Summary
"Journey by Train" is an extract from the classic adventure novel Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne. The story follows Mr. Phileas Fogg, an Englishman, and his French attendant Passepartout, who attempt to travel around the world in eighty days on a wager of $20,000 made at the Reform Club.
In this extract, Fogg travels by train from Bombay through India. The train passes through the Island of Salcette, the mountains, Nassik, the flat country of Khandesh with its villages and temples, vast jungles with snakes and tigers, and forests where elephants gaze at the passing train. They stop at Burhampoor for breakfast and travel along the river Tapty towards the Sutpour Mountains.
However, at the hamlet of Kholby, the train stops abruptly because the railway is not yet finished -- fifty miles of track to Allahabad remain unlaid. Sir Francis Cromarty is furious at the inconvenience, but Mr. Fogg remains calm, saying he had foreseen such obstacles. Passepartout discovers an elephant named Kiouni nearby. After much negotiation, Mr. Fogg purchases the elephant outright for two thousand pounds. A young guide is hired, and the party sets off on the elephant through the dense forest of palms towards Allahabad.
Themes
- Adventure and Exploration: The entire extract revolves around the spirit of adventure. Mr. Fogg's journey across India by train and later by elephant captures the thrill of exploring unknown lands and facing unexpected challenges.
- Perseverance and Determination: Mr. Fogg's calm response to every obstacle -- the unfinished railway, the refusal to hire the elephant -- shows extraordinary determination to continue his journey no matter what.
- Colonial India and Modernity: The text provides a vivid picture of India during the period of railway construction, showing the blend of ancient traditions (temples, viharas) and modern developments (railways, English engineers).
- Problem-Solving and Resourcefulness: When the railway ends abruptly, the characters do not give up. They find an alternative mode of transport -- an elephant -- demonstrating quick thinking and adaptability.
- Wealth and Power: Mr. Fogg's ability to purchase an elephant for two thousand pounds highlights how wealth can provide solutions to problems. Money becomes a tool for overcoming obstacles during the journey.
Character Analysis
- Mr. Phileas Fogg: A calm, composed, and wealthy Englishman. He never panics, even when the railway turns out to be unfinished. He says the delay was "foreseen" and quickly looks for alternatives. He is persistent in negotiations and generous with money. His character represents cool-headed determination.
- Passepartout: Fogg's loyal French attendant who is more emotional and expressive than his master. He is astonished to be crossing India by train, feels distressed at the unfinished railway, turns "white with suspense" during the elephant negotiation, and exclaims at the price paid. He is resourceful -- it is he who finds the elephant as a solution.
- Sir Francis Cromarty: A British general who is a fellow passenger. He is more openly frustrated and angry than Fogg when the railway ends. He "snapped" at the conductor and was "furious." He represents the typical impatient traveller.
- The Conductor: A minor character who announces the end of the railway. He is matter-of-fact and unapologetic, simply stating that passengers must find their own transport to Allahabad.
- The Elephant Owner: A shrewd Indian man who initially refuses to hire out his elephant at any price. He eventually yields when Fogg offers to purchase the animal outright for two thousand pounds -- a very high price that makes him happy.
Literary Devices
- Vivid Imagery: The text is rich in descriptive language that paints a picture of the Indian landscape -- "cotton, coffee, nutmeg, clove, and pepper plantations," "steam curled in spirals around groups of palm-trees," and "elephants stood gazing with sad eyes at the train."
- Contrast: The calm demeanour of Mr. Fogg is constantly contrasted with the agitation of Sir Francis and Passepartout. This contrast highlights Fogg's unique character.
- Dialogue: The extract makes extensive use of dialogue to advance the plot and reveal character. The conversation at Kholby between Sir Francis, the conductor, and Fogg is particularly effective.
- Irony: There is situational irony in the fact that newspapers announced the railway was complete when it was not. Tickets were sold from Bombay to Calcutta even though the track was unfinished.
- Climax and Resolution: The discovery that the railway is unfinished creates a crisis (climax), and the purchase of the elephant provides a resolution, maintaining the narrative momentum.
- Personification: Elephants are described as having "sad eyes" as they gaze at the train, giving them human-like emotions.
Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Proceeded | Moved forward; continued |
| Fertile territory | Rich vegetated area; land good for growing crops |
| Locomotive | Railway engine |
| Horizon | The line at which the earth's surface and the sky appear to meet |
| Gazing | Looking steadily and intently |
| Hasty | Quick; done in a hurry |
| Halt | A stop; to come to a standstill |
| Acacia | A thorny tree |
| Snapped | Spoke angrily or irritably |
| Furious | Extremely angry |
| Foreseen | Predicted; anticipated in advance |
| Obstacle | A difficulty or hindrance |
| Hesitation | Unwillingness; pausing before doing something |
| Conveyance | A means of transportation |
| Rapidly | Quickly; at a fast pace |
| Persisted | Continued firmly despite difficulty |
| Point-blank | Bluntly; in a direct and straightforward manner |
| Flurried | Worried; agitated |
| Yielded | Gave in; accepted |
| Howdahs | A seat for riding on the back of an elephant |
| Carpet bag | A travelling bag; Mr. Fogg kept all his money in it |
| Perched | Positioned; seated on a high or narrow place |