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La Perouse and the Coral Grave

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne · Episode 5 of 12

This episode is drawn from chapters 17–23 of Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne, first published in 1870. Verne, a French novelist, is considered a founder of science fiction; his submarine Nautilus, powered by electricity and capable of extraordinary speeds and depths, was pure imagination in an era when real submarines were primitive and dangerous. This episode combines historical tragedy—the true story of La Perouse's lost expedition—with the mystery of Captain Nemo's hidden life. The coral cemetery scene is one of the novel's most haunting images, revealing Nemo's grief, his loyalty to his crew, and his absolute severance from the world above. This text reflects its era in maritime and colonial terminology; a few period terms have been modernised. The episode is worth reading because it deepens the central mystery: who is Nemo, what drives him, and what is he hiding from his prisoners?

Band

Blue · Independent readers, confidentTypical starting range: ages 12–14

Length

long · about 1110 words in 5 sections · 2 pictures

Source

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, Jules Verne

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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