Journey to the End of the Earth Class 12 Notes: CBSE English Vistas Chapter 3

About the Author

Tishani Doshi, the author of Class 12 English Chapter 3 Journey to the End of the Earth, is an Indian poet, writer, and dancer. She was born in 1975 in Chennai and has a diverse background. Tishani's work often explores themes of identity, culture, and the environment. She has published several books of poetry and fiction, earning recognition and awards for her writing. Her journey to Antarctica, which she describes in this chapter, highlights her keen observation and deep appreciation for nature, showing her ability to connect personal experiences with broader environmental concerns.

About the Story/ Synopsis of the Story:

The story describes the author’s experience in Antarctica, the planet's southernmost continent. The story captures its rich history, beauty, and mystery. She believes Antarctica is the best place to learn about the Earth’s past, present, and future. Through her observations, she illustrates the impact of human activities on the Earth's climate and underscores the importance of preserving natural habitats. Read the summary below to see why the author was so amazed by Antarctica.

Theme of the story “Journey to the End of the Earth”

By this chapter the author wants all people to respect Earth and recognize how human activities impact climate change and environmental damage. The author believes that visiting Antarctica is the best way to understand Earth's rich history and its future. She highlights that humans mainly young people, should visit Antarctica to learn how Earth was formed, what is happening now, and the future consequences if we continue to pollute our natural resources.

Character Sketches:

Author(Tishani Doshi): She is a lively, adventurous, and enthusiastic woman, eager to learn about and explore Antarctica. While excited about her trip, she is also worried about the Earth's worsening condition and warns readers about it. Despite many challenges and seeing nature's decline, she stayed determined, finished her trip, and planned to inform young people about the damage caused by humans.

Chapter 3 Journey to the End of the Earth Summary

• The author Tishani Doshi learns about a Russian research ship, Akademik Shokalskiy, going to Antarctica, the coldest continent. After 100 hours of travel, she arrives in Antarctica, feeling relieved and amazed by its beauty, loneliness, and mystery. She is surprised to learn that India and Antarctica were once part of the same landmass.

• The author explains that 650 million years ago, there was a giant southern supercontinent called Gondwana. For 500 million years, Gondwana thrived, but eventually, it broke apart into the countries we know today.

• She believes Antarctica reflects the past, present, and future. It's crucial to understand its geography, climate, and history.

• Describing Antarctica, she says it feels like walking into a giant ping-pong ball with no human markers like trees, billboards, or buildings. The landscape ranges from tiny midges to massive blue whales and icebergs. The sun shines 24 hours a day in the summer, and there's a constant silence, only broken by the occasional avalanche or ice sheet calving.

• The author highlights the human impact on the environment. The rapid growth of human populations and the burning of fossil fuels have created a layer of carbon dioxide around the world, increasing global temperatures. This leads to climate change, melting ice sheets, and disrupted ocean currents.

• She says Antarctica is the best place to learn about the Earth's past, present, and future. She wants to take high school students to Antarctica to inspire them and help them understand and respect our planet. 

• Antarctica's simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity make it the perfect place to study how small environmental changes can have big effects.

• She noticed that glaciers melt, and ice shelves break, primarily makes the dangers of global warming clear. Phytoplankton, crucial for the Southern Ocean's food chain and photosynthesis, may suffer if the ozone layer continues to thin, affecting marine life and the Earth's carbon balance.

• Before ending their trip, the group walked on the ocean's ice. They walked on a metre-thick ice pack, with 180 metres of saltwater below. 

• The author realises that young people might have the enthusiasm to end environmental problems. 

• She concludes by saying, “A lot can happen in a million years, but what a difference a day makes!” after spending two weeks with teenagers who still believe they can save the world.

Important Points of Class 12 Chapter 3 Journey to the End of the Earth

• The author Tishani Doshi explores Antarctica, discovering its stunning beauty and deep historical importance, which greatly impacts her view of Earth's history and future.

• It surprises her to learn that Antarctica and India were once part of the same landmass, highlighting the geological connections that shape our world today.

• The author witnessed the impacts of human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change and the alarming retreat of glaciers and ice shelves in Antarctica.

• Through programs like Students on Ice, the author participates in efforts to educate and inspire young people about environmental conservation, empowering them to become future saviours of our planet.

• Based on her experiences, the author believes that young people are crucial in solving global environmental problems. She stresses how important it is for them to be actively involved in protecting Earth's natural beauty for future generations.

Importance of Class 12 English Chapter 3 Journey to the End of the Earth Notes 

• Revision Notes provide the key elements of the chapter concisely, which helps save time during revision.

• Journey to the End of the Earth Notes PDF highlights the key themes and concepts, making it easier to understand and remember the importance of the chapter.

• It teaches us about Antarctica's beauty, it's past connections to India, and the impact of human actions on its environment.

• The story also inspires us to care for our planet and encourages young people to take an active role in preserving Earth's natural wonders.

• Journey to the End of the Earth Summary helps students to quickly review the important points before exams, ensuring students are well-prepared.

• Journey to the End of the Earth Class 12 Notes covers the entire syllabus, ensuring that every topic is included and that the chapter is fully understood.

Tips for Learning the Class 12 English Chapter 3 Journey to the End of the Earth

• Focus on the main character of Tishani Doshi, her actions and feelings.

• Note all Antarctica's landscapes and remember the effects of climate change.

• Journey to the End of the Earth Notes PDF explores related topics like climate change and biodiversity to deepen your understanding.

• Look up additional information about Antarctica, its geography, climate, and environmental concerns to deepen your understanding.

• Discuss with your fellow mates about how the chapter relates to environmental issues today.

Conclusion

CBSE Class 12 English Chapter 3 Journey to the End of the Earth from the book Vistas, tells us about Antarctica's beauty, history, and environmental challenges. It encourages us to reflect on our impact on the planet and inspires action to preserve Earth's natural wonders for future generations. Journey to the End of the Earth Summary explains Antarctica's landscapes and climate change, highlights the connection between our actions with global environmental issues. It explores the importance of responsibility of handling and encourages us to consider how we can contribute to protecting our planet's fragile ecosystems. It warns us to follow the practices and conservation efforts to protect Earth's natural beauty and biodiversity for the future generations.

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