Phileas Fogg Succeeds

Today marks the anniversary of one of literature's most celebrated journeys. On December 21, 1872, the precise and determined Phileas Fogg triumphantly completed his wager to circle the globe in just 80 days. Jules Verne's masterpiece "Around the World in Eighty Days" chronicles this extraordinary expedition, where an English gentleman and his resourceful French valet Passepartout race against time across oceans and continents. Through steam and sail, by rail and elephant, their ambitious voyage captured imaginations worldwide and continues to inspire adventurers to this day. Explore these words that bring this timeless tale to life.

AOUDA: A widowed Indian princess whom Fogg and Passepartout heroically rescue from ritual sacrifice (suttee). Her intelligence and grace later win Fogg's heart, leading to their marriage after the journey.

BALLOON: A mode of transportation using a large bag filled with hot air or gas; Fogg uses one to traverse part of his journey when conventional methods prove insufficient.

BETFAIR: The wager made at the Reform Club, where Phileas Fogg bets half his fortune (£20,000) that he can complete his round-the-world journey within the specified timeframe.

BOMBAY: A major Indian port city (now Mumbai) where Fogg and Passepartout arrive after crossing the Indian Ocean, marking an important stop in their eastward journey.

CALCUTTA: Another significant Indian city on Fogg's route, where he encounters various adventures and must rescue Aouda from a forced sati ritual nearby.

CIRCUS: A traveling show featuring acrobatic performances; Passepartout temporarily joins one in Japan to earn money when he believes he's separated from Fogg permanently.

DEADLINE: The crucial time limit of exactly eighty days that Fogg must meet to win his wager, creating the central tension throughout the novel.

ELEPHANT: The unconventional transportation method Fogg uses to traverse part of India when the railroad track is incomplete, leading to Aouda's rescue.

ENGLISHMAN: Phileas Fogg's nationality, representing Victorian era British precision, stoicism, and adherence to routine despite extraordinary circumstances.

FIX (Inspector Fix): A Scotland Yard detective who stubbornly pursues Phileas Fogg around the world, wrongly suspecting him of robbing the Bank of England and misinterpreting every noble action as suspicious.

FOGG: The surname of the protagonist, Phileas Fogg, a wealthy, meticulous London gentleman who undertakes the ambitious journey around the world.

GAMBLE: The act of risking something valuable for potential gain; Fogg gambles half his fortune on completing his journey within the specified time.

GENTLEMAN: A man of good social position and refined behavior; Fogg exemplifies the Victorian ideal of a proper English gentleman throughout his adventures.

HONGKONG: A British colony at the time (now Hong Kong), serving as a crucial Asian port in Fogg's journey across the Pacific Ocean.

JOURNEY: The entire trip around the world, covering approximately 24,899 miles through various means of transportation and countless adventures.

LONDON: The starting and ending point of Fogg's ambitious journey, specifically the Reform Club where the wager is made and concluded.

PASSEPARTOUT (Jean Passepartout): Fogg's resourceful French valet and traveling companion, whose name ironically means "goes everywhere" or "master key" in French.

PASSPORT: An official document allowing international travel; Fogg must present his frequently while crossing numerous borders during his global circumnavigation.

PHILEAS: The first name of the protagonist, Phileas Fogg, whose methodical nature and unwavering determination drive the story forward.

RAILROAD: A primary mode of transportation in the novel, representing the technological progress of the Victorian era enabling faster global travel.

REFORM: Short for the Reform Club, the London gentlemen's club where Fogg makes his famous wager and must return to claim victory.

RIKSHA: A two-wheeled passenger cart pulled by a person on foot, representing one of many local transportation methods used during the journey.

SHANGHAI: A major Chinese port city that serves as another significant stop on Fogg's eastward journey across Asia.

STEAMER: A steam-powered ship, one of the primary modes of transportation Fogg uses to cross oceans during his journey.

SUEZ: The Egyptian city marking the entrance to the Suez Canal, a crucial passage that significantly shortened the journey between Europe and Asia.

TRAIN: A fundamental mode of transportation in the novel, allowing Fogg to cover vast distances across continents efficiently.

VERNE: The surname of Jules Verne, the pioneering science fiction author who published this adventurous novel in 1872.

WAGER: The bet of £20,000 that Fogg makes at the Reform Club, claiming he can circumnavigate the globe in exactly eighty days.

Challenge yourself with this 20x20 word search printable puzzle about Phileas Fogg's extraordinary race against time! This Victorian-era adventure features 28 hidden words from Jules Verne's masterpiece "Around the World in Eighty Days," including exotic locations, daring escapades, and unforgettable characters. Words may run horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and even backwards, just as Fogg's journey twisted and turned across continents and oceans. Download this engaging brain teaser commemorating the 152nd anniversary of his legendary 80-day triumph and give it a try!