Swallows and Amazons · Chapter
II: Making Ready explained
The Walker family prepares for their camping expedition.
What happens
The Walker family prepares for their camping expedition. Mother finishes sewing two simple tents, which are tested in the garden. The children then go to the boathouse to ready their sailboat, the Swallow, with mother's help. They step the mast and hoist the sail, while Titty and Roger whistle for wind. The chapter ends with a calm lake and anticipation for the voyage to Wild Cat Island.
Themes in this chapter
Adventure and Imagination
The children transform ordinary preparations into a voyage of discovery, with mother playing Queen Elizabeth and the Swallow becoming their ship to the Indies.
Nature and the Outdoors
The chapter emphasizes outdoor life: sleeping in tents, camping on an island, and sailing on the lake, with detailed descriptions of the natural setting.
Family and Trust
Mother supports the children's adventure by making tents and joining their play, demonstrating trust and shared family bonds.
Characters to notice
- John Walker
Captain John oversees tent setup and leads the preparation of the Swallow, stepping the mast and hoisting the sail.
- Susan Walker
Mate Susan helps with tent assembly and assists in bringing the Swallow out of the boathouse and making her fast.
- Titty Walker
Able-seaman Titty watches the tent setup, borrows fat Vicky, and later whistles for wind with Roger.
- Roger Walker
The Boy Roger gets in the way during tent setup, opens the boathouse lock, and whistles for wind.
- Mother Walker
Mother sews the tents, advises on camping gear, and joins the children at the boathouse as Queen Elizabeth.
- Vicky
Fat Vicky is briefly brought into the tent by Titty and then left with nurse.
Key passages
“What care I for a goose-feather bed, With the sheet turned down so bravely, O? For tonight I shall sleep in the cold open fields Along with the wraggle-taggle gipsies, O!”
The children sing a song about preferring to sleep outdoors like gypsies rather than in a comfortable bed.
This epigraph sets the adventurous, carefree tone for the chapter.
“‘Properly,’ said John, ‘we ought not to take tents with us. We ought to make a tent out of a sail by hanging it across the gaff for a ridge pole, and we ought to hold it up with two pairs of oars, a pair at each end.’”
John thinks a true sailor's tent would be improvised from the boat's sail and oars, but admits the canvas tents are better for their needs.
Shows John's desire for authenticity in their adventure.
“‘You can be Queen Elizabeth going aboard the ships at Greenwich that were sailing to the Indies.’”
Titty invites mother to join their play, casting her as Queen Elizabeth inspecting ships bound for the Indies.
Highlights the imaginative role-play central to the children's adventure.
“‘I can’t believe we’re really going to land on it,’ said Titty.”
Titty expresses wonder and disbelief that they will actually set foot on Wild Cat Island.
Captures the children's excitement and anticipation.
“‘We’ll have to whistle for a wind.’”
John suggests they whistle to summon a breeze for sailing.
Reflects a sailor's superstition and the children's playful approach to the voyage.
