FORM 3 LITERATURE -NOVEL- The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit (1906)

About The Author EDITH NESBIT

Edith Nesbit was born on 15 August 1858 in London, England. After the sudden death of her father, she lived in various parts of the country and moved to France and Germany, where Edith attended school. In 1871 the Nesbits settled at Halstead Hall in Kent, England On 22 April 1880 Edith married Hubert Bland. After Hubert died in 1914, Edith married Thomas Tucker.

Some of Nesbit's additional works: The Prophet's Mantle (1885), Something Wrong (1886) The Story of the Treasure Seekers (1899) The Wouldbegoods (1901) The Red House (1902) Five Children and It (1902) The Phoenix and the Carpet (1904) The New Treasurer-Seekers (1904) The Amulet (1906) The Enchanted Castle (1907) The Magic World (1912) The Railway Children (1906) has inspired television and film adaptations. Edith Nesbit died on 4 May 1924 in England.

VOCABULARY ACTIVITY Word Match

SYNOPSIS Roberta, Peter and Phyllis live with their loving parents in the comfortable house London. However, things change when their father leaves away with two mysterious men on one night.

Since then, the family has to move to a little house at the countryside, near a railway line.

The children experience various adventures The children experience various adventures. First, they discover a heap of coal at the station yard. Peter takes some coal home and stacks them at the back of the house but he gets caught by the station master.

The children also develop the habit of waving to the train as it goes by, that make them one special friend, The Old Gentleman.

The Old Gentleman eventually helps them out when their mother fell sick.

One day, when the landslide covers the railway line, they help to stop the train by creating a red warning sign using the girls’ red petticoat.

They even ask the villagers to give little gifts for Perks for his birthday. At first, Perks the porter becomes upset, but finally he relent when the children explain that the gifts are the symbols of respect from them.

One day, Bobbie accidentally reads an old newspaper given by Perks One day, Bobbie accidentally reads an old newspaper given by Perks. She is horrified when she reads the newspaper headline about her father’s conviction. Bobbie believes that he is innocent and writes a letter to The Old Gentlemen to ask for help.

One day, they watch a ‘Hare and Hounds’ game by some schoolboys at the railway line. The last ‘hound’ fails to appear when the others leave the dark tunnel. The children decide to investigate. They find Jim the hound injured in the dark tunnel and rescue him.

finally returns from London and the family is reunited. The children’s father finally returns from London and the family is reunited.

ACTIVITY 2 BRAIN TRAIN

LET’S CHECK THE ANSWERS!

THE PLOT CLIMAX RISING ACTION FALLING ACTION EXPOSITION RESOLUTION The children experience various adventures. First, they discover a heap of coal at the station yard. Peter takes some coal home and stacks them at the back of the house but he gets caught by the station master. The children also develop the habit of waving to the train as it goes by, that make them one special friend; The Old Gentleman who eventually helps them out when their mother fell sick. One day, when the landslide covers the railway line, they help to stop the train by creating a red warning sign using the girls’ red petticoat. They even ask the villagers to give little gifts for Perks for his birthday. At first, Perks the porter becomes upset, but finally her relent when the children explain that the gifts are the symbols of respect from them. One day, Bobbie accidentally reads an old newspaper given by Perks. She is horrified when she reads the newspaper headline about her father’s conviction. Bobbie believes that he is innocent and writes a letter to The Old Gentlemen to ask for help. CLIMAX The children continue with their adventure. One day, they watch a ‘Hare and Hounds’ game by some schoolboys at the railway line. The last ‘hound’ fails to appear when the others leave the dark tunnel. The children decide to investigate. They find Jim the hound injured in the dark tunnel and rescue him. Roberta, Peter and Phyllis live with their loving parents in in the comfortable house London. However, things change when their father leaves away with two mysterious men on night. Since then, the family has to move to a little house at the countryside, near a railway line. RISING ACTION FALLING ACTION One day, the children’s father finally returns from London and the family is reunited. EXPOSITION RESOLUTION

CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERISTICS

MINOR CHARACTER FATHER MRS RANSOME DR. FOREST MRS VINEY MAJOR CHARATERS ROBERTA PETER PHYLLIS MOTHER OLD GENTLEMAN PERKS MINOR CHARACTER FATHER MRS RANSOME DR. FOREST MRS VINEY

ROBERTA (BOBBIE) A twelve years old girl. Twelve lighted candles on it, one for each of Bobbie’s years. (p 22) The eldest child in the family ....she was always called Bobbie, and was the oldest. (p 1) Very persistent “The doctor said so. How can we get them for her? Think, everybody, just as hard as you can”. (p 17) Caring “Someone had to stay with you,” said Bobbie. “I must put out the candles or it will burn itself out.” (p 49)

PETER The second child and the only son in the family. Courageous Next came Peter... (p 1) Courageous “Perhaps he’s had an accident,” said Peter, “Let’s go and look.” (p 46) Adventurous “Where shall we go?” said Bobbie, although she already knew the answer. “To the railway, of course!” cried Peter. (p 9) Innocent “I didn’t think  it was stealing,” said Peter. “There’s so much coal here. I took some from the middle of the heap, and I I thought nobody would mind. And Mother says we’re too poor to have a fire...”. (p 14)

PHYLLIS The youngest child in the family. Insecure Naïve And the youngest was Phyllis, who was always trying to be good. (p 1) Insecure There was a low noise on the railway line… “Let me go back!”cried Phyllis. (p 47) Naïve The boy in the red shirt was on the ground, beside the line. His eyes were closed and he did not move when they reached him. “Is...he dead?” asked Phyllis. (p 47)

MOTHER Homely Protective Practical Resourceful Mother was almost always at home, ready to play with the children, or to read to them to the children to them. (p 1) Protective We have to play ‘being poor’ for a while. (p 4)  Practical “Then we can’t have any supper,” said Phyllis, unhappily. “Yes, we can. We can unpack one of the boxes. There’s some food from the old house.” (p 7) Resourceful Mother spent every day in her room, writing stories. Sometimes she managed to sell a story to a magazine, and then there were cakes for tea. (p 12)

OLD GENTLEMAN Friendly Kind and helpful … And a hand waved back! It was holding a newspaper and it belonged to an old gentleman. (p 15) Kind and helpful “When I read about your father in the newspaper at the time, I began trying to find out things.” (p 52)

PERKS Hardworking Reasonable Responsible “And other people said you were kind and polite and hardworking.” said Bobbie. (p 38)  Reasonable I –I won’t,” said Perks, quietly…I take every word I said. I- I don’t know if I were ever so pleased...not only with the presents, but with the kind thoughts of our neighbors’.” (pgs 38,39) Responsible “I am pleased to give something to Mr. Perks. He always pays his bills.” (p 38)

FATHER MRS. RANSOME A civil servant / government officer Caring The children knew that Father worked in a Government office. (p 4) Caring Of course there’s hope! I’ll mend it on Saturday (p 3) Wrongly accused FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR SPY! And the name of the spy was her father. (p 40) Sensitive “It’s my birthday tomorrow,” said old Mrs. Ransome at the post office. “Nobody will remember mine. Why should I give anything to Perks? Go away!” (p 35) Generous “The Perks children will like them. And I’ve got a pram in the back of the shop.” (p 36) Appreciative “I want to thank you for the roses.” She said. (p 36)

MRS VINEY DR FOREST A woman from the village Responsible Hopeful “Who’s she?” asked Bobbie. “A woman from the village. I asked her to clean the place and make our supper,” said Mother. (p 6) Responsible “There’s a letter from Mrs. Viney,” explained Mother. “Her son broke his arm and she went home early. She’s coming again later this morning.” (p 8) Hopeful “I expect you want to be nurse,” Dr. Forest said to Bobbie, after he had seen the mother. “Your mother is ill and must stay in bed…” (p 17) Responsible I’ll send some medicine for her, but she will need fruit and milk, and some other special things that I’ll write down on a piece of paper for you.” (p 17)

POINT OF VIEW The attitude or outlook of a narrator or character in a piece of literature, a movie, or another art form. The perspective from which the story is told. THE RAILWAY CHILDREN is told from the 3rd person point of view. (narrator)

ACTIVITY 3 GROUP PRESENTATION

CLOSURE! THE THREE-HEADED STORY TELLER

THANK YOU!