JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE

OF THE EARTH

written by Jules Verne

Author’s Background

Jules Gabriel Verne was born on 8 February 1828 in Nantes, Pays de la Loire, France, the first of five children born to Sophie Henriette Allotte de la Fuye (d. 1887) and Pierre Verne (1779-1871), attorney. In the busy maritime port city and summers spent on the Loire River, Verne was exposed to the comings and goings of schooners and ships that sparked his imagination for travel and adventure. After attending boarding school during which he started to write short stories and poetry, Verne settled in Paris to study law, as his father had done.

While doing so, he spent his free time on theatre and writing. He wrote many travellers’ stories. Verne met his future wife, Honorine de Viane Morel. They were married in 1857. With her encouragement, he wrote more books and started looking for a publisher. It was around this time, he met Pierre-Jules Hetzel, one of the most important French publishers of the 19th century. They formed an excellent writer-publisher team. Hetzel helped improve Verne’s writings. Acting on Hetzel’s advice, Verne added comical accents to his novels and changed the sad endings into happy ones.

Verne’s literary career was launched. In 1863 Five Weeks in a Balloon and Journeys and Discoveries in Africa by Three Englishmen was published to wide acclaim, the first of his extraordinary adventures series. It was soon followed by Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1864), From the Earth to the Moon (1865), and its sequel All Around the Moon (1870).

When not living in Amiens, Picardie, France, Verne and his wife spent much time sailing on his ship the Saint-Michel. His own adventures sailing to myriad ports in the British Isles, Portugal, the Netherlands, and the Mediterranean provided much fodder for his short and novels. In 1867 he travelled to America.In 1886 Verne’s mentally ill nephew Gaston shot him, and thereafter he walked with a limp. In 1888 Verne was elected councillor of Amiens, a position he served faithfully for the next fifteen years. He also continued to travel and write. After developing diabetes, Jules Verne died on 24 March 1905.

SYNOPSISThe novel Journey to the Centre of the

Earth is about the quest to the centre of the earth. The story begins in Hamburg, Germany in May 1862 with Professor Otto Lidenbrock reading a book he had just bought. It was an original Runic manuscript of an Icelandic saga written by a famous Icelander explorer, Arne Saknussemm. After decoding the scrap of paper, he decided to undertake the Journey to the Centre of the Earth that the paper said was possible. Brushing aside the concerns of his nephew, the Professor insisted that Axel accompany him on the journey.

CHARACTERS

The main characters are: Professor Otto Lidenbrock Axel LidenbrockThe minor characters are: Gretchen

Professor Otto Lidenbrock

He was a middle-aged rather eccentric dedicated scientist.

He had an intense scientific curiosity. Being of an impatient nature, he was eager to get

results in whatever he did. After reading the Runic script, he was determined

to make the journey to the centre of the Earth. Once he had decided to do it, he pursued it till it

was accomplished. Though headstrong about what he wanted Axel to

do, he was also a loving uncle.

Axel Lidenbrock

He was Professor Lidenbrock’s young nephew. He had a girlfriend by the name of Gretchen. He was a filial nephew to Professor Lidenbrock. At times, he was helpful to his uncle. It was him who found the secret to decode the

message in Runic script. Later, he found the message on the back of the

paper he was holding. Though he had misgivings about the journey his

uncle wanted to embark, his loyalty to made him go with his uncle.

Gretchen

She was the girlfriend of Axel. It was she who encouraged Axel to

accompany his uncle on the journey. She trusted Axel enough to know he

would marry her on his return.

SETTING

Setting refers to period or time span of the events places in which events take place

Time span the events happened in the year 1862

Places Hamburg

PLOT

Discovery of book by Arne Saknussemm Professor Lidenbrock told Axel about the book he was

reading. It was an original Runic manuscript of an Icelandic saga

written by a famous Icelander explorer, Arne Saknussemm. Axel decoded the message in Runic symbols by reading it

backwards. He then read the sentences on the back of the paper. They were addressed to a bold traveller. They mentioned about a journey to the centre of the Earth. Professor Lidenbrock decided to undertake the journey to

the centre of the earth. He insisted that Axel accompany him on the journey. He decided to leave on the journey immediately.

THEME / VALUE / MESSAGE

Themes The theme of the novel

(chapter 1) is achieving one’s dream.

Achieving one’s dream

Professor Lidenbrock shows that with determination, one can achieve one’s dream.

Being a committed scientist, he did anything he could to increase knowledge in science.

So when he got an opportunity to do so in making the journey to the centre of the Earth, he seized it immediately.

Axel’s doubts and warnings did not deter him.

Values

The vales in the story are :1. perseverance2. optimism3. courage4. commitment and dedication5. loyalty6. trust7. respect

Messages

Messages deal with life, its struggle and success man’s problems and solutions what the author wants the readers to

learn from the novel

The novel highlights these messages:1. We must be persevering in what we do.2. We must work diligently and

conscientiously3. We must be committed to whatever

tasks we are pursuing.4. We have to be optimistic and hopeful

when facing challenges.5. We must be loyal and respectful to our

elders.6. We must be responsible for our actions.7. We must face obstacles and hazards with

courage.