This page contains an excerpt from Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe | summary and analysis | questions and answers.
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The Shipwreck Excerpt – Robinson Crusoe By Daniel Defoe
“Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt when I sank into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver myself from the waves so as to draw breath, till that wave, having driven me, or rather carried me, a vast way on towards the shore, and having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the land, almost dry, but half dead with the water I took in.
I had so much presence of mind, as well as breath left, that seeing myself nearer the mainland than I expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavoured to make on towards the land as fast as I could before another wave should return and take me up again; but I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy, which I had no means or strength to contend with:
my business was to hold my breath and raise myself upon the water if I could, and so, by swimming, to preserve my breathing and pilot myself towards the shore, if possible, my greatest concern now being that the sea, as it would carry me a great way towards the shore when it came on, might not carry me back again with it when it gave back towards the sea.
The wave that came upon me again buried me at once twenty or thirty feet deep in its own body, and I could feel myself carried with a mighty force and swiftness towards the shore – a very great way; but I held my breath and assisted myself to swim still forward with all my might.
I was ready to burst with holding my breath when, as I felt myself rising up, so, to my immediate relief, I found my head and hands shoot out above the surface of the water, and though it was not two seconds of time that I could keep myself so, yet it relieved me greatly, gave me breath, and new courage.
I was covered again with water a good while, but not so long, but I held it out; and finding the water had spent itself and began to return, I struck forward against the return of the waves and felt ground again with my feet. I stood still a few moments to recover breath,and till the waters went from me and then took to my heels and ran with what strength I had further towards the shore. But neither would this deliver me from the fury of the sea, which came pouring in after me again; and twice more I was lifted up by the waves and carried forward as before, the shore being very flat.”
Summary and Analysis
Robinson Crusoe felt confused after the initial shock of the shipwreck. Despite his excellent swimming skills, he struggled to stay afloat or even breathe. The ferocious waves carried him a vast distance in the direction of the shore and left him nearly dead on the seashore. However, he was conscious enough to comprehend his situation, and when he found the land nearer than expected, he sprang to his feet and tried to run to a safer distance.
However, the waves were relentless. One after another, waves crashed onto him ferociously. Crusoe felt weak against their force. He found himself submerged under twenty to thirty feet deep inside the waves. He somehow managed to hold on to his breath and swim against the wave’s reflection.
His main concern now was the fact that the waves might crash him against the rocky shore. Then within seconds, his head shot out from under the water, and he could breathe again. He felt the ground beneath and tried running with the last bit of strength left in him. The waves crashed against him twice more and carried him further back and then tossed him on the sea shore due to its flat shape.
Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is a fictional narrative chronicling the adventures of an English traveller who left home in search of freedom and excitement. After many misadventures, he finds himself stranded on an isolated island. His last shipwreck on the way to Guinea was disastrous and nearly cost him his life. In the passage above, the protagonist narrates his pathetic struggle against the gigantic sea waves. He gives a detailed description of his psychological and physical condition. His intimate confession and his terror accentuate the realistic tone of the novel. The vivid sensory images add authenticity to this fictional experience.
Question Answers – Robinson Crusoe By Daniel Defoe (Shipwreck)
1. What went through Robinson Crusoe’s mind as he sank into the water?
Crusoe felt confused as he found himself sinking while fighting against the mighty waves. Despite his excellent swimming skills, he struggled to stay afloat and land himself successfully on the seashore. The waves were toying with him; sometimes they carried him away from the shore and sometimes almost crashed him against the rocky bed on the seashore.
2. Crusoe was in the sea as –
a. He had gone for a swim [ ]
b. He was shipwrecked [ ]
c. He was participating in a swimming competition [ ]
(Tick the correct option.)
Answer: option b
3. How did he manage to reach the shore?
Crusoe used the current of the returning sea wave to propel himself forward while holding his breath. He eventually found land under his feet, and with all his strength, he ran towards the seashore.
4. Change the following phrases:
a. Deliver myself from – Rescue myself from
b. Carried me a vast way – Transported myself to a great distance
c. Make on towards the land – To move in the direction of the land
d. Great way towards the shore – a long distance moving in the direction of the shoreline.
e. It gave back towards the sea – wave reflect, getting blocked by rocks, the wave went back towards the sea.
