If you are searching for the Class 11th English Chapter 2 summary, you’ll find everything here in simple and exam-ready language. Hornbill Chapter 2, We’re Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together, written by Gordon Cook and Alan East, is an inspiring true story of courage, unity, and determination.
In this blog, we have explained the complete summary of We’re Not Afraid to Die, covering key events, themes, and lessons. This will help you understand the struggles faced by an ordinary family at sea and how their resilience turned a life-threatening situation into a story of survival.
Summary of We’re Not Afraid to Die
Here is the summary of Class 11th English Chapter 2 (We’re Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together):
This chapter, written by Gordon Cook and Alan East, is a gripping survival story of a family’s adventurous sea voyage that turned into a battle against nature.
The narrator, along with his wife Mary, son Jonathan (Jon), and daughter Suzanne (Sue), set out on a world voyage in their boat Wavewalker. They had prepared for years, upgrading their boat and training themselves to handle long journeys at sea. Their dream was to follow Captain James Cook’s route and explore the world.
In the beginning, the journey was smooth, and the family enjoyed sailing across the oceans. However, things took a dangerous turn when they reached the southern Indian Ocean in January 1977. A fierce storm struck, and the sea waves rose as high as mountains, some nearly 15 meters tall. For hours, they struggled to keep the boat under control.
On January 2nd, the storm became even more violent. A massive wave struck Wavewalker, almost destroying it. The narrator was thrown off the boat but managed to hold onto the rail and climb back. The boat was badly damaged, with water flooding inside and the masts broken. Despite injuries, everyone kept fighting to save their vessel.
Mary helped pump out the water, while the narrator worked nonstop to repair the leaks. Sue, though injured, remained brave and did not complain. The most inspiring part was when Jon, their young son, told his father, “We are not afraid to die if we can all be together.” These words gave the family renewed strength to fight on.
For days, they battled exhaustion, hunger, and injuries. They survived by continuously pumping out water, repairing the boat as best as they could, and encouraging each other. Finally, after days of struggle, they managed to sail the broken boat toward land and reached Ile Amsterdam, a small island. The islanders welcomed them, and their ordeal came to an end.
The story of We’re Not Afraid to Die highlights courage, optimism, teamwork, and the strength of family unity. It shows that even in the worst situations, determination and love for each other can help overcome any challenge.
We Are Not Afraid to Die: Short Summary
Find the short summary of Class 11 English We’re Not Afraid to Die chapter:
We’re Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together is a thrilling survival story by Gordon Cook and Alan East. The narrator, his wife Mary, and their children Jonathan and Suzanne set out on their boat Wavewalker to sail around the world. Everything went well until they reached the southern Indian Ocean, where a violent storm with gigantic waves struck them. On January 2nd, a massive wave almost destroyed the boat, injuring the narrator and Sue, and flooding the cabin.
Despite exhaustion, the family showed immense courage. Mary helped with repairs, Sue bore her injuries silently, and Jon gave strength by saying, “We are not afraid to die if we can all be together.” With teamwork and determination, they kept the damaged boat afloat. Finally, they reached the small island of Ile Amsterdam safely. The story highlights resilience, optimism, and the power of unity in facing life’s toughest challenges.
More Important Resources for CBSE Exam:
| CBSE Board: All details | CBSE Class 11 Commerce Subjects |
| CBSE Full Form | CBSE Class 11 English Syllabus |
| All about CBSE Class 11th | Class 11th Hornbill Syllabus |
Character Sketches -We’re Not Afraid to Die…
| Character | Traits | Examples from the Chapter |
| Narrator (Father) | Brave, determined, skilled sailor, protective | Fought nonstop to repair the boat, pumped out water, steered through the storm despite injuries. |
| Mary (Mother) | Supportive, courageous, practical | Helped with repairs, cooked, pumped water, and stood strong without panicking. |
| Jonathan (Jon) | Mature beyond age, optimistic, inspiring | Said the famous line: “We are not afraid to die if we can all be together,” giving hope to everyone. |
| Suzanne (Sue) | Calm, strong, selfless | Suffered a serious head injury but never complained, kept smiling to encourage her parents. |
Themes of We’re Not Afraid to Die in Class 11 English
1. Courage in Adversity:
Facing life-threatening storms with bravery.
2. Family Unity:
Standing together in crisis strengthens resilience.
3. Hope and Optimism:
Positive thinking keeps despair away.
4. Human Endurance:
Persistence and determination against nature’s fury.
5. Sacrifice and Selflessness:
Each family member contributed despite injuries and exhaustion.
Read the chapter-wise summaries of Class 11 English here:
- The Portrait of a Lady
- Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
- The Landscape of The Soul
- The Ailing Planet
- The Browning Version
- The Adventure
We’re Not Afraid to Die: Important Points & Learnings
1. Unity is Strength:
Working together helps overcome challenges.
2. Stay Positive in Tough Times:
Optimism leads to survival.
3. Courage Inspires Others:
Even children can motivate adults with bravery.
4. Selflessness Matters:
Putting family before self builds stronger bonds.
5. Never Give Up:
Determination can turn even the worst situations into survival stories.
FAQs About Class 11 Chapter 2 Summary
It was written by Gordon Cook and Alan East, based on a real survival story.
The main theme is courage, unity, and determination while facing life-threatening challenges.
The boat was named Wavewalker, specially built for long sea voyages.
They wanted to follow Captain James Cook’s route and fulfill their dream of sailing around the world.
Sue suffered a deep head injury but did not complain to avoid worrying her parents.
Jon said, “We are not afraid to die if we can all be together.”
They gave the family courage and hope to keep fighting despite exhaustion and danger.
Mary pumped out water, cooked meals, and supported the narrator in repairing the boat.
Their unity, bravery, optimism, and selflessness stand out throughout the ordeal.
They reached the small island of Ile Amsterdam, where islanders welcomed them.
It teaches us that courage, teamwork, and never giving up can help us overcome any challenge.
Extracts, short-answer (40–50 words), and long-answer (120–150 words) questions are commonly asked.