W5 - 2223 - Robinson Crusoe - British Lit before 1900

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 5,6

Restoration period

Enlightenment

Enlightenment / Age of Reason

Philosophers started to think for themselves instead of copying the classics

Belief that humans could do anything if they stuck to reason

Science  reason + observing – the way to truth lay in the application of human reason

Focus on the human mind

Science, mathematics and technology were the centre of human activities

Orderly society

I know what the Age of Englightenment / Age of Reason is and I know its main characteristics.

1. Agree
2. Partly agree
3. Disagree

Goal:

I know the storyline of Robinson Crusoe and I can connect it to the time it was written

LOST..LOST?LOST?!LOST!LOST!!

Imagine that you became stranded on a deserted island. What would you (not) do? Discuss & make a top 10 list of DO's & DON'TS

First individually

Then share with your neighbour 

Then share with the class

Read pages 15+16

Despite being an action-filled adventure story, this is a realistic novel. Explain how this sense of realism is achieved by Defoe.

"The Story seems all the more real for the way Crusoe tells about his life. He carefully remembers his feeling sof loneliness, the doubts that he ahs about his faith and the personal development process that he goes through. Everyday events and activities are also described in great detail. (page 15)

Such a detailed descritpiorn of an individual's daily life was very unusual in Defoe's day.

Robinson Crusoe has already been marooned on the island for twenty years, and has struggled with his isolation. Why does he nevertheless view Friday primarily as a servant?

Crusoe – white man  superior without question

‘creature’

How does Robinson's view of the world fit the context of the Age of Reason?

Christianity (hard work + confidence in God)

Reason  man can do anything

Imperialism  ‘savages’ only exist to work for the white man and are their property to sell (Xury)

Society versus individual  Would it have been better if Crusoe had listened to his father and had stayed at home?Island is isolation but later becomes a society

What might be a reason to include all these adventures into one novel?

Why is Robinson Crusoe a typical product of the 18th century?
How do you know it's written in the 18th century?

1. because it is a realistic novel
2. Because it is about a religious development
3. Because it is about slavery and global trade
4. because it deals with rational thought

What kind of book is this?

1. autofictional biography
2. non-fictional autobiography
3. fictional autobiography
4. biofictional autography

I know the storyline of Robinson Crusoe and I can connect it to the time it was written

1. Agree
2. Partly agree
3. Disagree

To do:

Read and summarise pages 11-17 (info on Robinson Crusoe)

+ do questions on page 17 (bottom of the page 1-4)