THE RAILWAY CHILDREN

FORM 3 NOVEL ( IMPORTANT EVENTS / EVIDENCE )

1. Mother was ill

One day Mother was ill and stayed in bed. Peter went to fetch the doctor. Dr. Forrest came and told
the children that their mother needed medicine, fruit and milk. As the children were poor, they
decided to ask for help. They wrote a letter to the old gentleman and asked him to get all the things
for their mother. That evening, Perks arrived with the things that the old man had sent.

2. Bobbies birthday

Bobbie celebrated her 12th birthday. There were 12 lighted candles. The table was covered with
beautiful flowers. Phyllis gave Bobbie a pretty handkerchief with flowers on it. Mother gave her a
silver brooch. Peter gave her part of his toy engine filled with sweets. Bobbie took the broken toy
engine and asked the engine driver and fireman to mend the toy engine which they did.

3. Saving the train

One day the children were walking beside the railway line when they saw a landslide. They watched
trees, grass and stones moving and crashing down in a big heap on the railway line. They wanted to
inform the station but it was too late. They wanted something red as red meant danger. The girls then,
took off their petticoats, cut them into six pieces and put them onto sticks so that they had 6 red flags.
When they heard the train coming, they started waving the flags but the train did not slow down.
Bobbie then ran on to the railway line and started waving her two flags. Finally, the train stopped
twenty metres from Bobbie. The children had saved the train. For their bravery or courage, the
children were given a beautiful gold watch each.

4. The terrible secret

Bobbie read about her father from an old newspaper. She read that her father was a spy and was jailed
for 5 years. Her mother explained that the police arrested Father after they found some letters in his
office desk. She also said that the man who wanted Fathers job had probably done this. Bobbie wrote
to the Old Gentleman asking for help to release their father. The Old Gentleman did help and finally
Father was released from prison.

5. The Boy in the red shirt.

The boys from Maidbridgeschool were having a paper-chase or a running event. One of the boys, Jim
was wearing a red shirt. The children watched him go into the tunnel but he did not come out of it.
The children were worried about him and went to look for him. They found the boy inside the tunnel.
Jim had a broken leg. Bobbie stayed with the boy while Peter and Phyllis went to get help. Bobbie
tried her best to make the boy as comfortable as possible. She cut off the boot and then took off her
petticoat to put it under the boys leg. Peter and Phyllis came back with some men from the farm.
The men carried Jim and took him to the childrens home.
QUESTIONS AND MODEL ANSWERS

Question 1 :Choose one of the moral values below and write about it giving evidence from
the novel you have studied.

Responsibility
Courage
Determination

Responsibility * The three children, Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis

are responsible.
Evidence no 1,3 and 5
Courage * The three children are very brave /
courageous.
Evidence no 3 and 5
Determination * The children are determined to get the things
the doctor recommended for their mother when
she was ill.
Evidence no 1

* The children are determined to celebrate

Perks birthday. The children want their
mother to have the cakes on Thursday because
they want to celebrate Perks birthday. They go
around and collect presents from people.

* The children are determined to help the boy

in the red shirt.
Evidence no 5

* Bobbie is determined to help release her

father who has been accused of being a spy.
Evidence no 4
Answer:

1st paragraph Mention the title & the writers name. Answer the question immediately.
2nd paragraph 1st point. Reason & examples (at least one).
3rd paragraph 2nd point. Reason & examples (at least one).
4th paragraph 3rd point. Reason & examples. (if any)
5th paragraph Conclusion

Question 2 ; Write about your favourite character in the novel.

Answer : My favourite character in the novel is Roberta or Bobbie. She is 12 years old and is
the eldest in the family. I like her because :

Characterisitc Evidence
* She is loving. * She together with her brother, Peter and
sister, Phyllis try to get their mother the things
the doctor says she needs to get well.
Incident no 1

* She is kind and * She helps them to plan a birthday party for
helpful. Perks.

* She helps the boy in the red shirt.

Incident no 5
* She is brave. * She goes onto the railway line to warn the
train of the landslide.
Incident no 3
* She is resourceful. * She thinks of asking the old gentlemans help
when the children need some things for their
mother.
Incident no 1
* She seeks the old gentlemans help to release
her father.
Incident - no 4

Question 3 : Describe an interesting event in the story.

Answer : An interesting event in the story is when the three children save the train.
 One day the children were walking beside the railway line when they saw a landslide.
They watched trees, grass and stones moving and crashing down in a big heap on the railway
line. They wanted to inform the station but it was too late. They wanted something red as red
meant danger. The girls then, took off their petticoats, cut them into six pieces and put them onto
sticks so that they had 6 red flags. When they heard the train coming, they started waving the
flags but the train did not slow down. Bobbie then ran on to the railway line and started waving
her two flags. Finally, the train stopped twenty metres from Bobbie. The children had saved the
train. For their bravery or courage, the children were given a beautiful gold watch each.

Question 4 : Write about how two or more characters work together to achieve success.

Answer : In the story, `The Railway Children there are three characters who work together to
achieve success. In this case, the three children Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis work together to
save the train.

( Incident 3) One day the children were walking beside the railway line when they saw a
landslide. They watched trees, grass and stones moving and crashing down in a big heap on the
railway line. They wanted to inform the station but it was too late. They wanted something red as
red meant danger. The girls then, took off their petticoats, cut them into six pieces and put them
onto sticks so that they had 6 red flags. When they heard the train coming, they started waving
the flags but the train did not slow down. Bobbie then ran on to the railway line and started
waving her two flags.

Finally, the train stopped twenty metres from Bobbie. The children had saved the train. For
their bravery or courage, the children were given a beautiful gold watch each.

The three children also help the boy in red shirt.

( Incident 5 ) The boys from Maidbridgeschool were having a paper-chase or a running event.
One of the boys, Jim was wearing a red shirt. The children watched him go into the tunnel but he
did not come out of it. The children were worried about him and went to look for him. They
found the boy inside the tunnel. Jim had a broken leg. Bobbie stayed with the boy while Peter
and Phyllis went to get help. Bobbie tried her best to make the boy as comfortable as possible.
She cut off the boot and then took off her petticoat to put it under the boys leg. Peter and Phyllis
came back with some men from the farm. The men carried Jim and took him to the childrens
home.

Question 5 : We must always help one another. How is this shown in the novel?

Answer : This is shown in the novel, `The Railway Children when the three children,
Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis save the train.
( Incident 3 ) One day the children were walking beside the railway line when they saw a
landslide. They watched trees, grass and stones moving and crashing down in a big heap on the
railway line. They wanted to inform the station but it was too late. They wanted something red as
red meant danger. The girls then, took off their petticoats, cut them into six pieces and put them
onto sticks so that they had 6 red flags. When they heard the train coming, they started waving
the flags but the train did not slow down. Bobbie then ran on to the railway line and started
waving her two flags. Finally, the train stopped twenty metres from Bobbie. The children had
saved the train. For their bravery or courage, the children were given a beautiful gold watch
each.

The three children also help the boy in red shirt.

( Incident 5 ) The boys from Maidbridgeschool were having a paper-chase or a running event.
One of the boys, Jim was wearing a red shirt. The children watched him go into the tunnel but he
did not come out of it. The children were worried about him and went to look for him. They
found the boy inside the tunnel. Jim had a broken leg. Bobbie stayed with the boy while Peter
and Phyllis went to get help. Bobbie tried her best to make the boy as comfortable as possible.
She cut off the boot and then took off her petticoat to put it under the boys leg. Peter and Phyllis
came back with some men from the farm. The men carried Jim and took him to the childrens
home.

Question 6 : One of the themes of the novel is the importance of family love. Discuss how
this is shown.

Answer : The theme family love is important in the novel indeed. This is shown through the
strong bond between the family members.

The three children, Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis love their Mother very much. They work
together to solve problems.

Another incident that shows family love is when Bobbie celebrated her 12 th birthday. There
were 12 lighted candles. The table was covered with beautiful flowers. Phyllis gave Bobbie a
pretty handkerchief with flowers on it. Mother gave her a silver brooch. Peter gave her part of his
toy engine filled with sweets.Bobbie took the broken toy engine and asked the engine driver and
fireman to mend the toy engine which they did. This shows how much Bobbie loves her Peter.

Another evidence to indicate family love is the parents love the children very much. Father
always plays with them. Mother writes stories so that she can sell them to earn extra
money.Eventhough the Father is away, they still remain united. This is shown when they
celebrate Bobbies birthday.
Question 7 : Write about a character who is kind.

Answer : A character who is kind / A character who shows kindness and compassion is the
Old Gentleman.

One day Mother was ill and stayed in bed. Peter went to fetch the doctor. Dr. Forrest
came and told the children that their mother needed medicine, fruit and milk. As the children
were poor, they decided to ask for help. They wrote a letter to the old gentleman and asked
him to get all the things for their mother. That evening, Perks arrived with the things that the
old man had sent.

The old gentleman shows his kindness when he helps to release the childrens father from
prison. Bobbie read about her father from an old newspaper. She read that her father was a
spy and was jailed for 5 years. Her mother explained that the police arrested Father after
they found some letters in his office desk. She also said that the man who wanted Fathers
job had probably done this. Bobbie wrote to the Old Gentleman asking for help to release
their father. The Old Gentleman did help and finally Father was released from prison.

Question 8 : Do you like the ending of the novel you have read? Give reasons for your
answer.

Answer : Yes, I like the ending of the novel `The Railway Children.

One day, the children go to the station. They see Perks holding a newspaper and looking
very happy. Then the 11.54 train arrives and one of the passengers who gets off the train is
Bobbies father. Father tells the children that the real spy has been caught. The Father then goes
home to meet the rest of the family.

I like the ending because it is a happy ending. After the Father was sent to jail, the
family suffered a great deal. Then, the Father was reunited with the family.

I also like the ending because it shows the importance of family love. When family
members love each other and help one another, they can overcome difficulties.

Although the Father is jailed for a crime he did not commit, he is finally released. This
shows that justice will prevail in the end. The real spy was caught and this shows that `Crime
does not pay.

Question 9 : Do you like the novel you have read? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer : Yes, I like the novel `The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit.

The first reason is because it has an interesting plot. The children s happy life changes
when two men take their Father away. The children move to a house in the country where they
save a train from a terrible accident after a landslide covers the railway track. Bobbie
understands her Fathers problem and writes to the old gentleman for help. In the end, the
childrens father is reunited with the family.

I also like the characters in the novel. I like Bobbie because she is
______________________.

I like Peter because

__________________________________________________________________.

I like reading the novel because it teaches me many moral values. It teaches me that
family love is important. It also teaches me that we must help one another to solve problems.