The Swiss Family Robinson Trivia Quiz

Answer: Swiss

Johann David Wyss (1743-1818) was born in Bern, Switzerland and wrote the novel "The Swiss Family Robinson" in part to provide a "Robinson Crusoe"-like tale that his children could relate to and learn from, publishing it in German in 1812. An English translation followed two years later.

His son, Johann Rudolf Wyss, was born in Bern, Switzerland in 1781. A scholar, he edited his father's novel "The Swiss Family Robinson", and also wrote the words to the Swiss national anthem.

Answer: Fritz, Ernest, Jack, and Francis

At the start of the book, Fritz was 15, Ernest was 12, Jack was 10, and Francis was 6. As the eldest, Fritz often accompanied their father on expeditions to explore the island and find food and other useful items. Ernest was described by his father (the narrator) as both rational and "somewhat selfish", while Jack was "enterprising, bold and useful". Little Francis was usually left with their mother in the early part of the adventure.

Answer: penguins and flamingos

The penguins greeted them at the shore when they first came to the island, while the flamingos flew overhead as the family steered their homemade outrigger canoe from the shipwreck to the shore. Already the father was thinking of these birds as potential sources of food.

Answer: Boa constrictor

Grizzle was one of the animals that the family had rescued, with some effort, from the shipwreck. During an expedition of exploration, a boa constrictor wound around Grizzle like he was a rabbit and swallowed the poor creature, before any of the family could kill the snake. They searched the island for more of its kind, but didn't find any more boas.

Answer: Tree

It had a library! As with most of the family's comforts, the books that comprised it had been brought from the wrecked ship. Probably the most useful find therein had been the pinnace (a small boat), which they had been able to assemble and launch.

The treehouse was dubbed "Falcon's Nest", and provided a safe place to retire to at night. It was a major upgrade from their initial tent on the beach, which could hardly be called a home.

Answer: Curving steps

Made from strong trees growing near the house, the staircase was not only an interesting feature, but a practical one, providing easier access to the tree-home than did ladders or ropes. Eventually, however, it proved somewhat unsafe and after Elizabeth (the mother) was injured slipping on the steps, a move was made to a cave-based dwelling.

Answer: Dogs

The dogs had porcupine quills all over their faces, after tangling with the creature in some long grass, whilst the family trekked to their new home in the trees from their tent on the beach. The porcupine was dispatched by young Jack, with a pistol.

He later decided to make dog collars from its hide, while its meat went into the soup, and Father made some needles for Elizabeth from the quills.

Answer: Emily Montrose

They adopted her into their family. This character, sometimes called Jenny, was introduced into the story in later continuation editions. Like the family, she had been shipwrecked and had been living alone for some time, before being found and 'rescued' by Fritz on one of his expeditions.

Answer: Fritz

Fritz made this lucky find, on the other side of the island to their dwelling, on an expedition in his homemade "cajack" (kayak) to explore a particular cavern.

Answer: False

After ten years on the island the family were finally discovered by a British ship, whose captain knew Emily Montrose's father and had been looking for some sign of her. She and Fritz agreed to return to Europe, Fritz taking his father's journal with him.

The youngest son, Francis, also took up the offer to return, in order to gain some education, but the rest of the family opted to stay on their island, along with some people from the ship.