English Notes Chapter 4.4 – The Unsinkable Ship Class 8 Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – English Class 8

1. Introduction

• The chapter is about the Titanic, one of the largest and most luxurious ships of its time.
• It was believed to be unsinkable due to its advanced design.
• The Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, to New York on April 10, 1912.
• It carried over 2000 passengers, including both rich and poor travelers.

2. Description of the Titanic

• The Titanic was as tall as a fifteen-storey building.
• It had grand staircases, dining rooms, shops, and swimming pools, making it a floating town.
• People considered it the finest ship in the world.
• The shipbuilders were so confident in its safety that they provided only a few lifeboats.

3. The Iceberg Collision (April 14, 1912)

• On the night of April 14, the sky was clear, and the sea was calm.
• Captain Smith was aware of icebergs nearby and instructed a crew member to keep watch.
• At 11:40 p.m., the lookout spotted a huge iceberg directly in the Titanic’s path.
• The Captain tried to steer the ship away, but it changed direction too slowly.
• The side of the ship scraped the iceberg, creating holes in the hull.
• Water began to flood into the lower decks, but most passengers remained unaware.

4. The Sinking of the Titanic

• The ship’s crew could not stop the water from entering.
• At 12:15 a.m., Captain Smith sent urgent distress messages for help.
• A nearby ship, California, was only 20 miles away, but its radio was turned off.
• The Carpathia, another ship, received the distress call and rushed to help, but it was too far away.
• The lifeboats were lowered into the sea, but they could only carry a few hundred passengers.
• The Titanic began to tilt and sink rapidly.
• At 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912, the Titanic vanished into the sea, taking about 1500 people with it.

5. Rescue and Aftermath

• The Carpathia arrived at 3:40 a.m. and rescued 700 survivors from lifeboats.
• Most people in the freezing water died from hypothermia.
• The tragedy led to new safety regulations for ships:
  1. All ships must have enough lifeboats for everyone on board.
  2. Radios must remain active 24 hours a day for emergency communication.

6. Discovery of the Titanic Wreck (1985)

• In 1985, scientists used a submarine to explore the Titanic wreck.
• The ship was found at a depth of 4000 meters (13,000 feet) on the ocean floor.
• Some small parts of the ship were brought to the surface.

7. The Titanic in Popular Culture

• Many books and documentaries were made about the Titanic.
• In 1998, director James Cameron made the famous movie “Titanic“, which became a worldwide success.