
Robinson Crusoe Told to the Children
Robinson Crusoe is a classic novel written by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1719. The story follows the adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a young Englishman who becomes stranded on a deserted island after his ship sinks during a storm.
Crusoe must rely on his own ingenuity and resourcefulness to survive on the island, where he faces various challenges such as finding food and shelter, fending off wild animals, and dealing with the psychological effects of isolation.
Throughout the novel, Crusoe grapples with questions of identity, morality, and spirituality, as he struggles to maintain his sense of self and purpose in the face of extreme adversity.
The novel has been widely influential in shaping the literary genre of adventure fiction, and its themes of survival, isolation, and redemption continue to resonate with readers today.
By Daniel Defoe · First published 1719 · Genre: Children's Literature, Adventure, Historical Fiction · 10 chapters · 22,766 words
First lines
Long, long ago, before even your grandfather's father was born, there lived in the town of York a boy whose name was Robinson Crusoe. Though he never even saw the sea till he was quite a big boy, he had always wanted to be a sailor, and to go away in a ship to visit strange, foreign, far-off lands; and he thought that if he could only do that, he would be quite happy.
But his father wanted him to be a lawyer, and he often talked to Robinson, and told him of the terrible things that might happen to him if he went away, and how people who stopped at home were always the happiest. He told him, too, how Robinson's brother had gone away, and had been killed in the wars.
What this Textopian page supports
Robinson Crusoe Told to the Children is listed on Textopian as a novel by Daniel Defoe, dated 1719 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Daniel Defoe
- Date: 1719 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Survival
- Length: 22,766 words
- Structure: 10 chapters, 289 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Robinson Crusoe Told to the Children by Daniel Defoe
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Robinson Crusoe Told to the Children?
- How does this novel by Daniel Defoe fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
Genres
- Children's Literature — The book is an adapted version of Robinson Crusoe specifically told for children, simplifying original content for ease of understanding for a younger audience.
- Adventure — The plot revolves around Crusoe's survival on a deserted island and includes various adventures such as shipwrecks, battles with cannibals, and animal attacks.
- Historical Fiction — Although Robinson Crusoe is a work of fiction, Daniel Defoe places his protagonist in real historical circumstances such as living in the 17th century and surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Africa.
- Survival — A major theme of the story is the struggle for survival and adaptation as Crusoe must learn to live alone on an uninhabited island.
Tags
adventure · survival · island · shipwreck · exploration · self-reliance · imagination · children's literature · classic · education · resourcefulness · nature
Contents
- HOW ROBINSON FIRST WENT TO SEA; AND HOW HE WAS SHIPWRECKED
- ROBINSON WORKS HARD AT MAKING HIMSELF A HOME
- THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT
- ROBINSON BUILDS A SECOND BOAT, IN WHICH HE IS SWEPT OUT TO SEA
- ROBINSON SEES A FOOTPRINT ON THE SAND, AND FINDS TRACES OF CANNIBAL FEASTS
- ROBINSON FINDS A CAVE; HEARS GUNS FIRED BY A SHIP IN DISTRESS
- ROBINSON VISITS THE WRECKED SPANISH SHIP; RESCUES A PRISONER FROM THE CANNIBALS
- HOW ROBINSON TRAINED FRIDAY
- ROBINSON AND FRIDAY BUILD A LARGE BOAT; THEY RESCUE TWO PRISONERS FROM THE CANNIBALS
- ARRIVAL OF AN ENGLISH SHIP; ROBINSON SAILS FOR HOME
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