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THE RAILWAY CHILDREN; (LESSON) sample answer
ESSON Q: Based on the novel you have studied, write about a valuable lesson
you have learnt.
Based on te no!el" Te Ra#lwa$ C#ldren %$ Ed#t Nes%#t, a
valuable lesson I have learnt is we should be kind and thoughtful to everyone,
including strangers. This is seen in Roberta. In this novel, Roberta asked the
driver and the frean to end the broken toy en!ine. "hen #eter !ave Roberta
hal$ his toy en!ine, she took the broken hal$. She wanted to !et it ended $or her
brother. So she et the driver and the frean to ask their hel%. They a!reed to
end the broken toy. Soe weeks later, she took #eter and #hyllis to eet the
driver and the frean. #eter was e&'ited to see his en!ine ended.
&'rtermore, Roberta hid the story about her imprisoned father from her
brother and sister . Roberta went to the station to 'olle't soe old a!a(ines.
#erks wra%%ed the a!a(ines with an old news%a%er. On the way hoe, she
sto%%ed to rest. She read the news%a%er. It is about her $ather. Roberta learnt
that her $ather was in %rison $or s%yin!. Nevertheless, Roberta did not tell #eter
and #hyllis about it. She did not want the to be u%set like her.
nall$" Roberta made Jim comfortable in the tunnel. )i had a broken le!
and 'annot walk. So, she ade )i 'o$ortable by %ut her %etti'oat under his
broken le!. She talked to hi and !ot the ne'essary in$oration to hel% hi. She
$ound out that he is )i $ro Northuberland.
In onl's#on, it is clear that Roberta is kind and thoughtful to everyone,
including strangers. It makes this novel interesting.
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THE RAILWAY CHILDREN - ThemesThere are roughly ten themes in this novel. They are as stated below :-
1.The Importance Of A Family - The family bond between the characters in
this novel is very strong. For example, in chapter 1, mother was always at home
spending time with the children. She played with them and read stories to them.
Mother also read stories which she wrote to them after tea. Moreover, the
children had a wonderful father who was never angry, and was always ready to
play a game with them.The children loved their father and never forgot himthough they never talked much about him. Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis were
always together be it at the railway line, the railway station and even when they
collected gifts for Perks.
2.Hope and Optimism - The children's father was always optimistic that things
would be fine.For example, when Peter showed him his broken toy steam
engine, father looked at it and optimistically assured Peter that he would mend
it.Bobbie had high hopes that the old gentleman would be able to help her to
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seek the truth about her father's innocence. The old gentleman helped Bobbie in
her quest because he had hopes that her father was innocent.
3.Bravery - Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis are brave children. They risked their lives
to stop a train from accident. Peter and Phyllis waved their flags by
standing along the railway line while Bobbie ran on to the line waving herflags. The children aslo showed bravery when they entered the dark tunnel to
look for the boy in the red shirt.Mother stayed calm and brave for the chlidren's
sake while her husband was away in prison.
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THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
-SYNOPSIS
Roberta(Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis lived
in a comfortable home in London. Their
father was a civil servant while their
mother was a housewife.Their parents
were wonderful and kind people. They
also had a maid to do the house work.
One day, two gentlemen came to the
house to see their father. Soon after, he
followed them out.He was taken to prison.He was accused of being a Russian spy.
The children did not know why their father left with the two men but their mother knew. She
kept it to herself and did not tell the children.
Soon, they had to move to a modest
cottage in the Yorkshire countryside. The
cottage was situated near a railway
station. The children's life revolved
around the passing trains, workers at the
station and the towns people.
Their mother wrote some stories to earn
some money to buy food and for other
necessities. It was hard at first to be poor
but they soon learned to live with the
little they had.
They learned not to steal coal from the railway station even if they have so little coal to keep
warm. Their life was full of adventures. For instance, they managed to stop a train when a
landslide covered the tracks. They found the injured boy (hound) in the train tunnel and
managed to get help for him.
They liked to wave at passing trains. In time they made many new friends and forged a
special friendship with one old gentleman in particular. The old gentleman gets to know them
and helps them in various ways.
He becomes instrumental in the release of their father from prison.Finally, one day their
father returns home and everybody is happy that now they are together again.
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THE RAILWAY CHILDREN-CHARACTER
ROBERTA (BOBBIE)
Roberta is 12 years old. She has a brother named Peter and a
younger sister named Phyllis.She is fondly known as Bobbie in this
novel. She is the eldest of the three. One of her characters is, she is a
very persistent person.She doesn't easily throw in the towel when the
odds seem to be against her.
There are many incidences in the novel where we can see her
persistence. For example, in chapter 3 (page 17 - paragraph 5 -
lines 1-3),we can see how determined she was in getting the thingsnecessary for her mother's recovery when her mother was ill. Her persistence paid off when
the old gentleman gave the things needed for her mother's recovery.
In chapter 6 (page 38 - read the whole page), Perks was not happy with people giving him
presents.He was worried that people would laugh and make fun of him.Bobbie persistently
reasoned with Perks about the good intentions of the village people giving him the presents
untill he relented and accepted the gifts.Finally, Perks celebrated his birthday with a happy
note.
In chapter 7 (pg 42 - the whole page), she did not give up in finding a way to help secure her
father's release from prison. She was persistent even when her mother had given up.
She secretly wrote a letter to her friend the old gentleman asking for his help to clear her
father's name.In the end her father was released from prison.
*Brave - Chapter 5, Chapter 7, Chapter 8*Kindhearted - Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 8*Responsible - Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5
*Moral - we mst not easil! "ive p when thin"s seem impossible# $e mst %eep
tr!in" b! &indin" means and wa!s to ma%e the impossible possible li%e Roberta#
PETER
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Peter is Roberta's brother. He is the second child in the family.
Peter is a very brave and smart young chap. He wants to be an
engineer when he grows up. He has a knack for railway engines.
He was overjoyed when his father gave him a steam engine for
his birthday.
One distinct character of Peter is sharp-witted (intelligent). In
Chapter 5 (p29 - p4 - lines 1-3), It was he who gave the idea of
using something red in colour to wave and stop the train from
meeting a certain disaster.He cut his sisters' red petticoats into
six pieces and put them on to sticks.Peter together with his
sisters waved at the coming train until it stopped.
In Chapter 6 (pg 36 - p1 - lines 1-3), Peter was honest in giving the idea of asking the village
people to give gifts for Perk's birthday.He told his mother about their true intention of giving
Perks the presents.Many people gave gifts for Perks birthday party.
In Chapter 2 (pg 12 - p 3 - lines 1-3), we can see the daring side of Peter. He was daring
enough to steal coal from the railway station at night but he did itignorantly.
Peter innocently thought it was alright to take some coal from the station.
In Chapter 8 (p46 - p1 - lines 1-4 / pg 47 - p2 - lines 1-4), we can see how bravePeter was in
searching for the boy in the red shirt in the dark tunnel.He was shaking in fear but still he
continued the search for the boy with his sisters.
PHYLLIS
Phyllis is the youngest child in the family. She is the cutest of the
three.She is quite a bubbly character. She is very naive and insecure.
She is also very sensitive but easily forgiving.
In Chapter 5 (p29,30 & 31), we can see the brave side of Phyllis. She
together with her elder sister and brother managed to stop the train
from meeting with a terrible accident.
In Chapter 1 (p7 - p1 - last line), Phyllis felt very insecure when theymoved in to their new house at the countyside.
While in Chapter 6 (pg 38 - p1&2),Phyllis became very sensitive when Perks refused to
accept the gifts the children had brought to him. She was so hurt by Perks's words that she
started to cry.
In Chapter 4,5,6 and 8 we can see how loving, caring and helpful Phyllis is.
MOTHER
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Mother is a homely type.We can read this in Chapter 1 (page 1 -
paragraph 2 - lines 1-3). She spends most of her time at home,
playing with the children or reading stories to them.Usually she read
the stories she wrote to them.She is a very protective woman. She
protected her children from worrying or feeling sad about their
father. She did this by not telling them what actually had happened totheir father. She also told them that they need to play being poor for
a while in order not to cause more anxiety on them.
In chapter 2 (p12 - pg 1 - lines 2-3), we can see how resourceful she
is. Mother wrote stories and sold them to put some food on the table.
In chapter 4 (p21 - pg 3 - lines 1-3), we can see that Mother is a very proud person. Although
they were poor, she strongly discourages her children from telling people that they are poor
and asking strangers to help them.
She is also a very caring and loving Mother.In Chapter 1 (p1 - p2 - lines 1-3),Mother was
always ready to play with her chlidren. She also read stories to them.
Whereas in Chapter 9 ( p53 - p1 - lines 2-4), she taught her children their lessons as they
have stopped going to school for some time now.
In Chapter 8 (p50 - p1 - lines 8-9) , she took in the injured boy into her house and nursed him
to health.
FATHER
The children's father worked in a government ofiice. He was a civil
servant. He was an honest and hardworking man. He was wrongly
accused of being a Russian spy and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
In Chapter 1 (pg 1 - p 3 - lines 2-4),we can see how tolerant and
wonderful he is. He never gets angry at the children nor at his wife. The
children love their father very much for he is always happy and ready to
play games with them.
In Chapter 1 (pg 3 - p1 - lines 1-3), when Peter showed him his brokensteam engine, father looked at it carefully and smilingly told Peter that
there is hope(optimistic) that his steam engine could be repaired.He is also a grateful man.
In Chapter 9 (pg 57 - "Yes',said Father.'It's him I must thank.'). Father wasgrateful for his
release and wanted to thank the old gentleman for helping him to clear his name and secure
his release from prison.
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LOT S*++ARY , THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
Capter -, te %e.#nn#n. o/ t#n.s
One ni!ht at their hoe in london, $ather, other, robertaalso
known as bobbie-, %eter and %hyllis are talkin! about %eter1s broken
odel en!ine when there is a kno'k on the $ront door. Two !entleen
'oe to see $ather and talk $or a lon! tie. 2ather s%eaks brie3y with
other and ysteriously leaves hoe. The ne&t ornin!, other leaves
$or london and returns in the evenin!, lookin! tired. She re4uests the
'hildren to be !ood while she is away and not to ask any 4uestion about
$ather. Several horrid weeks %ass by and one ornin!, other tells the
'hildren that they are ovin! to a little white house near railway line in
the 'ountry. They take the train and arrive at their new hoe in the dark.
Capter 0, peter and te oal
The $aily do not !et a de'ent su%%er as they think rs. 5iney has
not %re%ared it $or the. +other %re%ares what she 'an and o6 they !o to
bed. The ne&t ornin!, the 'hildren wake u% $eelin! e&'ited in their new
hoe. They dis'over that a nearby feld ba'ks onto a railway line but the
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railway station is too $ar to see $ro where they are. Be$ore su%%er the
'hildren de'ides to !o to the railway station. They have a lot to see and a
lar!e hea% o$ 'oal 'at'hes %eter1s attention. "hen %eter steals 'oal $ro
the station yard, he is 'au!ht by the station aster. #eter thinks that
takin! soe 'oals $ro the iddle o$ the hea% is harless. The station
aster warns the that what they have done is stealin! be'ause the 'oal
belon!s to the railway station. It is only then they reali(e what they have
done is wron!.
Capter 1, te old .entleman
By now the 'hildren know the tie when the trains %ass. Every
ornin!, they will wave to an old !entlean who always waves ba'k at
the. They %retended that the old an knows their $ather and takes their
love to hi in london. One day, their other be'oes very ill and bobbie
resolves to do soethin! %ositive to hel%. The 'hildren %aint the words,
7look out at the station8 on a lar!e white sheet and wave it at the 9.;
train the ne&t day. "hen the train is about ready to leave, %hyllis %asses a
letter to the old !entlean. In the evenin!, a lar!e bo& o$ su%%lies is
delivered to the 'hildren with all the thin!s they have asked $or.
Capter 2, %o%%#e3s r#de
"hen their other fnally re'overs $ro her illness, they 'on$ess to
her what they have done earlier. The $aily later 'elebrates bobbie1s
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hal$ o$ his toy train flled with sweets. =er lovely birthday %arty however
ends on a sad note when she reali(es that her other is very u%set later
that ni!ht. Bobbie se'retly wants to re%air %eter1s broken train. She !oes
to the station and a''identally !ets into the en!ine o$ one o$ the trains.
2eelin! s'ared, she seeks hel% $ro two railway workers. The two en not
only re%air the toy but also ake sure she arrives hoe sa$ely. "eeks
later, bobbie introdu'es %eter and %hyllis to the $riendly en!ine driver and
>i, the frean.
Capter 4, sa!#n. te tra#n
The 'hildren witness a landslide that 'overs the railway line. The
'hildren %revent an iinent a''ident by wavin! the !irls1 red %etti'oats.
The train 'oes to rest >ust in tie, at about twenty etres $ro where
bobbie stands on the tra'ks. "eeks later, a 'ereony is held at the
station to 'oeorate the 'hildren1s bravery. The old !entlean
%resents the 'hildren with a !old wat'h ea'h and eets their other at
hoe. The 'hildren relay that event$ul day to their other.
Capter 5, a %#rtda$ /or per6s
The 'hildren1s other has >ust sold a story and su!!ests havin!
soe 'akes $or tea. Bobbie re4uests that they have it on %erks1s birthday
and other a!rees. #eter 'oes u% with an idea to ask the villa!ers $or
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little !i$ts, 'onfdent that they will !ive soethin! to a %erson as ni'e as
%erks. Soe o$ the villa!ers are deli!hted with the idea but others, su'h
as rs. Ransoe si%ly brushes the o6. The three 'hildren, however,
!o hoe and 'olle't several roses $or rs. Ransoe sin'e it is her
birthday. That kind !esture tou'hes rs. Ransoe1s heart and she !ives
the 'hildren several a%%les as well as her dead !rand'hild1s %ra $or
%erks1s son. The 'hildren brin! the !i$ts to %erks1s house and wait $or his
arrival so as to sur%rise hi. In s%ite o$ this, %erks be'oes u%set as he
sees the !i$ts as a $or o$ 'harity. The 'hidren e&%lain that these !i$ts are
!iven sin'erely and %erks relents. =e asks the three 'hildren to stay $or
tea.
Capter 7, te terr#%le seret
Bobbie dis'overs the reason $or her $ather1s disa%%earan'e when
she reads the news%a%er arti'le. ?ee%ly u%set, she re$uses to believe that
he is a s%y and is i%risoned. =er other atte%ts to e&%lain that her
$ather has been $alsely a''used o$ sellin! !overnent se'rets to another
'ountry. Bobbie believes in her $ather1s inno'en'e and de'ides to wtite to
the old !entlean to 'lear his nae.
Capter 8, te %o$ #n te red s#rt
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The boy in red !oes issin! durin! a @hare and hounds1 !ae
or!anised by thier s'hool. Bobbie and her siblin!s enter the dark railway
tunnel to look $or hi. They fnd hi lyin! by the railway tra'k with a
broken le!. Bobbie stays with the in>ured boy, >i, in the dark tunnel while
%eter and %hyllis seek hel% $or the $ar. The 'hildren take >i hoe $or
edi'al attention. They later learn that >i is the !rand'hild o$ the old
!entlean who they have et earlier. The old !entlean visits the little
white house where >i is taken 'are o$. +other o6ers hersel$ to take 'are
o$ >i until he !ets better. The old !entlean is !rate$ul to the $aily.
"hen the old !entlean leaves the house, he has a %rivate 'hat with
bobbie about her $ather. =e says that he has re'eived the letter and has
been lookin! into the 'ase. =e believes that her $ather is inno'ent.
Capter 9, te man at te stat#on
The 'hildren wave at the %assin! 9.; train and all the %assen!ers
res%ond. At the station, an over>oyed r. #erks, who has read about
bobbie1s $ather in the news%a%er, !reets her. A london train sto%s at the
station and bobbie sees her $ather return a$ter servin! his senten'e in
%rison. They return hoe ha%%y and reunited.
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