The Railway Children - Interesting Character

Question

Based on the novel you have read, write about an interesting character. Give reasons and examples to
support your answer.

Model Answer

I read the novel, "The Railway Children" by Edith Nesbit. In this novel, I find that Bobbie is a very
interesting character.

I find her interesting because, she is a brave girl. This is shown when there was a landslide. Half of the
hillside crashed down onto the railway line. The train was in danger. The children used the girls’ red
petticoat to make six flags to warn the train. The train came down the track too fast. Bobbie ran onto
the railway line waving two flags. The train stopped twenty metres away from Bobbie. Here, it is very
clear that Bobbie is a brave girl and I am sure not many children her age would do this.

She is an interesting character because she is very loving. This is shown when Mother was ill. The
children did not have money to buy the things listed by the doctor. Bobbie and her siblings got help. She
loved her mother very much and got all the things in the doctor’s list for her mother with the help of the
old gentleman. The old gentleman gave all the things in the list and some extra things.

Bobbie has many good qualities and that is why I find her interesting. We should make her our role
model.

The Railway Children - Thoughtfulness is the key to happiness

Question:

Thoughtfulness is the key to happiness. Based on the novel you have learnt, describe an event that
shows thoughtfulness.

Model Answer

I read the novel, "The Railway Children" by Edith Nesbitt. In this novel, there are many events which
show thoughtfulness. One of them is when the children asked to have cakes on Thursday.

They wanted to make a birthday tea for Perks. Peter wanted to ask everybody in the village to help
them give Perks a nice birthday. On Thursday, the children went around to collect presents the people
had promised. At three o’clock, the children took the presents and the pram to Perks’ house. When
Perks came home and saw the pram and the presents, he was angry. He thought people would laugh at
him for being poor and needing their things. Bobbie explained that the people wanted to give him the
presents because they liked him. Perks calmed down. He was glad that his neighbours thought so kindly
of him. By being thoughtful, the children had made Perks happy.

In this event, Bobbie and her siblings had made Mrs Ransome happy. They found out that Mrs
Ransome was not happy because no one remembered her birthday and she did not want to join them
and give Perks a birthday present. The next day, Bobbie and Phyllis gave Mrs. Ransome roses and a
handkerchief for her birthday. Old Mrs Ransome thanked them for the roses. She gave them apples for
Perks. By being thoughtful, the children had made a lot of people happy and this definitely proves that
'thoughtfulness is the key to happiness.

The Railway Children : Interesting Event

Question : Based on the novel you have read, write about an interesting event. Give reasons for your
choice.

Tips:

1. State the event

2. Describe the event

3. Give at least 2 reasons

Model Answer:

I studied the novel ' "The Railway Children " by Edith Nesbit. An event which I find interesting is when
Bobbie and her siblings saved the train.

One day, the children took a walk along the top of the hill beside the railway line. Suddenly, they
heard a noise and saw half the hillside crashed down onto the railway line below. The children realised
that the 11.29 a.m train was in danger. They used the girls’ red petticoat to make six flags to warn the
train. The train came down the track too fast. Bobbie was afraid that it would not see them. She ran
onto the line waving two flags. The train stopped just twenty metres away from Bobbie.

I find this event interesting because the children have shown their bravery to save the train. They
were not afraid instead they were willing to risk their lives to save the train and the passengers in it.
Bobbie was brave enough to run onto the track when she realized the train would not stop. This act
should be praised.

Another reason is their team work. They worked together to save the train; tore the girls' red
petticoat and made six flags to warn the train. Here, I could see that they cooperated to accomplish their
mission, that was to save the train.

This interesting event makes the story more interesting. Reading about the children's courage and the
adventure they went through is definitely exciting.

I read the novel, The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit. I have learnt a lot of moral values from this novel
such as, being brave and kind.

The first moral value is being brave. One day, the children took a walk along the top of the hill beside the
railway line. Suddenly, they heard a noise and saw half the hillside crashed down onto the railway line
below. The children realised that the 11.29 a.m train was in danger. They used the girls’ red petticoat to
make six flags to warn the train. The train came down the track too fast. Bobbie was afraid that it would
not see them. She tried to stop the train at all costs. She ran onto the line waving two flags. The train
stopped just twenty metres away from Bobbie. This event has shown how brave the children were and
they should be sampled by other children.

IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE RAILWAY CHILDREN

1. WHEN MOTHER FALLS ILL ( CHAPTER 3 )

Mother falls ill. Peter fetches Dr Forrest. The doctor gives the children a list of food that their mother
needs. Mother says they have no money to buy the things on the list. The children write a message on a
white sheet for the old gentleman on the 9.15 train. It tells him to look out for something at the station.
Phyllis gives the old gentleman a letter. The letter explains what happened to the children’s mother and
asks the old gentleman for help to get the things on the doctor’s list. That evening, Perks delivers a large
box to the children’s house. Inside the box are all the things in the list plus some extra things and a letter
from the old gentleman.

2. SAVING THE TRAIN ( CHAPTER 5 )

One day, the children took a walk along the top of the hill beside the railway line. Suddenly, they heard
a noise and saw half the hillside crashed down onto the railway line below. The children realised that
the 11.29 a.m train was in danger. They used the girls’ red petticoat to make six flags to warn the train.
The train came down the track too fast. Bobbie was afraid that it would not see them. She ran onto the
line waving two flags. The train stopped just twenty metres away from Bobbie.

3. A BIRTHDAY FOR PERKS ( CHAPTER 6 )

The children asked to have the cakes on Thursday. They wanted to make a birthday tea for Perks. Peter
wanted to ask everybody in the village to help them give Perks a nice birthday. Not everyone was kind.
Old Mrs Ransome said no one remembered her birthday so she did not want to help but many gave
them all kinds of things to Perks. The next day, Bobbie and Phyllis gave Mrs. Ransome roses and a
handkerchief for her birthday. On Thursday, the children went around to collect presents the people had
promised. At three o’clock, the children took the presents and the pram to Perks’ house. When Perks
came home and saw the pram and the presents, he was angry. He thought people would laugh at him
for being poor and needing their things. Bobbie explained that the people wanted to give him the
presents because they liked him. Perks calmed down. He was glad that his neighbours thought so kindly
of him. The children stayed for tea.

There are a few more important events, identify them.

NOTE: You must remember the important events in the novel. This is because you need to support your
answer with examples and the examples are the events. For example, the question on the character you
like best. If you choose Bobbie as the character you like best because she is brave, to support your
reason you need to give evidence ( or event in the novel ). The evidence in the novel can be "when she
and her siblings saved the train".

The Railway Children - Character I Dislike

Question : Based on the novel you have read, write about a character you dislike. Give reasons and
examples from the novel to support your choice.

Model Answer:

I studied the novel, "The Railway Children" by Edith Nesbit. The character I dislike is Mother.

Mother has many positive qualities a mother should have but , I dislike some of her actions toward
the children. One example is when she fell ill. The doctor listed out all the things needed for her to get
well. They did not have the money to buy all the things listed. The children asked the old gentleman to
help them get the things on the doctor's list. That evening, Perks delivered a large box to the children's
house. It was given by the old gentleman. Inside the box were all the things in the list with some extra
things. Mother recovered and the children told her about what they had done. However, she was very
angry with them. I think this is unfair to the children. They did what they could so that Mother get well
and I think what they did is not wrong and should be praised by Mother.

I also dislike Mother because she did not tell the children what had really happened to Father. She
kept it a secret. On the evening of Peter's birthday, two men came and took their father away. Mother
was upset. She tried to comfort the children but did not tell them what had happened. They moved to
the country and began a new life there. The children had no idea what really happened. They always
thought of their father but did not talk about it as they were afraid it would upset Mother. I disagree
with Mother for keeping it a secret. I feel that the children have the right to know what happen to their
father. Although they are still young to understand, they should know the real story about their father
so that they are mentally prepared to face the change in their life.

Although Mother had her own reason for doing the things she had done; scolded the children when
they seek the old gentleman's help and did not tell the children about what happened to their father, I
think that she was being unfair to the children.

The Railway Children : Hardship faced by the main character

Choose an event in the novel that portrays the hardship faced by the main character. With close
reference to the text, discuss how she / he tackles the problem.

Model Answer

I studied the novel, "The Railway Children " by Edith Nesbit. In this novel,Roberta or Bobbie and her
siblings lived with their parents in London. One day, two strangers came and took their father
away.After this sudden event, they had to move to a small house in the country. Their life changed and
they had to face a lot of hardships.

Bobbie, the eldest child in the family and the main character in this novel directly felt the hardship.
An event that portrays the hardship faced by Bobbie is when Mother fell ill. Peter fetched the doctor
and before the doctor left, he listed the things needed for Mother. They did not have the money to buy
all the things listed. Bobbie loved her mother very much and had to think of a way to overcome the
problem. She and her siblings wrote a message on a white sheet for the old gentleman on the 9.15 train.
It told him to look out for something at the station. Phyllis gave the old gentleman a letter. The letter
explained what happened to Mother and asked the old gentleman for help to get the things on the
doctor's list. That evening, Perks delivered a large box to the house, Inside the box were all the things on
the doctor's list and some other extra things. Bobbie finally got all the things in the doctor’s list for her
mother with the help of the old gentleman. Two weeks later, Bobbie and her siblings wrote a message
on a white sheet telling the old gentleman that Mother was getting better.

This event shows how Bobbie, the eldest child in the family tackled the problem. Although Bobbie
was still a child, she had a lot of good qualities which other children at her age do not possess.

The Railway Children : Hardship faced by the main character

Choose an event in the novel that portrays the hardship faced by the main character. With close
reference to the text, discuss how she / he tackles the problem.

Model Answer

I studied the novel, "The Railway Children " by Edith Nesbit. In this novel,Roberta or Bobbie and her
siblings lived with their parents in London. One day, two strangers came and took their father
away.After this sudden event, they had to move to a small house in the country. Their life changed and
they had to face a lot of hardships.

Bobbie, the eldest child in the family and the main character in this novel directly felt the hardship.
An event that portrays the hardship faced by Bobbie is when Mother fell ill. Peter fetched the doctor
and before the doctor left, he listed the things needed for Mother. They did not have the money to buy
all the things listed. Bobbie loved her mother very much and had to think of a way to overcome the
problem. She and her siblings wrote a message on a white sheet for the old gentleman on the 9.15 train.
It told him to look out for something at the station. Phyllis gave the old gentleman a letter. The letter
explained what happened to Mother and asked the old gentleman for help to get the things on the
doctor's list. That evening, Perks delivered a large box to the house, Inside the box were all the things on
the doctor's list and some other extra things. Bobbie finally got all the things in the doctor’s list for her
mother with the help of the old gentleman. Two weeks later, Bobbie and her siblings wrote a message
on a white sheet telling the old gentleman that Mother was getting better.

This event shows how Bobbie, the eldest child in the family tackled the problem. Although Bobbie
was still a child, she had a lot of good qualities which other children at her age do not possess.

Railway Children : Moral Values

Based on the novel you have read, write about the moral values you learnt from this novel. Give
examples to support your answer.

Tips
· State at least 2 moral values

· Give an example for each moral value stated

· Describe and elaborate the examples

Note: In order to earn Band A marks, you should have detailed

development of the examples or events.

Model Answer:

I read the novel, The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit. I have learnt a lot of moral values from this novel
such as, being brave and kind.

The first moral value is being brave. The best example in this novel is when the children saved the train.
One day, the children took a walk along the top of the hill beside the railway line. Suddenly, they heard a
noise and saw half the hillside crashed down onto the railway line below. The children realised that the
11.29 a.m train was in danger. They used the girls’ red petticoat to make six flags to warn the train. The
train came down the track too fast. Bobbie was afraid that it would not see them. She ran onto the line
waving two flags. The train stopped just twenty metres away from Bobbie. This event has shown how
brave the children were and they should be sampled by other children.

The second moral value is being kind. One good example of such is when The children asked to have the
cakes on Thursday. They wanted to make a birthday tea for Perks. Peter wanted to ask everybody in the
village to help them give Perks a nice birthday. On Thursday, the children went around to collect
presents the people had promised. At three o’clock, the children took the presents and the pram to
Perks’ house. When Perks came home and saw the pram and the presents, he was angry. He thought
people would laugh at him for being poor and needing their things. Bobbie explained that the people
wanted to give him the presents because they liked him. Perks calmed down. He was glad that his
neighbours thought so kindly of him. By being kind, the children had made Perks happy.

The children have shown good moral values in this novel and they should be taken as role
models.

SYNOPSIS

Roberta ( Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis lived in London with their loving parents. They were happy and
contented. One day, two strangers came to their house and took their father away. After this sudden
event, the children and their mother moved to a small house in the country. There was a railway line
near their new house. The children became friends with the people who worked at the railway. They
enjoyed waving to the passengers on the 9.15am train. An old gentleman who travelled on the train
always waved back at them. This gentleman became their friend. The children had several adventures
with the railway. They stopped the train when a landslide covered the tracks. They also saved a boy who
was hurt in the train tunnel. The children often thought of their father . Then Roberta ( Bobbie ) found
out why their father was taken away. She wrote to the old gentleman for help. With his help, their
father finally returned to the family.

Character : Roberta @ Bobbie

· Responsible

Evidence: She takes charge and gets her siblings to think of a way to get their mother the things the
doctor said she must have when she is ill.

Brave

Evidence: She runs onto the railway track to stop the train when a landslide covers the railway line.

Determined

Evidence: She is determined to get help so that she can help her father who is in jail. She tells the old
gentleman about him and with the gentleman’s help, her father finally returns to the family.

Themes

1 1. The importance of family love

· Bobbie and her siblings have loving parents. After their father is taken away, Mother is very sad
but she does not tell the children and the children do not ask questions so that their mother will not be
upset.

· The children always work together to solve problems, for example when their mother is ill and
needs special food and when they have to save the train.

2 2. Facing life’s challenges with courage

· The children and their mother face problems bravely. Mother does not show how sad she is and
works hard to provide for the children.

· When a landslide covers the railway tracks, the children act with courage to save the train from a
terrible accident.

Moral Values

We learn about:

1. Family love and loyalty

The children show their love for their mother by not asking questions about their father. They are
loyal to their father and never forget him.

2. Kindness and compassion

The station master lets Peter go when he learns that the family is too poor to buy coal.

3. Bravery

The children are brave to confess that they have taken the coal and they also tell their mother
that they asked a stranger to get the things the doctor asked them to get for her.