The Worst Journey in the World · Chapter
III: Southward explained
The Terra Nova pushes south through the pack ice, encountering Adélie penguins, Christmas celebrations, and the constant struggle against the frozen sea.
What happens
The Terra Nova pushes south through the pack ice, encountering Adélie penguins, Christmas celebrations, and the constant struggle against the frozen sea. The crew observes wildlife, sings songs, and endures the patience-testing delays of ice navigation, finally breaking through to open water near the end of December.
Themes in this chapter
Exploration and Scientific Inquiry
The chapter details the careful observation of ice conditions, wildlife (penguins, petrels), and oceanography (soundings, bottom samples).
Human Endurance and Suffering
The crew endures long, frustrating days stuck in the pack ice, with coal burning away and little progress, testing their patience and resolve.
The Natural World and Its Power
The immense power of the Antarctic ice is shown through the ship's struggle against floes, the sudden changes in weather, and the presence of icebergs and sea-leopards.
Characters to notice
- Captain Scott
Makes critical decisions about banked fires and steam, consults with Wilson in the crow's nest, and grows attached to the Terra Nova.
- Birdie Bowers
Steers the ship through the last ice stream; his middle watch is famous for charging the ice, sometimes alarming Scott.
- Edward A. Wilson
Consults with Scott in the crow's nest about raising steam.
- Titus Oates
Sings 'The Vly on the tu-urmuts' during the Christmas celebration.
- Cecil Meares
Sings a song about the expedition and exercises dog teams on the floes; also sings 'God save' to penguins.
- Herbert Ponting
Performs banjo songs at the Christmas party.
Key passages
“There could scarcely be a more dreary prospect for the eye to rest upon.”
The view was as bleak and depressing as possible.
Describes the monotonous white sky and overcast conditions in the pack ice.
“They are extraordinarily like children, these little people of the Antarctic world, either like children, or like old men, full of their own importance and late for dinner, in their black tailcoats and white shirtfronts—and rather portly withal.”
The Adélie penguins resemble small children or dignified old men in their tuxedo-like plumage, bustling about as if they are important and running late.
Cherry-Garrard's affectionate description of the penguins' behavior and appearance.
“I can imagine few things more trying to the patience than the long wasted days of waiting.”
Few experiences test one's patience more than these long, idle days stuck in the ice.
Scott reflects on the frustration of being held up by pack ice.
“As she bumped the floes with mighty shocks, crushing and grinding a way through some, twisting and turning to avoid others, she seemed like a living thing fighting a great fight.”
The Terra Nova, as it collided with and broke through the ice, appeared to be a living creature engaged in a fierce battle.
Scott's personification of the ship during the ice navigation.