Robinson Crusoe Questions and Answers
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe as a Picaresque and Sociological Novel
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe cannot be strictly classified as a picaresque novel, though it shares some elements with the genre. Picaresque novels typically feature roguish protagonists who...
Robinson Crusoe
Comparison of Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels, and their protagonists, Robinson Crusoe and Lemuel Gulliver
Both Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels feature protagonists who embark on extraordinary voyages, but their experiences and character development differ significantly. Robinson Crusoe is a tale...
Robinson Crusoe
What is the moral of Robinson Crusoe?
The moral of the story of Robinson Crusoe is that a person can succeed against all odds with the right combination of hard work, planning, thrift, resourcefulness, and religious faith.
Robinson Crusoe
What happens at the end of Robinson Crusoe?
At the end of Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe and Friday are saved. They sail back to Europe on an English ship. Crusoe discovers that his investments have made him wealthy. He marries, has three children,...
Robinson Crusoe
What are the main symbols in Robinson Crusoe?
Some of the primary symbols in Robinson Crusoe are money, the sea, the cross, the footprint, and the bower.
Robinson Crusoe
What is the significance of Robinson Crusoe's title page?
The title page of Robinson Crusoe is significant because it presents the story as a personal autobiography written by Crusoe himself. It also provides a summary of the plot, revealing the...
Robinson Crusoe
Enlightenment Ideas and Characterization in Robinson Crusoe
In Robinson Crusoe, Enlightenment ideas are illustrated through the protagonist's emphasis on reason, individualism, and self-reliance. Crusoe's practical problem-solving skills, his focus on...
Robinson Crusoe
What does the expression "dreadful deliverance" mean in Robinson Crusoe?
The expression "dreadful deliverance" is an oxymoron that concisely sums up Crusoe's predicament. A storm has left him the lone survivor of a shipwreck. This is a deliverance, because he is still...
Robinson Crusoe
Is Robinson Crusoe a middle class hero?
Yes, Robinson Crusoe is a middle-class hero. He embodies middle-class virtues such as thrift, hard work, ingenuity, and self-sufficiency. Unlike the aristocracy, who lived off inherited wealth,...
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe's Illness-Induced Dream and Vision
In Robinson Crusoe, during a severe illness, Crusoe experiences a fever-induced dream that marks the start of his spiritual awakening. In this vision, a fearsome man descends from dark clouds,...
Robinson Crusoe
Analyze Robinson Crusoe as a bildungsroman.
Robinson Crusoe follows the trajectory of a classic bildungsroman by showing Crusoe mature through adversity from a self-centered youth who wants to get rich quickly to a wiser person who understands...
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe's Character Development Analysis
In Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe's character evolves significantly through his isolation and struggles on a deserted island. Initially driven by greed and indifferent to morality, engaging in the slave...
Robinson Crusoe
How does Defoe use irony in Robinson Crusoe?
Defoe uses irony in Robinson Crusoe in several instances, many of which involve his being shipwrecked, undeterred by each former disaster. A particular example of Defoe's use of irony can be seen in...
Robinson Crusoe
What genre is Robinson Crusoe?
Robinson Crusoe is a novel, a genre defined as a long imaginative work of literature written in prose. It is a type of travel fiction, set in an exotic locale, and is realistic, depicting plausible...
Robinson Crusoe
Compare and contrast Xury and Man Friday in Robinson Crusoe.
In Robinson Crusoe, Xury and Man Friday are alike in their loyalty and usefulness to Crusoe. Both accept a subordinate position to him. However, although Friday is a man and Xury is a boy, Crusoe...
Robinson Crusoe
How does Daniel Defoe achieve verisimilitude in Robinson Crusoe?
Daniel Defoe achieves verisimilitude in Robinson Crusoe through detailed, realistic descriptions that create a semblance of reality. The novel's title and structure mimic a historical account,...
Robinson Crusoe
Admirable and unlikable traits of Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe exhibits admirable traits such as resourcefulness, resilience, and ingenuity, which help him survive on a deserted island. However, he also displays unlikable traits, including...
Robinson Crusoe
What is your opinion on the character and story of Robinson Crusoe?
Opinions on Robinson Crusoe highlight its compelling plot and detailed realism, but criticize the colonialist attitudes and clunky storytelling. Crusoe's resourcefulness and resilience are admired,...
Robinson Crusoe
Write an introduction and conclusion for Robinson Crusoe.
An introduction to Robinson Crusoe should highlight its significance as a precursor to the novel genre, emphasizing its pioneering contribution to realism. This realism is evident in its detailed...
Robinson Crusoe
Does Robinson Crusoe ever leave the island?
Yes, Robinson Crusoe does get off the island. After twenty-eight years, an English ship arrives. He and Friday return to Europe. Crusoe settles in England and marries, then leaves to wander again...
Robinson Crusoe
Compare the novels Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island.
Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island share several similarities. Both novels are first-person narratives focused on adventure and survival, placing readers in the protagonists' shoes. The narrators...
Robinson Crusoe
What illness does Crusoe contract in Robinson Crusoe and how does he react?
Crusoe's illness is a fever with a severe headache. He reacts to his illness by turning to God. For the first time, Crusoe prays seriously to his Maker.
Robinson Crusoe
Who was Xury in Robinson Crusoe?
Xury is a non-white slave boy with whom Crusoe escapes captivity. Crusoe escapes from the clutches of the pirates with two slaves, one of whom is Xury. While he forces one to swim ashore, he keeps...
Robinson Crusoe
Compare Robinson Crusoe and Oroonoko. Who is a stronger example of an enlightened individual?
Robinson Crusoe and Oroonoko both embody aspects of Enlightenment ideals, but in different ways. Crusoe exemplifies Enlightenment values through his independence and self-reliance, as he chooses his...
Robinson Crusoe
What was the original name of Friday in "Robinson Crusoe"?
Friday's original name in "Robinson Crusoe" is never revealed. He is named after the day Crusoe saved him from cannibals. His character has become an archetype for the "noble savage," and the term...
Robinson Crusoe
Is Robinson Crusoe more than just an adventure story?
Robinson Crusoe is more than an adventure story in that is one of the first novels in English and therefore deeply influenced the novel form. The novel is also a striking reflection of European...
Robinson Crusoe
Why are there no female characters in Robinson Crusoe?
There are no woman characters in Robinson Crusoe because the author of the novel thought that would stretch credibility too far. Click here to return to the search form.
Robinson Crusoe
Why was Robinson Crusoe important at its time of publication?
Robinson Crusoe is important because it is one of the earliest examples of a wholly realistic novel, laying the groundwork for the development of the realist novel as we know it today.
Robinson Crusoe
What were Robinson Crusoe's feelings during his first voyage?
During his first voyage, Robinson Crusoe experiences intense fear, seasickness, and regret for disobeying his parents. Initially, he mistakes mild turbulence for a deadly storm, prays to God, and...
Robinson Crusoe
How did Robinson Crusoe escape from slavery?
Robinson Crusoe escapes from slavery by escaping in a boat when his owner had sent him out to sea to fish. Prior to this, Crusoe had been enslaved after his ship was attacked by pirates.
Robinson Crusoe
Why isn't Crusoe's relationship with his parents elaborated on in Robinson Crusoe?
The relationship between Crusoe and his parents in Robinson Crusoe isn't elaborated on because Defoe wants to highlight the fact that Crusoe is very much his own man, a rugged individualist...
Robinson Crusoe
How did Friday arrive on the island in "Robinson Crusoe"?
Friday arrives on the island as a captive of cannibals who visit for their rituals. He escapes when one victim is killed, and runs towards Crusoe's fortress. Crusoe, who had foreseen this event in a...
Robinson Crusoe
Why did Robinson Crusoe run away from home at first chance?
Robinson Crusoe ran away because he had long wished to be a sailor and escape the quiet life his parents led in England. When an opportunity comes for him to sail to London, he seizes it without...
Robinson Crusoe
What are Crusoe's attitudes towards women in the latter part of the novel?
Crusoe is kind and generous to the women in his life in the latter part of the novel, but he does not call any of them by name or seem to have much sense of them as full-fleshed human beings....
Robinson Crusoe
How does Crusoe acquire barley in "Robinson Crusoe"?
Crusoe acquires barley by discovering it growing in a shaded spot on the island where he had previously discarded corn husks. He is astonished to find barley, particularly an English variety, in a...
Robinson Crusoe
What motivates Robinson Crusoe's quest for adventure?
Robinson Crusoe's quest for adventure is primarily motivated by a desire for excitement and variety, contrasting with his secure upbringing. His father's opposition, advocating for a stable life in...
Robinson Crusoe
What values are depicted in Robinson Crusoe?
Robinson Crusoe is a novel written with Puritan values to present the work ethic, reason and religious faith by using the character of Robinson Crusoe.
Robinson Crusoe
Why did Robinson Crusoe keep goats?
When he is stranded on the island, Robinson Crusoe keeps goats as a source of food.
Robinson Crusoe
Is Robinson Crusoe a true story?
No, Robinson Crusoe is not a true story. It is a work of fiction. However, the book was presented as if it were a true story, was based on the popular travel narrative genre, and was so realistic...
Robinson Crusoe
What does Robinson Crusoe teach Friday to call him?
Robinson Crusoe teaches Friday to call him "master." This establishes an unequal hierarchy between the two men from the start.
Robinson Crusoe
How does Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe apply to formal realism?
Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe exemplifies formal realism through its detailed portrayal of Crusoe's experiences and the use of a first-person narrative that mimics a diary or autobiography. This...
Robinson Crusoe
Did Friday die in Robinson Crusoe?
No, Friday does not die in Robinson Crusoe, because Crusoe saves him from being eaten by cannibals.
Robinson Crusoe
What purpose does each dwelling serve in Robinson Crusoe's fortress near the coast and his inland "country home"?
Robinson Crusoe's initial dwelling serves a defensive purpose, providing protection against potential threats like wild animals or hostile humans. It is built quickly beneath a mountain, which later...
Robinson Crusoe
Who is the narrator in Robinson Crusoe?
Robinson Crusoe is the narrator, recounting his own adventures and experiences in an autobiographical style. Born in York in 1632, with a father from Bremen, Germany, Crusoe tells of his decision to...
Robinson Crusoe
What is Robinson Crusoe's attitude towards reality?
Robinson Crusoe's attitude to reality is one of acceptance. Despite some moments of despair, he plays the hand he is given and makes the best of whatever situation he finds himself in.
Robinson Crusoe
How does Robinson Crusoe acquire guns and gunpowder?
Robinson Crusoe acquires guns and gunpowder by retrieving them from a shipwreck. After surviving a storm, he swims to the grounded ship and finds its quarters dry and filled with provisions. Crusoe...
Robinson Crusoe
The role of Xury's character in advancing the plot and providing context in Robinson Crusoe
Xury's character in Robinson Crusoe advances the plot by aiding Crusoe's escape from captivity and providing companionship during his early adventures. His presence highlights themes of loyalty and...
Robinson Crusoe
What are the simple sentences in the first chapter of Robinson Crusoe?
The first chapter of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe contains few simple sentences, reflecting the complex writing style of the 18th century. Simple sentences have one clause and can include a dual...
Robinson Crusoe
Did Robinson Crusoe meet another person?
Robinson Crusoe meets the native man he calls Friday when he saves him from cannibals who occasionally come to the island. Friday becomes his servant. Up until the end, when an English ship comes to...
Robinson Crusoe
Why were the Bible and gun crucial to Crusoe's survival in "Robinson Crusoe"?
The Bible and gun are crucial to Crusoe's survival as they provide both physical and spiritual sustenance. The gun enables him to hunt and protect himself from threats, asserting control over the...