The Heathen

 The Heathen 

Q.1.what's your understanding of the story the Heathen? Write this answer in your own words.

Ans."The Heathen" is a tale about a man named Charley, who's a pearl buyer. He's on a boat called the Petite Jeanne, sailing from Rangiroa to Tahiti with a crew from Kanaka. There are too many passengers, and some get sick with smallpox. Charley and others drink whisky, thinking it will help against the disease. Then, a big hurricane hits. The boat gets wrecked, but Charley survives by holding onto a hatch cover with a guy named Otoo. They end up on an atoll beach. Otoo saves Charley's life and they become close friends.They part ways but Otoo returns later because his wife dies. Otoo helps Charley for seventeen years, always looking out for him.Even though Otoo is a heathen, meaning he doesn't follow Christian beliefs, he's a good guy. He helps Charley become a better person and succeed in life.Otoo advises Charley to become a captain and later own a plantation, which he does. They part when Otoo dies saving Charley from sharks.In the end, Charley realizes how much Otoo meant to him and how he shaped his life for the better.

Q.2. The learners are advised to read the original story and talk about the major scenes that take place in the story.

Ans. 1. Setting sail: Passengers, including pearl buyers and native deck passengers, embark on the Petite Jeanne, which is overloaded with cargo such as pearl shell, copra, pigs, chickens, yams, and bananas.

2. Encounter in a Hurricane: The narrator meets the heathen during a hurricane aboard the schooner, where chaos ensues as winds intensify and waves batter the ship.

3. Outbreak of Smallpox: A crew member dies from smallpox, leading to an outbreak among passengers. Some desert in a boat, leaving others stranded.

4. Deteriorating Conditions: Smallpox spreads rapidly, and remaining boats are scuttled, exacerbating the passengers' plight.Passengers resort to drinking alcohol to prevent smallpox infection, but the whiskey supply runs out, leaving only two survivors among the pearl buyers.

5.Impact of Hurricane: The ship is struck by the hurricane, resulting in chaos, destruction, and many passengers being swept overboard.

6. Struggle for Survival: The narrator finds himself in the water, struggling to survive alongside other survivors, including Otoo, a native of Bora Bora.

7. Bonding with Otoo: The narrator forms a close bond with Otoo, who becomes a mentor and friend, offering guidance and wisdom. 

8. Partnership and Business Ventures: The narrator and Otoo become partners in business, with Otoo providing valuable insights for successful ventures.

9. Sacrifice and Loss: Otoo sacrifices himself to save the narrator from a shark attack, leaving a lasting impact on the narrator's life.

10. Final Farewell: Otoo bids a final farewell before being dragged underwater by the shark, leaving the narrator profoundly affected.