NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 2 We’re Not Afraid to Die… If We Can All Be Together

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 2 We’re Not Afraid to Die… If We Can All Be Together: Students studying in class 11 must go through the We Are Not Afraid to Die question answer prepared based on NCERT solutions to have a deep understanding of the Class 11 English Chapter 2 We Are Not Afraid to Die. The subject matter experts of Physics Wallah have prepared We Are Not Afraid to Die question answers to help the students deal with the questions that would be asked in the board exam. Students must practice these We Are Not Afraid to Die Class 11 Chapter 2 solutions to improve their grip on this chapter and secure a good score in the board examination. 

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We Are Not Afraid to Die Question Answer

Students who are preparing for CBSE board exam can go through Class 11 English Chapter 2 We Are Not Afraid to Die Question Answer below

Question 1: What did the narrator plan to do? What preparations did he make for it?

Answer: The narrator planned to go on a round-the-world sea voyage on the same pattern as Captain James Cook had done 200 years earlier. For the past 16 years, he and his wife had spent all their leisure time developing and improving their skills with work – related to travel on the sea.

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Question 2: Give a brief description of the narrator’s boat. How had the narrator equipped and tested it?

Answer: The narrator’s boat was called ‘Wave-walker’. It was a beautiful 23 metre long, 30 ton wooden-hulled ship. It had been professionally built. They had spent months fitting it out and testing in the roughest weather they could find.

Question 3: How long did the narrator plan his voyage to last?

Answer: The narrator had planned his round the world journey to cover 105,000 kilometres in three years.

Question 4: When and with whom did the narrator begin his voyage?

Answer: The narrator began his sea voyage in July 1976. He had his wife Mary, six year old son Jonathan and seven year old daughter Suzanne with him. They set sail from Plymouth, England.

Question 5: Whom did the narrator employ and why? When did he do so?

Answer: The narrator employed two crewmen—American Larry Vigil and Swiss Herb Seigler in order to help them tackle the southern Indian Ocean which is known as one of the roughest seas of the world. He engaged them before leaving Cape Town.

Question 6: What happened on their second day out of Cape Town? What worried the narrator and why?

Answer: On their second day out of Cape Town, they began to face strong storms. These storms blew continuously for the next few weeks. He was worried about the waves. Their size was alarming. This rose up to 15 metres i.e., as high as their main mast.

Question 7: How did they celebrate the Christmas holidays?

Answer: They were 3,500 kilometres east of Cape Town on 25 December. The weather was very bad. Still they had a wonderful holiday—complete with a Christmas tree. New Year’s Day saw no improvement in weather.

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Question 8: How did the weather change on January 2? How did they feel?

Answer: The weather changed for worse on January 2. Now the waves were gigantic. As the ship rose to the top of each wave, they saw endless enormous seas rolling towards them. The screaming of the wind and spray was painful to the ears.

Question 9: What efforts were made to face the rough weather?

Answer: In order to face the rough weather, the speed of the ship was slowed down. They dropped the storm jib. They lashed heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stem. Then they fastened together everything and went through their life-raft drill. They attached lifelines, put on waterproof clothes and life-jackets.

Question 10: What sort of wave hit the ship? How did the narrator react?

Answer: It was a mighty and huge wave. It appeared perfectly vertical. It was almost twice the height of the other waves. It had a very unpleasant breaking crest. The narrator had never seen such an enormous wave, so he was filled with horror.

Question 11: What was the impact of the torrent on the narrator and Wave walker?

Answer: A tremendous explosion shook the deck. The narrator’s head struck the wheel and he flew over board and was sinking below the waves. Unexpectedly his head came out of water. Wave walker was almost capsizing. Her masts were almost horizontal.

Question 12: How did the narrator manage to survive through the attacks of subsequent waves?

Answer: One of the waves threw the ship upright. The narrator was able to reach its main boom. Subsequent waves tossed him around the deck like a rag doll. His left ribs cracked. His mouth was filled with blood and broken teeth. Somehow, he found the wheel, lined up the stem for the next wave and remained firm.

Question 13: How did the narrator, and the other members react to the presence of water in the ship?

Answer: The narrator could not leave the wheel to examine the damaged parts. Mary shouted that the decks were broken and they were sinking. Larry and Herb were pumping out water like madmen. Sue had a big bump over her eyes but the children said that they were all right.

Question 14: “I had no time to worry about bumped heads,” says the narrator. What problems do you think deserved his immediate attention?

Answer: The starboard side had been struck open. They were taking in more water with every wave breaking over them. If he did not make some repairs urgently, they would sink. The narrator managed to cover the gaping holes with canvas and waterproof hatch covers.

Question 15: What problems did the narrator face during the night of January 2, 1977?

Answer: The hand pumps started to block up with the debris floating around the cabins. The electric pump short circuited. The water level rose threateningly. The two spare hand pumps had been wrenched over board. The waves had also carried away the forestay sail, the jib, the dinghies and the main anchor from the deck.

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Question 16: How did the narrator react to the problems? What does it reveal?

Answer: The narrator did not lose his calm or courage in the face of problems. He thought calmly. Then he remembered that they had another electric pump under the chart room floor. He found it in working order. They were not getting any reply to their distress radio signals. He was not surprised as they were in a remote comer of the world.

Question 17: “I didn’t want to worry you when you were trying to save us all,” said Sue. What has happened to her?

Answer: Sue’s head had a bump. It had swollen alarmingly. She had two enormous black eyes. She also had a deep cut on her arm. She did not bother her daddy about her injuries as he was busy in more important task.

Question 18: Why do you think the narrator searched for an island so eagerly?

Answer: The wave that hit Wavewalker had caused extensive damage. Nearly all the boat’s main frames had been smashed down to the keel. A whole section of the starboard hull was being held up by a few cupboard partitions. Wavewalker could not hold together long enough for them to reach Australia. So he searched for an island to repair the boat.

Question 19: Why could they not set any sail on the main mast on 4 January?

Answer: The hull of the ship had been damaged badly. Pressure on the ropes supporting the masts and sails would simply pull the damaged section of the hull apart. So they hoisted the storm jib and headed towards the islands.

Question 20: How did little Jonathan react to the desperate situation they found themselves in on 5 January?

Answer: Jonathan asked his daddy if they were going to die. The narrator tried to assure him that they would overcome the situation. Then little Jon declared bravely that he was not afraid of death provided they could all be together.

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We Are Not Afraid to Die Class 11 Chapter 2 Summary

The chapter "We Are Not Afraid to Die…" is a true story about a sea voyage and a dangerous adventure faced by the narrator and his family. The narrator, along with his wife and children, set out on a sea journey around the world in their boat, the Hakim. Their goal is to sail from England to Australia, passing through the rough waters of the Southern Ocean.

At the start, the journey seems to be going well, with the crew enjoying the adventure and the beautiful scenery. However, their luck changes when they encounter a massive storm. The storm is so fierce that it causes the boat to get badly damaged. The narrator describes how the waves are towering over them, and the boat is being tossed around violently.

Despite the terrifying conditions, the narrator and his family remain determined and courageous. They work hard to keep the boat afloat and make the necessary repairs. The narrator's wife and children support him through this challenging time, showing their bravery and unity. They face their fears head-on and refuse to give up.

The storm continues for several days, but eventually, their efforts pay off. The weather improves, and the sea becomes calmer. The family, exhausted but relieved, finally makes it to safety. They reach their destination, having survived a life-threatening ordeal. The chapter highlights their resilience and the importance of staying calm and determined even in the face of great danger.

The story teaches us that with courage, teamwork, and perseverance, we can overcome even the most frightening challenges.

We Are Not Afraid to Die Class Chapter 2 FAQs

Q1. What is the main point of we're not afraid to die?

Ans. The story “We Are Not Afraid to Die” revolves around resilience, courage, and the strength of familial bonds in the face of adversity. This story is about how the family and the crew face a life-threatening situation at sea.

Q2. How did Sue try to enliven the gloomy atmosphere?

Ans. Sue forgot her swollen head and blackened eyes and prepared a funny card. On the front it had caricatures of Mary and the narrator. She called them funny people who had made her laugh. There was a message also. It expressed her love, thanks and good wishes.

Q3. How can you say that Suzanne’s injuries were serious?

Ans. Suzanne’s head had a bump. It was quite swollen. Her blackened eyes narrowed to slits. Her head injury took six minor operations to remove a recurring blood clot between skin and skull. This shows that her injuries were serious.

Q4. Is the story We Are Not Afraid to Die true?

Ans. Yes, “We Are Not Afraid to Die” is a true story written by Geoffery Williams about his family’s sailing journey around the world.

Q5. When do you think, Mary and the narrator feel the end was near?

Ans. On the evening of 5 January 1977, Mary and narrator felt that the end was very near. They sat together holding hands. The movement of the ship brought in more and more water through the broken planks.