LITERATURE FOLIO: THE RAILWAY CHILDREN

NAME: EMEER SHAFRIL B. SHAMSUL KAMAL CLASS: COLLEGE NO: 11266

AUTHOR: EDITH NESBIT

In 1871 the Nesbits settled at Halstead Hall in Kent, England. The next few years were a source of many happy memories and influences on Nesbits future writing. Adventures in and around the local pond and in the surrounding gardens, investigating secret passageways in their home and walking down the railway tracks that crossed the back fields with her brothers were events she would develop in her popular stories for children. She was already flexing her vivid imagination in the poems she started to write around the age of fourteen. (Source: BPK.MOE. [module] Form 3 Novel, The Railway Children)

On 22 April 1880 Edith married Hubert Bland. Her husband was one of the founders of the Fabian Society, a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism. At this Nesbit became an active socialist, cut her hair short

and embraced the new values of the advanced woman. She and her husband jointly edited the Societys journal, Today and entertained many friends and colleagues at their grand home Well Hall, Kent. After Hubert died in 1914, Edith married Thomas Tucker.

SYNOPSIS
They learn to live with what little they have and they get used to being poor. They also learn not to steal coal form the railway station, even if they have so little to keep warm. They have various adventures stopping a train when a landslide covers the tracks, finding and injured older boy in the train tunnel and getting help, while dealing with the mystery of their fathers disappearance. Sometimes they argue and have crises, but in time they make many new friends. They also experience amusing adventures a plenty which happen near the railway and the canal. The children develop the habit of waving to the train as it goes past and sometimes the people in the coaches wave back. Their friendly gestures forge a special friendship with one person in particular, who goes by the train. He then eventually gets to know them and helps them out in various ways. Then, one day a train calls at the station and the children are pleasantly surprised to see their father. They finally reunited.

SETTINGS
Place Setting: A home in London Little white house in the country that stands in afield near he top of the hill. The railway station. The railway lines. The railway tunnel. The village. Social Setting: Edward in times-petticoats, large heap of coal which steam trains used for their engines, telegraph. Cultural Setting: having tea, tea-time,stay to tea, make our supper (means dinner to other cultures), high hats and long coats.

CHARACTERS
CHARACTER CHARACTERISTICS

ROBERTA(BOBBIE)

PETER

PHYLLIS

TWE;VE YEAR OLD. ELDEST ONE IN THE FAMILY. VERY DETERMINED, CARING AND RESOURCEFUL, SENSTIVE AND RESPONSIBBLE. SECOND CHILD AND THE ONLY BOY, WANTS TO BE AN ENGINEER, COURAGEOUS, ADVENTOUROUS, QUICKTHINKING YOUNGEST, INSECURE, PROTECTIVE A CIVIL SERVANT, CARING, WRONGLY ACCUSED FRIENDLY, KIND, AND HELPFUL

FATHER

OLD GENTLEMAN

PERKS

MRS. RANSOME

A VERY NICE PORTER, HARDWORKING, PROUD, REASONABLE, RESPONSIBLE GENEROUS, APPRECIATIVE, SENSITIVE