8A: Literature & Critical Thinking – exploring the unknown explorer

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8A: Literature & Critical Thinking – exploring the unknown explorer

In September, class 8A commenced the mandatory study of  an abridged version of the “The Coral Island” by R.M. Ballantyne. This is an adventure story featuring three teenage boys who dream of exploring the world but end up stranded on a fictitious island in the South Pacific, following a shipwreck. The book was first published 163 years ago in 1857, yet even today it remains highly regarded amongst Scottish novels. 

Fourteen years earlier, in 1843, a Polish explorer by the name of Paweł Edmund Strzelecki had just departed Australia, after having spent four gruelling but rewarding years there. Prior to his arrival in Australia, he visited various islands in a similar vicinity to where the “Coral Island” is situated (Polynesia, Tahiti and New Zealand).

When a photo of Strzelecki was shown to the class, there was not a flicker of recognition. In fact, no one guessed he was Polish, rather, Portuguese or Italian. Strzelecki is far more known in Australia, England and Ireland than in Poland. Hence, this presented the perfect opportunity to become acquainted with this outstanding Polish explorer, geologist, geographer and philanthropist.

The students were asked to prepare a short written overview of Strzelecki, his life and and achievements, following their individual research.


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