First Review Programme
Novel Title : Around the world in
80 days
Novel Genre : Adventure novel
Page : 159 pages published by Worldsworth classic
Reviewed Pages : Chapter 1-21 ( page 3-96)
Writer : Jules Verne
Report Form : Synopsis and Judgemental Review
Synopsis :
The
story begins at England. We are introduced to Fogg, a very precise man who
regularly goes to the Reform Club every evening. At one such visit to the club
to play cards, he gets into a conversation with his fellow card players as to
whether it is possible to go around the world in eighty days. He believes that
it is and he is willing to bet £20,000 in a wager against his friend, Andrew
Stuart. Fogg wants to prove that it is indeed possible to do so. He starts his
journey with his butler, Jean Passerpartout, and £20,000 cash.This is the beginning of the entire plot and from then on we see
how Fogg goes around the world and we witness the amazing adventures that he
has with his companions. The main plot is based on Fogg’s travels, while other
such plots merely support the central theme Fix, the detective follows Fogg all
over. He believes that Fogg is the bank robber who has robbed a great sum from
the bank of England. He puts obstacles in Fogg’s path just so that he can
arrest him whenever he gets the warrant from England. The suspicion that Fogg
might be a clever gentleman robber is the sub-theme of the book and the author
makes the reader also suspicious. Passepartout too wonders whether his master
might be a robber though in his heart he has ample trust in Fogg’s integrity.
CHARACTER
LIST (Major Characters)
Phileas
Fogg
- The
hero and chief protagonist in the novel.
- He
is introduced to us as a 40-year-old Englishman.
- He
is very particular about how things are done in the household.
- A
tall man with dark hair and serious face.
- A
wealthy man.
- A
regular at the Reform Club where he eats most of his meals.
- He
is challenged by a fellow gambler to go around the world in eighty days
and he takes up the challenge.
- His
rationality, calmness, generosity and self-control impress the readers.
- Character
traits – disciplined and meticulous, practical, generous, caring, brave,
patient and calm, kind, confident
Jean
Passepartout
- He
appears in the initial stage of the novel itself, as the new butler of Mr.
Fogg.
- He
is 30 years old.
- He
is looking for a solid routine and orderly life.
- He
is an honest as well as a funny French man, who is loyal to his master and
yet gets into situations that hinder his master’s plans to travel around
the world.
- Passepartout
endears himself to the reader with his warmth, his sense of humor and his
ability to act bravely as well as comically.
- Character
traits – eager and enthusiastic, efficient, protective of his master,
quick thinking, appreciative of his travels, trustworthy, kind, honest,
ignorant of local laws, funny and comical
Detective
Fix
- He
is a detective sent by the Bank of England to look for the bank robber.
- He
is a short man with small eyes and bushy eyebrows.
- There
is a major bank robbery in England around the same time that Fogg leaves
for his journey round the world.
- Detective
Fix is one of the many other detectives who seek to find the culprit so
they can get a percentage of the stolen money as an award.
- He
comes to the wrong conclusion that Fogg is the bank robber and is merely
pretending to go around the world when his real purpose is to flee the
law.
- Character
traits – observant, curious, persistent, suspicious, deceitful, apologetic
SETTINGS
Physical
setting
Fogg’s house in London
|
The Suez Canal
|
Elephant journey to Allahabad
|
Hong Kong
|
The Reform Club
|
Bombay
|
Yokohama
|
Time
setting : The different time zones that Phileas Fogg passes through on his
journey
THEMES/MESSAGES
- evidence
·
Hope and
optimism are important to achieve our goals / ambitions or when facing life
challenges
·
Patience and
persistent –incomplete train track, Passerpartout’s arrest, miss the ship -
does not give up – overcoming them
·
Punctuality –
time management – 80 days schedule , the train departs on time
·
Kindness and
concern for others is very important
·
Generosity –
Fogg gives Ali the elphant , pays capt.
·
Being truthful.
– Passerpartout is honest when Det.Fix tells him about Fogg’s journey around
the world , Aouda telling Fogg about her family, her feelings ( not being
truthful causes problems – Passerpartout not telling Fogg that Det. Fix wants
to arrest him)
·
Trust – Fogg trusts Passerpartout even though he
only starts works hours before – askes Passerpartout to care for his money
-
Passerpartout trusts that Fogg is not the bank robber when he defends
his master against Det.Fix
.
