Daniel Defoe

a cura di D.P. Madrigali 
 
 Robinson Crusoe, considered to be the first English novel, is the story of a young and rich Englishman with two passions in life: the sea and adventure. But after several voyages and adventures all over the world, a shipwreck takes him, the only survivor, onto a desert island. Here he lives for 28 years, writing a diary in which he narrates all his experiences.
 In his last years there he meets a native, Friday, who becomes Robinson’s faithful servant. Eventually, he manages to return to England where he finds out that he has become rich thanks to his Brazilian plantation.
 The book presents in-depth analyses on the origin and development of the novel, journalism and the rise of the middle class. 
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Key to Summing-up Activities.
 
 Considerato il capostipite del romanzo moderno, Robinson Crusoe è la storia di un giovane e ricco inglese attratto da due grandi amori: il mare e l’avventura. Tuttavia, dopo una serie di viaggi in diverse parti del mondo, un naufragio lo porta ad essere l’unico sopravvissuto su un’isola deserta. Qui vivrà 28 anni, scrivendo un diario in cui racconta tutte le sue avventure. Ritornerà in Inghilterra scoprendo di essere diventato ricco grazie alla sua piantagione brasiliana.

Chapter 1 – Robinson at sea

Extension: The origin of the novel

Chapter 2 – Shipwreck

Extension: Slavery

Chapter 3 – On a desert island

Extension: The middle class

Chapter 4 – Life on the island

Extension: Journalism

Chapter 5 – Other human beings

Extension: The rise of the novel

Chapter 6 – Back home

Extension: Robinson Crusoe at the cinema

Summing-up activities

Glossary

E X T E N S I O N THE MIDDLE CLASS In the 17th century a new social class was becoming important and powerful: the middle class1. Traders2, merchants, bankers3 and other professional men were part of this new class. Its values were practical: money and prosperity were very important but also order, reason, discipline and common sense4. Daniel Defoe became a rich London merchant. He said that trade is the richness of the world. The members of this new social class usually met at the public coffee-houses, which were similar to clubs. They were the centre of social life. Here people went to meet friends, discuss the news5 but also to talk about business6 and to drink coffee, the new drink from the Middle East colonies. Coffee became popular after 1652 (the year in which it was introduced in Britain). Also tea, the new drink from India, became popular. Education7 and also manners8 became very important for middleclass people. In fact, they wanted to be elegant and refined9 like the aristocracy. To improve their social status, rich merchants often married their children into aristocratic families. Journalism, satire and the novel were the three new characteristic aspects of the prose of this age. It was called the Age of Reason. A London coffee-house of the 1660 s. 1. middle class: social class which includes professional and business people. 2. traders: people who buy and sell things as a job. 3. bankers: people who have a bank. 4. common sense: the ability to think about things in a practical way and make the right decisions. 5. news: information about what has happened recently. 6. business: commerce. 7. education: the process of teaching and learning at school. 8. manners: the way that is considered polite/kind behaviour towards other people. 9. refined: cultured, educated, polite. 36 

4  Life on the island Chapter BEFORE READING 1 Each illustrated word refers to something that you can find in Chapter 4. Match the following illustrated words to their definitions. ...... ...... a. pick-axe ...... b. shovel ...... d. hut 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 2 ...... c. spear ...... e. poles f. gun A long weapon with a sharp metal point. Weapon used for firing bullets. It is used for moving earth, sand, snow, etc. A small, simple house. It is used for breaking rocks. Long pieces of wood or metal with the end placed in the ground. Complete the sentences with who, what, where or how. Robinson wants to know: a. b. c. d. e. f. ............................ he is. ............................ lives on the island. ............................ kind of animals there are. ............................ to build his house. ............................ he can do with the money. ............................ to remember the passing of time. 37 

Robinson Crusoe, capostipite del romanzo moderno, racconta le avventure di un naufrago su un'isola deserta per 28 anni, tra mare, diario e ricchezze.

Robinson Crusoe Collana RAINBOWS

Level A2 • Elementary - Collana RAINBOWS

Robinson Crusoe

Flowbooks è una piattaforma di distribuzione dedicata al mondo della scuola e dell'università.  Con questa piattaforma di distribuzione, il team di sviluppo Flowbooks  si impegna a soddisfare le esigenze degli utenti digitali, rendendo l'utilizzo accessibile e piacevole.  Entra nella tua area di interesse!

Edisco è una Casa editrice indipendente che opera prevalentemente nel settore educativo.

Edisco

Flowbooks è innovazione didattica a portata di click