THE RAILWAY CHILDREN FORM 3 NOVEL ( IMPORTANT EVENTS / EVIDENCE ) 1. Mother was ill One day Mother was ill and stayed in bed. Peter went to fetch the doctor. Dr. Forrest came and told the children that their mother needed medicine, fruit and milk. As the children were poor, they decided to ask for help. They wrote a letter to the old gentleman and asked him to get all the things for their mother. That evening, Perks arrived with the things that the old man had sent. 2. Bobbie’s birthday Bobbie celebrated her 12th birthday. There were 12 lighted candles. The table was covered with beautiful flowers. Phyllis gave Bobbie a pretty handkerchief with flowers on it. Mother gave her a silver brooch. Peter gave her part of his toy engine filled with sweets. Bobbie took the broken toy engine and asked the engine driver and fireman to mend the toy engine which they did. 3. Saving the train One day the children were walking beside the railway line when they saw a landslide. They watched trees, grass and stones moving and crashing down in a big heap on the railway line. They wanted to inform the station but it was too late. They wanted something red as red meant danger. The girls then, took off their petticoats, cut them into six pieces and put them onto sticks so that they had 6 red flags. When they heard the train coming, they started waving the flags but the train did not slow down. Bobbie then ran on to the railway line and started waving her two flags. Finally, the train stopped twenty metres from Bobbie. The children had saved the train. For their bravery or courage, the children were given a beautiful gold watch each. 4. The terrible secret Bobbie read about her father from an old newspaper. She read that her father was a spy and was jailed for 5 years. Her mother explained that the police arrested Father after they found some letters in his office desk. She also said that the man who wanted Father’s job had probably done this. Bobbie wrote to the Old Gentleman asking for help to release their father. The Old Gentleman did help and finally Father was released from prison. 5. The Boy in the red shirt. The boys from Maidbridgeschool were having a paper-chase or a running event. One of the boys, Jim was wearing a red shirt. The children watched him go into the tunnel but he did not come out of it. The children were worried about him and went to look for him. They found the boy inside the tunnel. Jim had a broken leg. Bobbie stayed with the boy while Peter and Phyllis went to get help. Bobbie tried her best to make the boy as comfortable as possible. She cut off the boot and then took off her petticoat to put it under the boy’s leg. Peter and Phyllis came back with some men from the farm. The men carried Jim and took him to the children’s home.

QUESTIONS AND MODEL ANSWERS Question 1 :Choose one of the moral values below and write about it giving evidence from the novel you have studied.    Responsibility

Courage

Determination

Responsibility Courage Determination

* The three children, Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis are responsible. Evidence – no 1,3 and 5 * The three children are very brave / courageous. Evidence – no 3 and 5 * The children are determined to get the things the doctor recommended for their mother when she was ill. Evidence – no 1 * The children are determined to celebrate Perks ‘ birthday. The children want their mother to have the cakes on Thursday because they want to celebrate Perks’ birthday. They go around and collect presents from people. * The children are determined to help the boy in the red shirt. Evidence – no 5 * Bobbie is determined to help release her father who has been accused of being a spy. Evidence – no 4

Answer: 1st paragraph 2nd paragraph 3rd paragraph 4th paragraph 5th paragraph

Mention the title & the writer’s name. Answer the question immediately. 1st point. Reason & examples (at least one). 2nd point. Reason & examples (at least one). 3rd point. Reason & examples. (if any) Conclusion

Question 2 ; Write about your favourite character in the novel. Answer : My favourite character in the novel is Roberta or Bobbie. She is 12 years old and is the eldest in the family. I like her because : Characterisitc * She is loving.

Evidence * She together with her brother, Peter and sister, Phyllis try to get their mother the things the doctor says she needs to get well. Incident – no 1

* She is kind and helpful.

* She helps them to plan a birthday party for Perks.

* She is brave.

* She is resourceful.

* She helps the boy in the red shirt. Incident – no 5 * She goes onto the railway line to warn the train of the landslide. Incident – no 3 * She thinks of asking the old gentleman’s help when the children need some things for their mother. Incident – no 1 * She seeks the old gentleman’s help to release her father. Incident - no 4

Question 3 : Describe an interesting event in the story. Answer : An interesting event in the story is when the three children save the train.

One day the children were walking beside the railway line when they saw a landslide. They watched trees, grass and stones moving and crashing down in a big heap on the railway line. They wanted to inform the station but it was too late. They wanted something red as red meant danger. The girls then, took off their petticoats, cut them into six pieces and put them onto sticks so that they had 6 red flags. When they heard the train coming, they started waving the flags but the train did not slow down. Bobbie then ran on to the railway line and started waving her two flags. Finally, the train stopped twenty metres from Bobbie. The children had saved the train. For their bravery or courage, the children were given a beautiful gold watch each. Question 4 : Write about how two or more characters work together to achieve success. Answer : In the story, `The Railway Children’ there are three characters who work together to achieve success. In this case, the three children Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis work together to save the train. ( Incident 3) One day the children were walking beside the railway line when they saw a landslide. They watched trees, grass and stones moving and crashing down in a big heap on the railway line. They wanted to inform the station but it was too late. They wanted something red as red meant danger. The girls then, took off their petticoats, cut them into six pieces and put them onto sticks so that they had 6 red flags. When they heard the train coming, they started waving the flags but the train did not slow down. Bobbie then ran on to the railway line and started waving her two flags. Finally, the train stopped twenty metres from Bobbie. The children had saved the train. For their bravery or courage, the children were given a beautiful gold watch each. The three children also help the boy in red shirt. ( Incident 5 ) The boys from Maidbridgeschool were having a paper-chase or a running event. One of the boys, Jim was wearing a red shirt. The children watched him go into the tunnel but he did not come out of it. The children were worried about him and went to look for him. They found the boy inside the tunnel. Jim had a broken leg. Bobbie stayed with the boy while Peter and Phyllis went to get help. Bobbie tried her best to make the boy as comfortable as possible. She cut off the boot and then took off her petticoat to put it under the boy’s leg. Peter and Phyllis came back with some men from the farm. The men carried Jim and took him to the children’s home.

Question 5 : We must always help one another. How is this shown in the novel? Answer : This is shown in the novel, `The Railway Children’ when the three children, Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis save the train.

( Incident 3 ) One day the children were walking beside the railway line when they saw a landslide. They watched trees, grass and stones moving and crashing down in a big heap on the railway line. They wanted to inform the station but it was too late. They wanted something red as red meant danger. The girls then, took off their petticoats, cut them into six pieces and put them onto sticks so that they had 6 red flags. When they heard the train coming, they started waving the flags but the train did not slow down. Bobbie then ran on to the railway line and started waving her two flags. Finally, the train stopped twenty metres from Bobbie. The children had saved the train. For their bravery or courage, the children were given a beautiful gold watch each. The three children also help the boy in red shirt. ( Incident 5 ) The boys from Maidbridgeschool were having a paper-chase or a running event. One of the boys, Jim was wearing a red shirt. The children watched him go into the tunnel but he did not come out of it. The children were worried about him and went to look for him. They found the boy inside the tunnel. Jim had a broken leg. Bobbie stayed with the boy while Peter and Phyllis went to get help. Bobbie tried her best to make the boy as comfortable as possible. She cut off the boot and then took off her petticoat to put it under the boy’s leg. Peter and Phyllis came back with some men from the farm. The men carried Jim and took him to the children’s home.

Question 6 : One of the themes of the novel is the importance of family love. Discuss how this is shown. Answer : The theme family love is important in the novel indeed. This is shown through the strong bond between the family . The three children, Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis love their Mother very much. They work together to solve problems. Another incident that shows family love is when Bobbie celebrated her 12 th birthday. There were 12 lighted candles. The table was covered with beautiful flowers. Phyllis gave Bobbie a pretty handkerchief with flowers on it. Mother gave her a silver brooch. Peter gave her part of his toy engine filled with sweets.Bobbie took the broken toy engine and asked the engine driver and fireman to mend the toy engine which they did. This shows how much Bobbie loves her Peter. Another evidence to indicate family love is the parents love the children very much. Father always plays with them. Mother writes stories so that she can sell them to earn extra money.Eventhough the Father is away, they still remain united. This is shown when they celebrate Bobbie’s birthday.

Question 7 : Write about a character who is kind. Answer : A character who is kind / A character who shows kindness and comion is the Old Gentleman. One day Mother was ill and stayed in bed. Peter went to fetch the doctor. Dr. Forrest came and told the children that their mother needed medicine, fruit and milk. As the children were poor, they decided to ask for help. They wrote a letter to the old gentleman and asked him to get all the things for their mother. That evening, Perks arrived with the things that the old man had sent. The old gentleman shows his kindness when he helps to release the children’s father from prison. Bobbie read about her father from an old newspaper. She read that her father was a spy and was jailed for 5 years. Her mother explained that the police arrested Father after they found some letters in his office desk. She also said that the man who wanted Father’s job had probably done this. Bobbie wrote to the Old Gentleman asking for help to release their father. The Old Gentleman did help and finally Father was released from prison.

Question 8 : Do you like the ending of the novel you have read? Give reasons for your answer. Answer : Yes, I like the ending of the novel `The Railway Children’. One day, the children go to the station. They see Perks holding a newspaper and looking very happy. Then the 11.54 train arrives and one of the engers who gets off the train is Bobbie’s father. Father tells the children that the real spy has been caught. The Father then goes home to meet the rest of the family. I like the ending because it is a happy ending. After the Father was sent to jail, the family suffered a great deal. Then, the Father was reunited with the family. I also like the ending because it shows the importance of family love. When family love each other and help one another, they can overcome difficulties. Although the Father is jailed for a crime he did not commit, he is finally released. This shows that justice will prevail in the end. The real spy was caught and this shows that `Crime does not pay.’

Question 9 : Do you like the novel you have read? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer :

Yes, I like the novel `The Railway Children’ by Edith Nesbit.

The first reason is because it has an interesting plot. The children ‘s happy life changes when two men take their Father away. The children move to a house in the country where they save a train from a terrible accident after a landslide covers the railway track. Bobbie understands her Father’s problem and writes to the old gentleman for help. In the end, the children’s father is reunited with the family. I also like the characters in the novel. I like Bobbie because she is ______________________. I like Peter __________________________________________________________________.

because

I like reading the novel because it teaches me many moral values. It teaches me that family love is important. It also teaches me that we must help one another to solve problems.