Project Std 11

1. Musings

2. We’re not afraid to die……if we can all be together
The story, “We’re not afraid to die-if We can all be together” is a story of exciting valor and skill displayed by Gordon Cook,
his family and crewmen in a war with water and waves for existence. In July 197 6, the narrator, his wife Mary, son
Jonathan and daughter Suzanne set sail from Plymouth, England to replicate the round-the world voyage which was made
200 years prior by Captain James Cook. They took the voyage in their professionally built ship, the Wavewalker, escorted
by two knowledgeable sailors – Larry Vigil, an American and Herb Seigler, a Swiss, to tackle one of the world’s roughest
seas – the Southern Indian Ocean.
The first part of the journey, which was about 105,000 kilometres up to Cape Town went off pleasantly. On the second day
while they sailed out of Cape Town, they came across strong winds. Although, these winds did not worry the narrator
despite the size of the waves reached up to the main mast. The family celebrated their new year on board in the southern
Indian Ocean, 3500 kilometers to the east of Cape Town.
On January 2, at dawn there were gigantic waves and the weather was unfavourable. This forced the sailors to slow down
their speed, drop the storm jib and take other necessary precautions. Suddenly an explosion shook the Wavemaker which
threw the author overboard. The ship was about capsize when another gigantic wave hit it tossing it upright once again.
This time the author was thrown back onto the deck, hitting his head and smashing his ribs against the walls.
Despite the injuries, the narrator took charge of the situation and found the wheel, lined up the stem for the next wave
and hung on till Mary came and took charge of the wheel, while Larry and Herb started pumping out water. The entire
starboard side had swelled inwards by now. The narrator managed to cover the gaps with canvas to stop the water from
entering the ship. They had additional problems when the pumps also stopped working.
In the meantime, the narrator found a spare electric pump under the chartroom which worked. The entire night was spent
in pumping, steering, repairing and sending radio signals. The narrator checked charts and calculated that their only hope
was to reach a French scientific base He Amsterdam.
Sue and Jon had injuries but were happy to be together and were not afraid of death. Sue had a swollen head with a deep
injury. The narrator became more strongminded on seeing his children’s courage. They finally reached lie Amsterdam, a
volcanic island where they were welcomed by 28 inhabitants. The united 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
Wavewalker but their courage, forbearance, faith and optimism gave extra strength and tenacity to the narrator and his
team. The bravery of the strong-willed children is noteworthy in the story.

3. The Ailing planet: The green movement’s role
The lesson, ‘The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role’ focuses on the deteriorating
health of the Earth. This is mainly because of human being’s growing desire to exploit all its
natural resources. A Zoo in Lusaka, Zambia calls man as the most hazardous innate in this
world. The Green movement launched in 1972, has evoked awareness in human beings. This
has brought in an irreversible shift from a mechanical view to a holistic and ecological view of
the world. There is a growing worldwide awareness that the earth itself is a living organism -an
enormous being that we are also a part. It has its own metabolic needs that must be respected
and preserved but is in a declining health. In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and
Development popularized the concept of sustainable development – a development that
meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to
meet their needs.
According to Mr.Lester R. Brown there are four biological system that are fisheries, forests,
grasslands and croplands; that form the basis of the global economic system. They are happen
to supply food to us as well as raw materials for our industries. However in larger areas of the
world these system are reaching unsustainable levels and their productivity is being
hampered.
For the 1st time in history we are concerned not just for survival of humans but of the planet
also. Today, numerous industrialists and politicians have realised their role and responsibility
towards nature and the importance to preserve natural resources, that in turn will be helpful
for the future generations to come.
Another factor distorting the future is the tremendous growth of world population, which will
not let development increase. According to the write fertility falls as incomes rise, education
spreads, and health improves. Thus, development is the best contraceptive.

4. Father to Son
‘Father to Son’ is a poem where a father laments about the disturbed
relationship between a father and his son. It talks about generation-gap,
the fathers discomfort and helplessness in weakening to comprehend his
son.
The father craves to share the same kind of relationship with his son which
he shared with him when he was a little baby. Things have changed now
and there is complete silence in their relationship. This has increased as
they hardly have any communication with each other despite living in the
same house for years, they are like strangers.
The father lives with the hope that someday the child would come back to
him. The father is not able to comprehend why in his anguish, he gets
angry at his son.
The son finally speaks up and expresses what he feels. He is at a stage
where he is not able to fathom himself. He too feels the agony which has
contributed due to their growing distance between them. He is annoyed
due to the grief and sadness. They put out an empty hand towards each
other but there's no one to hold on to them.They try to resolve their
differences but it seems to be in vain.
According to Elizabeth Jennings, fathers and sons all over the earth must
learn to live on the same globe and land. This poem talks about the
common problem, which is understanding and lack of communication.

5. MOTHER’S DAY – J B PRIESTLEY
Mother’s Day, a play by Priestley, portrays the status of a mother in a typical
home. Priestley humorously explores the story when Mrs Pearson stands up
for her rights and how her family reacts to it.
The play centres around Mrs Pearson in her forties, is a loving mother and
wife, selflessly working towards the betterment of her home. She does this
monotonous job with a smile, only to see her husband and children happy.
Despite doing everything for them, she is deprived of the love, respect and
attention that she craves from them. Her status is reduced to a mere
housemaid, who does all the household chores relentlessly. She is always
taken for granted and ordered around, without even an acknowledgement.
She feels that her husband and children have become very thoughtless and
selfish and need to be taught a lesson. With the help of her neighbour,
Mrs Fitzgerald, a fortune teller, who knows some magic and they devise a plan
to teach her family a lesson. They decide to exchange their bodies.
Mrs Fitzgerald goes to her home as Mrs Pearson and behaves in a rude and
aloof manner, which upsets and disappoints the family. Now they realize their
mistake. Mrs Pearsons kind nature cannot take this for long and she switches
back into her own body.
The family is relieved to see her smiling and readily agree to play a game of
rummy and help in the kitchen as well.

6. ‘The Young Einstein’ is an extract from the Biography of Albert Einstein
which describes the circumstances that lead to his expulsion from a
German school. Even at that age, Einstein did not believe in studying big
books with plenty of substance. He felt that ideas mattered, not facts.
This extract tells us about Einstein at school and how he expressed his
thoughts to his History teacher. He believed that learning facts was not
important and hence didn’t remember much of the lessons. The teacher
called him a disgrace. He even mentioned to his cousin that he didn’t like
school, but liked learning geology and music. He expressed his desire to
go to an Italian college or an institute where he could study math.
With Yuri’s help, he managed to meet Dr Ernst and got a certificate that
he has had a nervous breakdown and couldn’t continue with school any
further. The headmaster, even before Einstein could reach him,
summoned for him and told him that he was being expelled as he was
setting a bad example for the other children.
He met Yuri before leaving school and never turned back to have a last
glimpse of the school.
Albert Einstein at School- Patrick Pringle

7. ‘Education is not the
learning of facts, but the
training of the mind to
think.’
Albert Einstein