The Swiss Family Robinson · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss.
Chapter 1
The Swiss Family Robinson
The Robinson family is shipwrecked on a deserted island and must use their resourcefulness and faith to survive. They salvage supplies from the wreck, explore their new home, and begin to establish a life, encountering various animals and learning to adapt to their environment.
Chapter 2
Shipwreck and Preparations for Deliverance
The family endures a six-day tempest that wrecks their ship. After the crew abandons them in boats, the father rallies his wife and four sons to trust in Providence and prepare for survival. They spend the night crafting makeshift flotation devices from casks and towels, and at dawn they assess their resources—guns, tools, hooks—while the two dogs, Turk and Ponto, are discovered.
Chapter 3
A Landing, and Consequent Occupations
The family awakens at dawn, prays, and prepares to leave the ship. The father organizes the loading of essential supplies into tubs, including gunpowder, firearms, tools, food, and sailcloth. They also bring poultry. The family rows ashore in a coordinated flotilla of tubs, landing on a beach. After giving thanks to God, they set up a tent, build a kitchen, and begin preparing a meal. The boys explore: Fritz loads a gun and goes along the river, Ernest goes to the seashore, and Jack is attacked by a large lobster. The father rescues Jack, and after a comical struggle, Jack kills the lobster. The father uses the incident to teach a lesson about mercy and anger.
Chapter 4
Voyage of Discovery
Father and Fritz embark on a journey of discovery across the island, leaving Mother with the three youngest boys. They search for traces of their ship companions, explore the terrain, and ascend a hill for a panoramic view. Despite finding no sign of the crew, they encounter a coconut, discuss the value of money versus nature, and reflect on their solitary life with gratitude toward Divine Providence.
Chapter 5
Return from the Voyage of Discovery
Father and Fritz return from their voyage, burdened with sugarcane and a young monkey they adopt after its mother is killed by Turk. They discuss the physics of sucking sugarcane juice, and upon reuniting with the family, share their acquisitions and adventures.
Chapter 6
Return to the Wreck
The father, anxious about the family's precarious situation, decides to return to the wrecked ship with Fritz to salvage essential supplies. Despite his wife's fears, they set out, using a current to ease their journey. Onboard, they feed the animals, gather tools, food, weapons, and other goods, and even fashion a sail for their overloaded boat. Night falls before they can return, but they exchange signals with the family on shore and sleep in the boat.
Chapter 7
Chapter VI
The family reunites after the successful rescue of animals from the wreck. Father praises Fritz for his invention of cork jackets, and the family unpacks the cargo. Jack shows off his handmade belt and dog collars. They recount the harrowing voyage, including an attack by a shark which Fritz wounds. After landing, they enjoy a meal and Mother promises to tell her story of what happened on shore.
Chapter 8
The Mother's Journey of Discovery
The mother recounts her own expedition across the river with Jack, Ernest, and little Francis while the father and Fritz are away. She seeks a shaded, more comfortable dwelling place, leading the family through tall grass, discovering turtle eggs, and eventually spotting a sail that turns out to be the returning father and Fritz. She proposes moving to a grove of giant trees, though the father playfully questions the practicality of living in the branches.
Chapter 9
Construction of a Bridge
The family debates moving inland due to the heat and dangers of their current camp, ultimately deciding to build a bridge across the river. The father devises a method using the ass and cow to haul timbers into place, successfully constructing a bridge they name 'Nonpareil.' The chapter also recounts the discovery and harvesting of lobsters from the river, highlighting the children's resourcefulness.
Chapter 10
Change of Abode
The family bids farewell to their first shelter and embarks on a journey to a new home inland. They load their animals with supplies, cross the bridge, and encounter a porcupine which Jack kills with a pistol. They discover fig trees, test the fruit with the monkey, and prepare a meal from the porcupine. The father begins making packing-needles from the porcupine quills and plans a ladder to inhabit a tall fig tree.
Chapter 11
Building the Ladder and Settling in the Giant Tree
The family constructs a ladder from bamboo canes to ascend a giant tree, where they plan to sleep safely. They hunt flamingos, prepare a meal, and secure their animals for the night. The father uses geometry to measure the tree's height, and they settle into hammocks, grateful for their progress.
Chapter 12
Settling in the Giant Tree
The family moves into their new home in a giant tree, constructing a floor, walls, and a sailcloth roof at a height of forty-six feet. After a day of hard labor, they enjoy a meal of stewed flamingo and prepare to observe the Sabbath. The chapter ends with the family sleeping safely in their elevated dwelling.
Chapter 13
The Parable of the Great King
The family observes their first Sabbath on the island. The father delivers a lengthy parable about a Great King who establishes a colony on an earthly island as a place of probation for future citizens of a Heavenly City. He then applies the parable to each of his sons, drawing moral lessons about their character flaws. The chapter concludes with the mother revealing that she has a Bible in her enchanted bag, providing the family with the divine laws they had forgotten.
Chapter 14
The Discovery of Potatoes
The family sets out on an expedition to Tent-House via a new route along Falcon's Stream, intending to retrieve geese, ducks, and lobsters. During the journey, Ernest discovers potato plants, leading to great joy and a sense of divine providence. The family harvests the potatoes and reflects on their gratitude, with the father quoting Psalm 107 to emphasize their blessings.
Chapter 15
XIV
The family returns to their old habitation to gather supplies, including potatoes, butter, and geese, using clever methods to catch the fowl. They load their animals with goods and return to Falcon's Stream, where they enjoy potatoes and milk. Later, they explore a rocky area with a cascade, discovering pineapples and the karata plant. The chapter includes discussions on the uses of plants, the nature of truth versus probability, and a lesson on logic.
Chapter 16
The Sledge and a Lesson in Natural Philosophy
Father awakens Ernest early to gather wood for a sledge, using the opportunity to teach him about presence of mind and decision-making through a hypothetical bear encounter. They return to find the other boys have been hunting birds with mixed success, and Father instructs them in making snares. The monkey Knips is caught stealing eggs, and the family discovers pigeons nesting in the tree. Father plans to fetch the butter cask from Tent-House and intends to bathe in the sea.
Chapter 17
A Bathing, a Fishing, the Jumping Hare, and a Masquerade
Father and Ernest journey to Tent-House to collect supplies, including a cask of butter, cheese, gunpowder, and Turk's coat of mail. While preparing to bathe, Father discovers a marsh of bulrushes and a natural bathing creek. Ernest falls asleep but later catches a large fish using a crab as bait, demonstrating resourcefulness. Fritz is praised for his prudent care of the family and for crafting knife cases from kangaroo skin. The chapter concludes with the family skinning a kangaroo, making supper, and retiring early.
Chapter 18
Chapter XVII
Father and Fritz return to the wrecked vessel to salvage useful goods, constructing a raft from water casks and planks to transport tools, plants, and supplies. They spend the night aboard, and the next day they prioritize practical items over luxury, including fruit trees, iron, and a sawmill. Ernest and Jack briefly surprise them, but are sent back to comfort their mother. The chapter emphasizes resourcefulness, gratitude to Providence, and the rejection of gold in favor of useful industry.
Chapter 19
Chapter XVIII
The family discovers manioc roots, which the father identifies as a potential source of cassava bread. They also retrieve clothing chests, a hand-mill, and other supplies from the raft. The mother reveals a cask of wine washed ashore, which they enjoy in moderation. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the best use of a tortoise shell, with Fritz's plan for a water-tub being praised for its general benefit.
Chapter 20
Another Trip to the Wreck
The father rises early to inspect the vessels and makes a trip to the wreck, returning to find his family still asleep. After admonishing Ernest for his laziness, the family unloads the raft and the father, Fritz, and Jack make another voyage to the wreck, where they discover a disassembled pinnace and collect various useful items. On their return, they observe a line of penguins on the shore, leading to a discussion about Gulliver's Travels and the nature of allegory.
Chapter 21
The Bakehouse
The family wakes early to learn baking. The father teaches them to grate manioc roots and press the pulp to remove harmful sap. They bake a test cake, feeding it to the monkey and fowls to check for poison. The father explains different types of manioc and the dangers of poisonous plants, while the mother prepares a backup meal of potatoes.
Chapter 22
The Pinnace and the Cracker
The father and his sons undertake the challenging task of retrieving and assembling a disassembled pinnace from the wreck, overcoming numerous obstacles through ingenuity and perseverance, while the mother manages the household and cares for the animals at Falcon's Stream. The family works together, balancing the demands of the ship salvage with their domestic duties, and ultimately completes the vessel, though they face the final difficulty of launching it from its confined space.
Chapter 23
The Gourd Harvest and the Guava Discovery
The family ventures into the woods to gather gourds for making vessels and utensils. Along the way, Ernest discovers a plant that yields fresh water, a blessing they attribute to Providence. They harvest gourds of various sizes and fashion them into bowls, bottles, baskets, and plates. Jack catches a large crab and a lizard, which he humorously compares to his mother. They also find guava apples, which prove safe and delicious. The chapter ends with the family returning home, leaving the sledge behind to retrieve the next day.
Chapter 24
Excursion into Unknown Countries
Father and Fritz embark on an expedition beyond the wall of rocks, discovering new trees, birds, and the caoutchouc (Indian rubber) tree. They encounter a heath-cock performing a bizarre mating display, collect sugarcane, and return home with various treasures, including a live parrot for the family.
Chapter 25
Chapter XXIV
The family continues fortifying their settlement, building a drawbridge, planting trees, and making multiple trips to the wreck to retrieve cannon, cauldrons, and other supplies. They also transplant fruit trees, create an avenue from Family Bridge to Falcon's Stream, and improve Tent-House with defensive hedges and bastions. After securing their stores, they discover ducklings and goslings, and decide to return to Falcon's Stream.
Chapter 26
XXV
The family embarks on a new excursion to Cape Disappointment to cut bamboos for supporting their fruit trees. Along the way, they gather guavas and wax berries, observe a colony of sociable grosbeaks, and harvest sugarcane. Ernest surprises everyone by climbing a cabbage palm tree and producing palm-wine, demonstrating his resourcefulness and earning praise. The chapter also includes a lesson on judging others' actions and a demonstration of a climbing technique using shagreen and a cord.
Chapter 27
A New Country Discovered — The Troop of Buffalos; A Precious Acquisition
The family awakens grateful for divine protection and plans the day's work. The father and Jack set out to search for the missing ass, crossing a bamboo plantation and discovering a new territory beyond a rocky ridge. They encounter a troop of wild buffalos, and after a tense standoff, the dogs attack a young buffalo, which the father wounds and captures. They also find a jackal's den, where Jack rescues a young jackal to tame. The chapter ends with the father and Jack returning home, laden with reeds and buffalo meat, and leading the captive buffalo.
Chapter 28
The Malabar Eagle and the Sago Manufactory
The family recounts their adventures: the children felled a massive palm tree, monkeys raided the hut and drank the palm-wine, and Fritz captured a young Malabar eagle. The father establishes rules for animal care, and Ernest suggests using tobacco smoke to tame the eagle. The family discovers the sow has given birth to piglets, and they debate the fate of the new family. Upon returning to Falcon's Stream, the eagle kills the parrot, leading to a lesson on taming and responsibility.
Chapter 29
XXVIII
The family engages in propping up young trees with bamboo stakes, leading to a detailed discussion on the cultivation and grafting of trees, the origin of various fruit trees, and the moral lessons that can be drawn from nature about education and improvement.
Chapter 30
Victory over the Bees; Winding Staircase; Training of Various Animals; Divers Manufactures; Fountain, etc.
The family continues their industrious life at Falcon Stream, constructing a winding staircase and training various animals. The father subdues a colony of bees to harvest honey and wax, then uses the hollow tree for the staircase. Each son trains a different animal: Fritz his eagle, Ernest his monkey Knips, and Jack his jackal Hunter. The mother contributes to domestic manufactures, improving candle-making with local materials.
Chapter 31
Building Shelter and Taming Lightfoot
The family constructs a covered shelter between the roots of their great tree to protect their growing livestock from the approaching rainy season. They gather stores and acorns, and during an expedition, Ernest discovers a heath-fowl's nest. The father recounts how he tamed the onagra, named Lightfoot, by biting its ear, a method learned from an American horse-breaker. The family successfully domesticates the animal, and the mother praises the utility of their livestock over the pets.
Chapter 32
The Rainy Season and Resolve for a New Dwelling
The family faces the onset of a severe rainy season, forcing them to abandon their tree-top home and take refuge in cramped, smoky quarters between the tree's roots. They struggle with discomfort, dampness, and limited space, but adapt by creating waterproof clothing, rationing food, and maintaining a routine of work, study, and devotion. Inspired by Robinson Crusoe, they resolve to build a more permanent winter residence in the rocks near Tent-House, while the mother begins processing flax for spinning.
Chapter 33
Spring, Spinning, and the Salt Mine
After a long, rainy winter, the family rejoices in the arrival of spring and the renewal of nature. They clean Falcon's Nest, resume their occupations, and the mother begins spinning flax using a wheel made by the father. The family discovers that their stores at Tent-House have been damaged by the weather, especially the gunpowder. Determined to find a safer dwelling, the father, Fritz, and Jack begin excavating a cave in the rock. They eventually discover a magnificent grotto filled with sparkling crystals, which they explore with torches.
Chapter 34
House in the Salt-Rock; Herring Fishery
The family converts a natural salt-rock cavern into a winter dwelling, partitioning rooms, installing doors and windows, and preparing for cold weather. They also discover a massive herring shoal entering Safety Bay, which they harvest for provisions, while debating its nature.
Chapter 35
XXXIV
The family explores new territory, discovering a vast cotton field and deciding to establish a farmhouse near the cotton plantation and gourd wood. They relocate from Falcon's Stream, transporting animals and supplies, and encounter various challenges and discoveries along the way.
Chapter 36
The Discovery of the Lake and the Building of Arcadia
The family explores a marsh and discovers a lake, where they observe black swans and a strange duck-billed creature. They gather wild rice and strawberries, then return to the farm. After completing work there, they journey to Cape Disappointment and build a second cottage, which they name Arcadia.
Chapter 37
XXXVI
The family completes their rock dwelling (Arcadia) before the rainy season, constructing internal divisions, plastering walls, and making carpets from goat hair and wool. They establish a chapel for Sunday worship, and the father builds a boat from tree bark. They also fortify a narrow pass with trees and a drawbridge to deter savages and contain pigs. The chapter reflects on their contentment, industry, and gratitude toward Providence.
Chapter 38
Postscript by the Editor
The editor explains how the Swiss pastor's journal came into his possession: an English transport ship, the Adventurer, was driven to the same island years after the shipwreck. Lieutenant Bell and Captain Johnson met the pastor, who gave them his journal. A storm prevented their return, so Captain Johnson brought the journal to England, where it was deemed an instructive lesson. A sketch by Fritz is also included.
Chapter 39
Endnotes
This chapter provides extensive endnotes and natural history annotations that elaborate on the flora, fauna, and geological features encountered by the Swiss family during their island adventures. It includes detailed descriptions of the onagra (wild ass), phormium (flax-plant), sal-gem (rock salt), flamingo, penguin, tuiete (Brazilian parrot), caoutchouc (elastic gum), sago-palm, cabbage palm, and buffalo, among others, offering scientific and contextual background to the narrative.
Chapter 40
List of Illustrations
This chapter presents a list of illustrations for the book, including a map of the settlements of the Swiss pastor and his family on the desert island.
