Robinson Crusoe: Chapters Twelve-Thirteen
Chapter Twelve: I Make Myself a Canoe
Crusoe Builds his Canoe....
In chapter twelve of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe...Crusoe works to build a canoe. He talks to himself about how he will do it. He designs the boat and then goes and cuts down a huge tree. It takes him more than a month to prepare the tree, but he is happy with his result. He can not move the boat with his hands, so he thinks about a way to build a dock or canal. After realizing that this would take many years, he decides to leave it alone. He then finishes his fourth year on the island. This gives him great comfort, and he thanks God by studying His Word. God's grace gives Crusoe a knowledge he had never had before. He looks at what is life could be like at this point, and he remembers his family. He also thinks about how he was able to escape the problems he had faced in the past. He thinks about the places he's been, like Brazil, and his voyages. Crusoe is satisfied with everything God has done for him.He decides to make more clothes and some other things. Crusoe goes out and finds a strong water current from a hill. After staying here for a while, Crusoe wakes up to find that he is in the water. He says to himself that there is nothing that he can do. The current is to strong for him to paddle or do anything. Crusoe barely escapes, and lays on the ground to rest. He hears a voice that he discovers is his pet parrot...I liked this chapter, but not as much as some of them. Crusoe spends most of this chapter reflecting on his life and what he has experienced. He was in a near-death experience, though, so it was fun to read about that.
Chapter Thirteen: I Improve Myself
in the Mechanic Exercises
Crusoe Makes his Dairy Farm...
In chapter thirteen of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe...Crusoe reflects on the danger he has experienced. He spends some days sitting and thinking. He wanted to get the boat, but he does not want to go that way because he was scared of what he would stumble upon. He spends about a year thinking. The only thing he could ask for would be to see people. Crusoe is happy with the skills he has taught himself, considering his low supply on tools. He talks about some things he has made, like a tobacco pipe. He realizes that he is low on things like gunpowder. Because he is unable to kill food, he decides to set traps. He sets some hand-made traps in a field where goats usually eat. He also digs a pit where he captures three young goats. After a while, he finds that he has gained twelve. He trains them and milks them. He is happy to see that he has he has made himself a dairy farm, and has gained himself another food source. The chapter ends with Crusoe talking about everything he has accomplished and built on the island...
I liked reading about how Crusoe got his dairy farm in this chapter. He talks about everything he has made and done, too, which has already been talked about in the book.
