Possible Questions and Answers on Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe is an interesting novel that was first published in the year 1719. It was written by a man known as Daniel Defoe. The first edition of the novel was believed to have been written by Robinson Crusoe himself but it later turned out to have just been a narrative written by Defoe. It is a sequence of events that happened in the life of one Robinson Crusoe as he travelled. The encounters that he experiences during his journey are that makes this novel catchy and worth reading. The reception of the book was great. Its simple narrative style fascinated by most people. It is a widely read piece of art all over the world to date. It is an examinable book in various countries for literature classes. There are various questions that are commonly asked from different chapters.
Below are some possible questions and answers from the novel that are frequently examined
- Supposing Robinson Crusoe had obeyed his father and stayed at home. What life would he have lived?
- Robinson Crusoe forgets to vow to return home if God saves him from the first storm. What makes him forget to make this vow?
- Explain how Robinson Crusoe treats the adult Moor who is on the ship with them? Is his behavior good?
- The Portuguese captain is fair and generous to Robinson Crusoe. How is he generous to him?
- In the least words possible, explain Robinson Crusoe’s success in Brazil.
- Crusoe decides to take a voyage to Guinea. What is the purpose of this voyage?
- Crusoe is worried about lightning. Why is he worried?
- Crusoe starts feeling despaired. How does he find his way out of this mood?
- Who is the figure that Robinson Crusoe sees in his dreams? What message is the figure trying to portray?
- From chapter 9, how can you tell that Robinson Crusoe is happy with his achievements? Quote him.
1. Supposing Robinson Crusoe had obeyed his father and stayed at home. What life would he have lived?
Robinson Crusoe’s father wanted him to be a lawyer. They had a conversation about “the middle way” his father says that he would live a life of “ease and pleasure” This is the kind of life that Robin’s father expected his son to live instead of travelling.
2. Robinson Crusoe forgets to vow to return home if God saves him from the first storm. What makes him forget to make this vow?
Following the storm, a friend of his suggests that it was not so bad and that they should drink some alcohol. Crusoe becomes excessively drunk and therefore forgets to make his vow to God. He frequently thinks of it, and when he does so, he engages in drinking with friends again.
3. Explain how Robinson Crusoe treats the adult Moor who is on the ship with them? Is his behavior good?
Crusoe does not treat Moor appropriately. He makes sure that the boat is far at sea and then decides to push Moor overboard and threatens to shoot him if he tries getting back on the boat. He tells him to swim back to the shore, which is not fair at all. The reader may question whether Moor made it safely to the shore, which is not explained.
4. The Portuguese captain is fair and generous to Robinson Crusoe. How is he generous to him?
The captain allows Crusoe on board but then refuses taking any dime from him. His generosity is clear as he states that he is treating him how he would expect to be treated in a similar situation. He goes further to state that Robin will need all his money when he gets to Brazil.
5. In the least words possible, explain Robinson Crusoe’s success in Brazil.
Robinson learns how to make sugar. He therefore resorts to planting sugar cane. He buys large tracts of land and resolves to plant food crops on it. He plants tobacco and harvests plentiful of it. Crusoe’s success takes him for years.
6. Crusoe decides to take a voyage to Guinea. What is the purpose of this voyage?
There are cheap slaves in Guinea who can work on farms. Three of his neighbors are also aware of this and they ask him to embark on a slave-buying expedition. They all agree to give him a ship and get them slaves from Guinea to.
7. Crusoe is worried about lightning. Why is he worried?
Robinson Crusoe is particularly worried that the striking lightning would set his ammunition on fire destroying it. He therefore decides to separate the gun powder into 100 parcels and stores far away from each other.
8. Crusoe starts feeling despaired. How does he find his way out of this mood?
Robinson asks himself a very important question “why was he singled out to be saved?” This gives him home that there definitely was a reason why he remained alive. In addition to this, he constantly reminds himself that “evils must be considered with the good that is in them” These thoughts give him hope to push on.
9. Who is the figure that Robinson Crusoe sees in his dreams? What message is the figure trying to portray?
There is a flame of fire coming from the sky that is too bright for him to watch. This figure seems to be a symbol from God asking him to seek repentance of his sins.
10. From chapter 9, how can you tell that Robinson Crusoe is happy with his achievements? Quote him.
When he refers to “prince and lord” this is a clear indication that he is proud of his achievements. He also states that “This shows that I was I not idle”. This statement is a clear indication that indeed he is proud of everything that he has achieved.
