the hands of a bullying boy leaves a profound impact on the narrator. The vivid and detailed description of the fear, panic, and physical sensations during the incident provides a raw portrayal of trauma. 

Chapter highlights the gradual nature of healing and the theme of triumph over fear. This theme of resilience inspires the readers to be mentally strong, face the fear and overcome it.

Video on Aunt Jennifer's Tigers

Summary / Synopsis:

The chapter ‘Deep Water’ reflects the author's intense personal struggle with a traumatic experience and his subsequent journey of overcoming fear. A traumatic experience happened when the narrator was ten or eleven years old.

The narrator decided to learn to swim. There was a pool at the Y.M.C.A in Yakima which was safe as per his mother as it was 2 to 3 feet deep at shallow end. He hated to walk naked in water and show his skinny legs. But he did it to learn swimming.

The narrator had an aversion to water and this scare for water entered into his heart when he was three or four years old and father took him to the beach in California. He and the father stood together in the surf. He hung on to father, yet the waves knocked him down and swept over him. His breath was gone. He was frightened. Father laughed, but he got extremely scared of overpowering force of the waves.

Y.M.CA. swimming pool revived his unpleasant memories and fear. But he tried to gather confidence as he was determined. He paddled with his water wings, watching the other boys and learning how to swim for some days. Then. the misadventure happened.

Video on Indigo

Once he was alone at the pool waiting for other boys to come. Then, a big bruiser of a boy, probably eighteen years old picked him up and tossed him into the deep end. He landed in a sitting position, swallowed water, and went at once to the bottom. He was frightened out of his wits. Those nine feet were more like ninety, and when his feet hit bottom, he summoned all his strength and made a great leap upwards. He came up slowly and could see nothing but water. He grew panicky and cried but no sound came out. He swallowed water and choked. He tried to bring his legs up, but they hung as dead weights, paralysed and rigid. A great force pulled him under and he went down again. And then sheer, stark terror seized him. When his third attempt also failed, his body became weak, dizzy and motionless. When he was pulled out, he only remembered lying on the stomach and vomiting water. The boy who threw him into the water said that he was only fooling around.

For days, months and years a haunting fear remained in his heart. The slightest thought of water would upset him. Water served as a powerful symbol of panic, a source of deep-seated fear. The aftermath is characterised by lingering anxiety, nightmares, and an aversion to water related activities. The fear extends to natural bodies of water, impacting the narrator's ability to enjoy outdoor activities like fishing, boating, swimming and canoeing. 

 Finally, one October, the narrator felt, 'enough is enough' as he could not lead such traumatic life anymore. He again decided to get an instructor and learn to swim. He went to a pool and practised five days a week, an hour each day. The instructor put a belt around him and a rope attached to the belt went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. Each time the instructor relaxed his hold on the rope and he went under, the old terror returned and his legs froze. After three months things began to relax. Then, he taught him to put his face under water and exhale, and to raise his nose and inhale. He repeated the exercise hundreds of times. Bit by bit he shed part of the panic that seized him earlier when his head went under water. Next, the instructor taught him how to kick with his legs and for weeks he just did that. By April next year he was built into a swimmer piece by piece.

After a good practice at the pool, in July he went to the Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire, dived off a dock at Triggs Island, and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. He tried all the strokes there. Once, the fear gripped him in the Lake but he swam on and defeated that fear. Under the depth of lake water he stared into the eyes of fear and scared it and the fear fled away, and that was the symbol of a profound personal victory. But, he wasn't satisfied.

Towards the end, the eventual triumph of the writer over his fear is marked by a swimming challenge across a lake. When he camped in Conrad Meadows, he dived into the Warm Lake, swam across the lake and came back to the shore. He shouted with joy that he had conquered his fear of water and the Gilbert Peak returned the echo. Finally, he had conquered his fear of water.

Despite the initial fear and ongoing struggles the narrator persevered, faced the fear which had deep set in his soul and emerged victorious. At last, he felt released and free from his fear, thus he quoted Roosevelt, "All we have to fear is the fear itself."

Video on Roadside Stand

Theme

Chapter highlights the theme of triumph over fear discussing gradual nature of healing. The theme of resilience and perseverance which is emphasised in the story throughout  inspires the readers to be mentally strong, face the fear and overcome it. 

Message

The story voices out the message in the words of Roosevelt, "All we have to fear is the fear itself." The chapter also help us recall the words of Nelson Madela "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over that fear". We must learn to win our fear and then we can be successful in all that we do the way William O. Douglas did not leave any stone unturned to overcome his fear.

Video on The Rattrap

Important Question Answers

Q1. What were the series of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface? How did this experience affect him?

Ans. When William Douglas was thrown into the pool at YMCA, his childhood fear for water revived. Inside the pool he underwent a series of emotions and fears. He was frightened when he reached the bottom of nine feet deep pool. But, he tried his best to come out of water. Soon his legs became stiff and refused to move. He was nearly drowned, horror gripped his heart and he panicked. Last time when he attempted to make a leap, his legs and hands became paralysed and rigid. His lungs ached and head pounded, and he became unconscious.

Due to this frightening experience he became scared of water and couldn’t think of swimming any more. Whenever he thought of water, he couldn’t fight his fear. Later, he decided to learn swimming and overcome his fear.

Q2. “All we have to fear is fear itself.” Illucidate with reference to the narrator, William Douglas’ struggle to defeat his fear.

Ans. Douglas had really had a brush with death when he got nearly drowned in YMCA pool. After that episode darkness of fear engulfed his life completely. But, he didn’t want to spend his entire life under that scare because ‘all we have to fear is the fear itself’. He knew that through a determined efforts he can overcome his fear and he decided to learn swimming and started learning under an expert trainer. He challenged his fear and started practising to swim in a pool five days a week. He went down in the depth of water and told his fear that he is no more scared. He swam in lakes and from the Gilbert peak he shouted with joy that he has defeated his fear and that returned in an echo. American president, Franklin D. Roosevelt has rightly said, “All we have to fear is the fear itself.” This was well deservedly understood and lived by the narrator, William Douglas who struggled with all his might until he succeeded to defeat his fear of water.

Video on Last Lesson

Q3. How is the narrator's victory a lesson to all the beginners who get scared of doing a thing even before they Begin? 

Ans. The narrator's decision to face and overcome his fear of water represents a journey of self discovery and resilience which is needed for all the beginners who set the sail to achieve something in life and feel nervous at the outset. Seeking swimming lessons and practicing regularly with an instructor display a deliberate and determined effort to confront and conquer the deep rooted phobia. This narrative highlights the gradual nature of healing and triumph over fear. The step-by-step process of swimming lessons, started with basic skills and progressed to more challenging tasks. It resulted as the incremental progress in overcoming the trauma. This process needs lot of courage, patience and unshakeable determination and this is my take from the lesson and the character of William Douglas.

Video on Lost Spring

Voice of the Rain

The Voice of the Rain

                                                          By Walt Whitman

Analysis :

The poem ‘The Voice of the Rain’ is composed by Walt Whitman, the representative poet of American Literature. He is renowned for the collection of his poems 'The Leaves of the grass'.

 It is a beautiful and magical interpretation of rain which springs from the poet’s soul and touches the readers' heart.

This poem is a conversation between the poet and the soft-falling rain.

The poem personifies the rain, portraying it as a timeless force that brings life, purification, and beauty to the Earth.

The poem also beautifully emphasises the cyclical and eternal nature of rain and finds affinity with the scientific explanation of this process known as water cycle.

This poem is rich with poetic devices and uses vivid imagery to describe the rain along with personification and symbolism.

The poem highlights the theme that rain is an instrument of purification, beautification and cheer on earth and in the world

Line by Line Explanation

Line 1 - 3

And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower,

Which, strange to tell, gave me an answer, as here translated:

I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain,

The poet is asking the rain about its identity and nature. The rain which is falling softly and beautifully responds to his question, and the poet finds that  response to be little strange.

The rain identifies itself as the "Poem of Earth," It means to say that it is like a poem or song which is played by the Earth. In a way it the beautiful expression of this earth or nature. When the nature wants to express itself, it rains.

 Video on the poem 'A Photograph'

Line 4 - 8

Eternal I rise impalpable out of the land and the bottomless sea,

Upward to heaven, whence, vaguely form’d, altogether

changed, and yet the same,

I descend to lave the droughts, atomies, dust-layers of the globe,

And all that in them without me were seeds only, latent, unborn;

The rain describes its eternal nature and ceaseless process which is cycle or process and it can be explained scientifically. It describes how it rises invisibly from the land and the unfathomable sea as it is too deep. It rises towards the sky, undergoing a transformation as the water vapours change into thick clouds. But it remains same though it changes the form from water to water vapours and then to the clouds.

The rain explains its purpose of descending to the Earth. It falls on the earth to remove the droughts and quench the thirst of the dry land and the humanity. It cleanses everything on the earth and makes everything look greener and fresher removing the layers of dust covering the world.

The rain implies that everything on Earth was like dormant seeds or hidden potential, waiting to come to life. It is the rain that brings them to life and see the light of the world. In simple words without rain nothing can grow be it plants, flowers, fruits or creatures. Rain makes their life or existence worth it.

Video on Laburnum Top 

Line 9 - 12

And forever, by day and night, I give back life to my own origin,

And make pure and beautify it;

(For song, issuing from its birth-place, after fulfilment, wandering

Reck’d or unreck’d, duly with love returns.)

The rain declares that it continually gives life back to its own origin, suggesting a cyclical and eternal process of nature. It means to say that when rain falls on earth, it completes the water cycle so that it can rise again to the sky in form of water vapours and form the clouds to rain again on earth and this way this cycle will go on forever. The rain purifies and beautifies the Earth and this world along with giving life.

The rain is compared to a song that, after being born and fulfilling its purpose, wanders back to its origin without caring whether it is being noticed, rewarded and appreciated or not. But, it always provides love and peace to the music lovers.

Free Verse 

The poem is composed in free verse as it doesn't follow any rhyme scheme nor any stanza pattern. It doesn't follow a meter hence line length is not regular.

Poetic Devices

And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower, - Alliteration, Imagery, Apostrophe

Which, strange to tell, gave me an answer, as here translated: - Assonance, Personification

I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain, - Metaphor, Personification, Repetition

Eternal I rise impalpable out of the land and the bottomless sea, - Repetition, Antithesis, Assonance, Consonance, Imagery 

Upward to heaven, whence, vaguely form’d, altogether – Consonance

changed, and yet the same, - Paradox, Enjambment

I descend to lave the droughts, atomies, dust-layers of the globe, - Alliteration, Imagery, personification  Repetition 

And all that in them without me were seeds only, latent, unborn; - Assonance, Alliteration, Anaphora

And forever, by day and night, I give back life to my own origin, -  Anaphora,  Antithesis, Paradox

And make pure and beautify it; - Repetition, Enjambment

Reck’d or unreck’d, duly with love returns.) – Antithesis, Consonance

Important Question Answers

Q1. There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? which line indicates this?

Ans. The two voices in the poem are those of the poet and, of the rain.

The line is -  "And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower, which, strange to tell me an answer,"

Q2. What does the phrase "strange to tell mean?

Ans. The phrase "strange to tell" here means that it is a strange feeling and quite difficult to believe that the rain speaks and answers to the poet.

Q3. There is a parallel drawn between rain and music. Which words indicate this? Explain the similarity between the two.

Ans. The line is "For song issuing and from its Birth - place, after fulfilment, wandering reck'd or unreck'd, duly with love returns”. The music is similar to the rain because music soothes the listeners coming from the heart of creator & returns to him as appreciation. In the same way rain leaves the earth as vapour & returns back to earth in form of rain drops which is another form of water only.

Q4. How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem? Compare it with what you have learnt in science.

Ans. The cyclical movement of rain is shown as it rises out of land and sea in form of water vapour, and  then changes its forms from vapours to clouds and from clouds to rain drops. Still, the element remains the same. It is nearly similar to what is taught in science chapters.

Q5. Why are the last two lines put within the parenthesis?

Ans. The last two lines are put within the parenthesis because they are neither spoken by rain nor poet. Instead, they are a direct comparison between rain and music.

 RTC

Eternal I rise impalpable 

Out of the land and the bottomless sea,

Upward to heaven, whence, vaguely form’d, 

Altogether changed, and yet the same

Q1. Who does I refer to?

Q2. From where does it rise and where does it go?

Q3. Explain the line "Eternal I rise impalpable".

Q4. What does the poet convey in the last line?

Q5. Pick out poetic device in last line. 

Answers:

A1. The word 'I' refers to the rain.

A2. It rises from the sea and other water bodies in form of water vapours and it goes up to the sky to form the rain clouds. 

A3. Here the process of water cycle initiates and its first phase is evaporation. It means the water vapours rise and go up unseen and unnoticed from the surface of the sea. the word 'eternal' suggests the ceaseless process of water cycle. 

A4. The poet conveys in the last line that the form of water changes its form from water vapours to clouds and from clouds to rain drops, still the element remains same and in the last phase it comes back to its original form. 

A5. Antithesis

Summer of Beautiful White Horse

The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

                                                          By William Saroyan

Analysis :

The story ‘The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse’ written by William Saroyan is a beautiful tale with the idea that a man could be the father of his son’s flesh but not of his soul.

It is an account of a family which is known for its honesty but their sons stole a horse just to fulfil their desire to ride a horse as they were poor and couldn’t buy one.

The story narrates small acts of smartness, courage, cleverness and innocence of Mourad in order to live his dream to ride a horse.

The story conveys the message that we can pass on our genes to the next generation but not the character which is to be built, inculcated, developed and maintained.

 

Summary

The story is about two Armenian boys of the Garoghlanian family, a tribe whose hallmarks are trust, righteousness and honesty. Mourad is the cousin of Aram, who is the narrator. Aram was very fond of horses and always longed to ride one. They were poor so it wasn't possible to possess or buy one. One morning Mourad managed to steal a horse from a farmer named John Byro. He invited Aram too, to ride with him. Aram first hesitated as no member of the Garoghlanian family could ever be a thief. He admired the horse so much that he leaped on its back and began riding. The experience was wonderful.

Video on Note Making

The narrator mentioned an incident of Mourad's uncle, Khosrove, who was very furious and short tempered and had a bad habit of saying, "It is no harm; pay no attention to it." Even when his own house was on fire, he repeated the same sentence. They enjoyed riding the horse. After that, Mourad asked the narrator to get down as he wanted to ride alone. Narrator’s cousin, Mourad had a way with horses due to which they followed Mourad's all commands. Moreover, when it was Aram's turn, the horse wasn't interested. When Aram started kicking into the horse, it started snorting, running and leaping over vines and thus Aram fell on the ground.

Both the cousins decided to bring the horse and hide it somewhere as everybody was up. Mourad did not tell Aram the truth about since when he was riding the horse as he did not want him to become a liar. Mourad hid the house in the barn of a deserted vineyard. The next day when Uncle Khosrove was at Aram's place, John Byro came over and expressed his grief of losing his beautiful horse. Soon, the farmer was very much annoyed by Khosrove's behaviour and left haughtily. Due to this the narrator discovered that Mourad was in possession of the horse for a month and pleaded to keep it until he learns to ride. The plea wasn't accepted by Mourad as he thought that it would take Aram a year to learn to ride and they couldn't keep it for such a long time.

For some weeks things went as usual, Mourad relished horse riding, on Aram's turn, horse threw him off and ran away. One morning when the cousins ran into John Byro, he inspected the house along with the cousins closely but turned down his thoughts according to which it was his horse as the members of Garoghlanian family were known for their honesty,

The next morning they returned the horse, and kept it back into John Byro's farm. Even the dogs didn't bark at Mourad as he had a way with them, too.

 Video on poem 'A Photograph'

Important Question Answers

Q1. Did the boys return the horse because they were conscience-stricken or because they were afraid?

Ans. The boys returned the horse because they were afraid to be caught and defamed. Mourad was in possession of the horse for a pretty long time and if they did not return the horse, they might get defamed as thieves. The boys did not want any member of their family to be called as thieves and that too because of their innocent dream. Hence, their conscience also pricked them and they returned the horse to save their family from defamation.

Q2. A suspicious man would believe his eyes instead of his heart...". Justify this statement.

Ans. Over the course of the chapter, John Byro is seen as very much protective towards his horse. He is greatly affected, when he loses the horse. The farmer, when he encounters the cousins along with the house, becomes very suspicious. He closely inspects the features of the horse and finds them to be exactly same as his horse. Any man with that kind of suspicion would believe his eyes not what his heart says. It is only due to the reputation of the Gauoghlarian family that he believes that the horse is the twin of the one John Byro used to have. 

Q3. William Saroyan brings out the truth of the contemporary world that a man could be the father of his son's flesh and not of his spirit. Discuss.

Ans. William Saroyan, the author of the chapter, "The summer of the beautiful white horse" beautifully justifies the fact that "A man could be the father of his son's flesh and not of his spirit". Even though Zorab was the biological father of Mourad, there weren't many things that were similar in their character. Mourad was a crazy fellow, he had followed the crazy streak in their family from Uncle Khosrove. Mourad's real father, Zorab was a completely practical man but Uncle Khosrove was a crazy fellow just like Mourad's character & behaviour. It suggests that a child may take genes and physical features from parents but the spiritual traits and values are inculcated and learnt with lot of determination and perseverance.

Video on Laburnum Top

We are not Afraid to Die

We're not Afraid to Die... If we can all be together

                                                          By Gordon Cook and Allen East

Analysis: 

The story ‘We aren’t Afraid to Die’ written by Gordon Cook and Allen East is a beautiful message of mental strength, courage and resilience.

It is an account of a family and sailors who experienced a storm in Southern Indian Ocean. The story narrates small acts of bravery, courage, support, compassion and sensitivity in order to keep the hope of life alive amid the storm.

The story is great lesson to all the people on how to fight the hurdles and emerge triumphantly in the time of crisis especially with the examples of the children who did their best to bring smiles on the grim faces.

Captain Gordon Cook stood out as a true example of strong leadership and perseverance. He displayed amazing sensibility, great awareness of the storm and directions, and selfless spirit of a captain.

 

Summary :

The narrator with his wife Mary and two children set sail from Plymouth, England, to make a voyage round the world in their boat ‘Wavewalker’ which was their dream. They also practised honing their seafaring skills and testing their boat in British waters in roughest weather.

Initially the journey passed pleasantly as they sailed down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town. They took on two crewmen, American Larry Vigil and Swiss Herb Seigler to tackle one of the world’s roughest seas, the southern Indian Ocean.

Second day out of Cape Town, they encountered strong gales which remained thus for few weeks. The size of the waves was alarming. On December 25 despite atrocious weather they had a wonderful holiday complete with a Christmas tree. New Year’s Day saw no improvement but they still hope for favourable change soon but it changed for the worse. At dawn on January 2, the waves were gigantic, and the wind were screaming. To slow the boat down, they dropped the storm jib and double lashed everything, put on the life jackets and waited.

Then, the wind dropped, the sky immediately grew dark and a disastrous wave came roaring. Then, a tremendous explosion shook the deck and a torrent of green and white water broke over the ship and they were sinking below the waves experiencing the approaching death. The narrator was losing consciousness. Then, unexpectedly, his head popped out of the water and a wave hurled the boat upright. He grabbed the guard rails and went into Wavewalker’s main boom. He held the wheel firmly and geared up sternly for the next wave. He experienced “Water, Water, Everywhere”.

Suddenly Mary came and screamed that the ship is full of water. The crewmen were pumping madly to remove the water out of ship. After finding a hammer, screws and canvas, the narrator headed for repairs to prevent the seeping in water and stop the ship from sinking and he was successful in doing so. But, then the hand pumps started to block up due to the debris floating in and the electric pump short circuited. The water level again rose threateningly. Then, he connected to an extra electric pump to an out-pipe and it worked. All night they were pumping, steering and working the radio but no replies came to their Mayday calls. Sue was injured badly but didn’t bother her parents as all were busy in fighting the storm.

On January 3, the situation was under control and they rested in rotation. But Wavewalker wouldn’t hold together up to reaching Australia. Their only hope was to reach one of the two small islands a few hundred kilometres to the east. One of them was Ile Amsterdam, a French scientific base.

Mary found some corned beef and biscuits, and they ate their first meal in almost two days. The weather again deteriorated and by January 5, the situation was again desperate. Jon asked in fright, “Daddy, are we going to die?” He also showed courage saying, “we aren’t afraid of dying if we can all be together — you and Mummy, Sue and I.”

He left the children’s cabin and was determined to fight the sea with everything he had. He tried to do the mending but the water kept coming. Still, Wavewalker rode out the storm and by the morning of January 6 the wind eased. Sue had drawn caricatures of Mary and the narrator who looked funny. They laughed to see the caricatures. Sue made it to say ‘thank you’.

The narrator checked and calculated to understand the way and where they were going. He had lost his main compass and was using a spare which had not been corrected for magnetic variation. Then, he went on deck and expected to see the island at about 5 p.m. But he had a nap and when he woke up at 6 p.m., he felt they missed the island. Then, the children gave him a hug saying that he is the best dad and the best captain and informed that they found the land. He was amazed to actually have found Ile Amsterdam, the most beautiful island in the world for them. He felt grateful to Larry and Herbie, all his crewmen, his wife and especially his children who were exceedingly brave, courageous and ‘not afraid to die’.

Important Question Answers

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

Ans. On being encountered by the lethal waves of the southern Indian ocean all the family members including the crewmen and wavewalker took immense damage. Everybody was significantly shaken. The adults were quite baffled by the increasing danger and continuously thought of approaching death, especially the narrator. However, the children displayed some splendid sense of maturity and courage. They encouraged the narrator saying that they were not quite afraid of death as they all are together. They were very helpful in their behaviour and did not choose to bother their tensed parents.

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

Ans. The story suggests that optimism helps to endure "the direst stress" by referring to the two crew members i.e. Larry and Herbie who kept their calm and hopes alive even when they had slim chances of survival amidst the violent weather. It was because of this attitude of never giving up and cheerfulness that all of them maintained and were successful in reaching the island, Ile Amsterdam.

Q3. What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are tar to face with death?

Ans. When such incidents happen and when we are battling between death and life, we learn that keeping our calm and optimism are the key to survival. Holding our nerves helps us make correct decisions and battle out our way to move away from the dangers. in such moments of crisis we develop the rare virtues of determination, courage, endurance, stamina, optimism and positive attitude.

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

Ans. Knowing the risks of any adventurous expeditions, people decide to undertake them, as a challenge. They usually do it to relish the thrilling experience of these risks. Some people also decide to take them to gain worldwide fame. The narrator undertook this voyage to take their family name and tradition farther.