Robinson Crusoe by: Daniel Defoe

Robinson Crusoe by: Daniel Defoe

• By: Feruza Ergasheva

About Daniel Defoe

• Daniel Defoe’s birth is uncertain it is said he was born between 1659 and 1661.
• Robinson Crusoe-1719
• Captain Singlton-1720
• Colonel Jack-1722
• Roxana The Fortunate Mistress-1724
• Date of Death- April 23, 1731

• Daniel Defoe made his hero, Robinson Crusoe, spend 26 years on a desert island.

• At the beginning of the story the hero is an inexperienced youth, who develops into a strong- willed man, able to withstand all the hardships.Robinson Crusoe’s most characteristic trait is his optimism. He is an enthusiastic worker and always hopes for the best.

• Robinson Crusoe is very practical. The beauty of the island has no appeal to him, he regards the island as his personal property. He is proud to be master of it.
• He believes in God and in the hand of Providence. In desperate moments he turns to God for help.
• The other central character is Friday. He is intelligent, generous and skilful. He is portrayed as a kind-hearted man.

• “Robinson Crusoe”

• Books about voyages and new discoveries were extremely popular in the first quarter of the 18th century. A true story that was described in one of the magazines, attracted Defoe’s attention. It was about Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor, who had quarreled with his captain and was put ashore on a desert island near South America where he lived alone for 4 years and 4 months.
• In 1709 he was picked up by a passing vessel.

The time period which Robinson Crusoe was written in explains the reasons for the language and tone being used throughout the book. It is written in Old English and for the majority of today's Americans, hard to understand.

• The time period which Robinson Crusoe was written in explains the reasons for the language and tone being used throughout the book. It is written in Old English and for the majority of today's Americans, hard to understand.
• The theme of this book is based on adventure and survival. It explains one mans quest(Robinson Crusoe) for survival and the adventures it takes him on.

Characters

• Robinson Crusoe- a captain of a ship that was taken over by Sale’ pirates. For 2 years he was a prisoner but then escaped in a small boat with a boy named Xury. He is rescued by a Portuguese captain of the coast of Africa and then shipwrecked on an island.
• Friday- a captured native that broke free and became Crusoe’s servant.

Setting

• The island of despair
• Near the mouth of the Orinoco river Sept. 30, 1659
• The island was a desolate jungle filled land

Plot Summary

• In the beginning Robinson Crusoe was on a Portuguese ship off of the coast of Africa, then the whole ship was caught in a storm and ship wrecked onto an Island that he named “The Island Of Despair.” He was the only survivor and used the ships materials to build a home. After being there for many years he befriended a native prisoner that he named Friday. Friday became his servant and best friend. He built a boat and travels to a neighboring native island with Friday, where he found cannibals that had imprisoned three Spaniards and had already consumed two. Robinson came to the rescue of the remaining Spaniard.

Plot Cont.

• Having the Spaniard by his side he set off and found three French sailors. The French sailors brought Robinson, Friday and the Spaniard back to their ship which traveled to Jamaica.

Conclusion

• The book instantly drew me in, it lost me at a few parts, but overall it was well understood despite the language being used.
• My favorite part was when Crusoe and Friday fought off the 23 cannibals to save the remaining Spaniard.

Thank you for your attention.