The Swiss Family Robinson

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Who is Robinson Crusoe? What kind of story do you think a “Robinsonade” might be?

Teaching Suggestion: Some students may have heard of Robinson Crusoe, but many will not; the video linked below can be used to fill in any gaps in their knowledge. As you discuss the term “Robinsonade,” you might challenge students to connect this term to the novel they will be reading by telling them the novel’s title and explaining that “Robinson” here does not mean the family’s last name but instead is being used like an adjective, to describe what kind of family they are—then you might ask students for predictions about what a “Robinson” type of family would experience.

• This 2-minute video summarizes the story of Robinson Crusoe. Note that the summary makes passing reference to suicide, slavery, cannibalism, violence, and death.
• This brief overview of the Robinsonade tradition comes from Cambridge University Press. Note that this resource is better suited to older readers and may be most appropriate as a teacher-facing resource.