A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Summaries & Analyses
Quizzes
Reading Tools
Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
Robinson is the deeply religious and highly educated patriarch of the stranded family. Drawing on his broad background in botany, biology, and engineering, he serves as the primary decision-maker and survival instructor for his wife and four sons. He approaches the daily challenges of the wild with calm pragmatism and a steady desire to recreate European comforts on the uninhabited island.
Husband of Elizabeth Robinson
Father of Fritz Robinson
Father of Ernest Robinson
Father of Jack Robinson
Father of Franz Robinson
Elizabeth is the resourceful and practical mother of the stranded family. She manages the homestead, oversees crop planting, and frequently invents ways to make raw island materials useful for daily living. While she occasionally expresses worry over her husband's risk-taking, she remains a steady and grounding presence who anchors the family's domestic life.
Wife of Robinson
Mother of Fritz Robinson
Mother of Ernest Robinson
Mother of Jack Robinson
Mother of Franz Robinson
At fourteen years old, Fritz is the eldest son and his father's most capable assistant. He eagerly takes on dangerous tasks and frequently accompanies Robinson on scouting expeditions into uncharted territory. He learns quickly, adopts his father's scientific curiosity about the island's wildlife, and consistently demonstrates physical bravery.
Son of Robinson
Son of Elizabeth Robinson
Older Brother of Ernest Robinson
Older Brother of Jack Robinson
Older Brother of Franz Robinson
Caretaker of Knips
Fellow Survivor of Jenny Montrose
Twelve-year-old Ernest is the studious and introverted second son of the family. He prefers reading and staying close to the camp over undertaking strenuous or highly dangerous physical adventures. Despite his preference for mental pursuits, he actively participates in hunting and gathering when his father requires it.
Son of Robinson
Son of Elizabeth Robinson
Younger Brother of Fritz Robinson
Older Brother of Jack Robinson
Older Brother of Franz Robinson
Ten-year-old Jack is highly energetic, competitive, and constantly curious. He views the island's wildlife primarily as creatures to be captured, tamed, or ridden for sport. His boundless enthusiasm often leads him to act before thinking, though he works hard to match his older brothers in their physical feats.
Son of Robinson
Son of Elizabeth Robinson
Younger Brother of Fritz Robinson
Younger Brother of Ernest Robinson
Older Brother of Franz Robinson
At five years old, Franz is the youngest member of the stranded family. Due to his age, he spends most of the early island days staying safely behind with his mother while the older males explore. As he grows, he slowly takes on more responsibilities, such as helping to plant the family's vegetable garden.
Son of Robinson
Son of Elizabeth Robinson
Younger Brother of Fritz Robinson
Younger Brother of Ernest Robinson
Younger Brother of Jack Robinson
Jenny is the daughter of a British colonel who taught her extensive wilderness survival skills. After a shipwreck leaves her stranded alone, she establishes her own treehouse and daily routines to stay alive. She possesses a resilient spirit and adapts quickly to the isolation of the natural world.
Fellow Survivor of Fritz Robinson
Turk is one of the two mastiffs left behind by the ship's crew. He proves immensely valuable to the family by fending off wild animals and assisting in daily hunts. He serves as both a protector and a working animal for the stranded group.
Pet of Robinson
Hunting Companion of Fritz Robinson
Knips is a young monkey adopted by the family early in their island stay. He becomes a fixture in the camp, occasionally serving as a test subject for unfamiliar foods, such as cassava bread, to ensure they are safe for human consumption.
Pet of Fritz Robinson
Playmate of Jack Robinson
Captain Littlestone commands the HMS Unicorn, a Royal Navy vessel tasked with searching for lost survivors. He represents the formal structure of European civilization and military authority.
Rescuer of Jenny Montrose
Acquaintance of Robinson