72518571 the railway children

8/3/2019 72518571 the Railway Children

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Author

Edith Nesbit was born on 15 August 1858 inLondon, England. She was an English author andpoet who wrote the children’s novel The RailwayChildren in1906. Her early years were spent withher two brothers and sisters at the family’s

agricultural college that her grandfatherfounded. After the sudden death of her fatherand one of her sister’s ill health, they lived invarious parts of the country before young Edithwas sent to boarding school. Later, the familymoved to France and Germany where Edith(Source: BPK.MOE. [module] Form 3 Novel, The Railway Children)



Author

In 1871 the Nesbits settled at Halstead Hall inKent, England. The next few years were a source

of many happy memories and influences onNesbit’s future writing. Adventures in and aroundthe local pond and in the surrounding gardens,investigating secret passageways in their home

and walking down the railway tracks that crossedthe back fields with her brothers were events shewould develop in her popular stories for children.She was already flexing her vivid imagination inthe poems she started to write around the age of

fourteen.(Source: BPK.MOE. [module] Form 3 Novel, The Railway Children)



Author

On 22 April 1880 Edith married Hubert Bland.Her husband was one of the founders of theFabian Society, a British socialist movement,whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism. At this Nesbit became anactive socialist, cut her hair short and embraced

the new values of the “advanced” woman. Sheand her husband jointly edited the Society’s

journal, Today and entertained many friends andcolleagues at their grand home Well Hall, Kent.After Hubert died in 1914, Edith married Thomas

Tucker.(Source: BPK.MOE. [module] Form 3 Novel, The Railway Children)



Synopsis

Roberta (also known as Bobbie), Peter and Phyllislive in a comfortable home in London with a

wonderful mother and father as well as a maid.One day their father leaves home with two men.He is actually taken away to prison but thechildren do not know this at first. When he

leaves and does not come back, they have tomove to a poor cottage in the country (ruralarea) near a railway station. The childrenbecome familiar with the passing trains, theworkers at the train station and signal-box and

life in a small town while their mother struggles(Source: BPK.MOE. [module] Form 3 Novel, The Railway Children)



Synopsis

They learn to live with what little they have and

they get used to being poor. They also learn notto steal coal form the railway station, even if they have so little to keep warm. They havevarious adventures – stopping a train when alandslide covers the tracks, finding and injured

older boy in the train tunnel and getting help,while dealing with the mystery of their father’sdisappearance.

(Source: BPK.MOE. [module] Form 3 Novel, The Railway Children)



Synopsis

Sometimes they argue and have crises, but intime they make many new friends. They alsoexperience amusing adventures aplenty which

happen near the railway and the canal. Thechildren develop the habit of waving to the trainas it goes past and sometimes the people in thecoaches wave back. Their friendly gestures forge

a special friendship with one person in particular,who goes by the train. He then eventually gets toknow them and helps them out in various ways.

Then, one day a train calls at the station and thechildren are pleasantly surprised to see their

father. They finally re-united.(Source: BPK.MOE. [module] Form 3 Novel, The Railway Children)



Setting

Place Setting:A home in LondonLittle white house in the country that stands in afield near he top of the hill.

The railway station. The railway lines. The railway tunnel. The village.


Social Setting: Edwardiantimes-petticoats, large heap of coal which steam trains used fortheir engines, telegraph.

Cultural Setting: having tea, tea-time,“…stay to tea”, make our supper (meansdinner to other cultures), high hats andlong coats.



Characters

Character Charecteristics

ROBERTA (BOBBIE) A twelve-year old girl, eldest childof the family, very determined,caring & resourceful, sensitive,responsible.

PETER Second child and the only boy,wants to be an engineer,courageous, adventurous,innocent, quick thinking

PHYLLIS Youngest, insecure, naïve

MOTHER Homely, protective, practical,resourceful, caring, proud

FATHER Tolerant, a civilservant/government officer,

wonderful, caring, wronglyaccused.(Source: BPK.MOE. [module] Form 3 Novel, The Railway Children)



Characters

Character Characteristics

OLD GENTLEMAN Friendly, kind and helpful

PERKS A very nice and friendly railwayporter, hardworking, proud,

reasonable, responsible.PHYLLIS Youngest, insecure, naïve

MRS. RANSOME Sensitive, appreciative, generous.

DR FOREST Hopeful, responsible

MRS VINEY A woman from the village,responsible.


72518571 the railway children

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