Swiss Family Robinson Unit:
Chapters 17, 18, Conclusion
Chapter Seventeen entitled A Fair Stranger and
Chapter Eighteen entitled Farewell conclude the unit study of the Swiss Family
Robinson by Johann Wyss
The New Swiss Family Robinson
For a complete copy of The Swiss Family Robinson online, check out http://www.ccel.org/w/wyss/swiss/swiss.html.
I'm adding a note here that will be true of all of the parts of this unit study. There are several versions of The Swiss Family Robinson. This started back to its original publication some 200 years ago when it was written originally in German. There are various translations and even alternate endings. The edition that I am using was published in 1968 by Classic Press, Inc. in Santa Rosa, California. Other editions may be different. There are several modern versions that have removed all references to prayer and God which are so prevalent a theme in the original work. You may use this unit as a guide, and if your edition of The Swiss Family Robinson is slightly different, simply adjust it to meet your needs.
Suggested Vocabulary:
Malay
pirates
Toucan
equanimity
inanimate
quay
palfrey
reconnaissance
denote
elicit
Suggested Questions and Activities:
1. The family was quite sad about Juno's passing. They even went to far as to create an epitaph for her.
create an epitaph for a favorite pet.
2. What did the submerged rock actually turn out to be?
3. Who was the "black and savage stranger"?
4. Who was the "fair stranger" and why were they at first disguised?
5. What did Fritz have to go through to rescue the "fair stranger"?
6. Another faithful pet dies in chapter 17. Who was it?
7. How long was the fair stranger marooned before Fritz found her?
8. Miss Montrose had a particular pet of her own. What was it?
9. Who was Coco and why was he considered a "desserter"?
10. Why did the "dreary season" seem so short and pleasnt this time?
11. Compare the ending scenes in the book Swiss Family Robinson to the
ending scenes in the Walt Disney remake of the movie by the same name. How are they the
same and how are they different?
12. Who remained on "New Switzerland" and who returned to Europe? Is this different
or the same as the Disney movie?
13. Draw pictures of the various wild life mentioned in this chapter in their proper habitat/environment.
Online Lessons:
http://www.suhsd.k12.ca.us/mvm/netlinks/1swiss/1swiss.html
Island Survival
http://www.penguinreaders.com/downloads/0582426642.pdf
Teach With Movies
Sites You May Find A Good Resource:
Swiss Family Robinson Fan Site
If you would like to know why you are so tired and how to get the energy back into your life -- even if you've tried *everything* -- then read this entire article.
Are you sleepy, tired, or worn out most of the time?
