The Railway Children
by Edith Nesbit
(Mulberry English Course Book)
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Quick Answers:
1. The setting of a story tells us when and where the events happen. The weather and the atmosphere of a place also add to the setting. Say whether the following statements about the story setting are true(T) or false(F).
a. The first part of the story takes place in a red-brick-fronted villa. [T]
b. At first, life at the red-brick-fronted villa was comfortable and cheerful. [T]
c. The two gentlemen met Father in the dining room one morning. [F]
d. After the visit of the two gentlemen, the atmosphere of the red-brick-fronted villa was even more cheerful. [F]
e. The railway platform was cold, dark and gloomy. [T]
f. The setting of the story shifts from a red villa to a small house. [T]
Reference to context:
2. "Father and mother were always ready to play with children and read to them".
a) Name the children.
= The names of the children are - Roberta, the eldest; Peter and the youngest was Phyllis.
b) Where did they live?
= They lived in a red-brick-fronted villa.
c) What kind of life did they lead?
= They led a happy and pretty life in the red-brick-fronted villa. Father and mother were always ready to play with the children and read to them.
3. "The boxes were filled and the next afternoon a cab came to take them to the station."
a) What was filled in the 'boxes'?
= The 'boxes' were filled with chairs, tables, crockery, blankets, candle sticks and carpets.
b) Where did the train take the children?
= The train took the children to the countryside where they were going to live in.
c) How did the children travel on the last leg(stretch) of their journey?
= On the last leg(stretch) of their journey, the children were sleepy and they were roused by as they had to get down from the train. They walked on a muddy road to the house then.
Read, reflect and write:
4. Was Mother happy with the move? How do you know?
= Mother was not happy with the move. A few days after their father had gone, Mother came down to breakfast with a pale face. This showed that she was not happy.
5. Describe the white house that the children moved to with their mother.
= There was a dark and muddy road to reach the house. There was no light in the windows. There was a large bare kitchen. There was rustling, scampering sound of mice. There was also a dining room and a yard outside the house.
6. Do you think that the children in the story were fussy or good natured? Give reasons to support your answer.
= I think the children in the story were good-natured. When their father had been called away, their mother informed it to them and said them not to ask any question and went to bed. They did the same.
Then in the new house, they woke up before their mother and lit the fire and put the kettle on. They also arranged the crockery for breakfast.
7. At the end of this part of the story of The Railway Children, Mother said that it was fun to have mice in the house and the shift was quite an adventure. Why do you think she said this?
= She said this to the children to feel comfortable and get used to it. She wanted to give her children the value that we should always be prepared to face any situation or challenges of life. We should always adjust ourselves in any place and situation.
8. What were in the supper?
= There were biscuits, the Marie and the plain kind, sardines, raisins and marmalade.
About the Author :
Edith Nesbit (1858-1924) was an English author whose writing covered a wide range poems, plays, novels, ghost stories, fantasies of magic and time-travel, and tales of country life. She is best remembered for her adventure stories for children. Her better known books include: The Treasure Seekers, The Wouldbegoods, The Story of the Amulet and The Enchanted Castle.
The Railway Children (1905), tells the story of a family who has to leave their home and move to a house near a railway track when the father is imprisoned due to false charges.