Treasuer Island
Treasuer Island
Treasuer Island
Concept Analysis
By Jeremy Smith
Organizational Patterns:
Treasure Island is divided into 6 parts (or sections, if you please)The Old
Buccaneer, The Sea Cook, My Shore Adventure, The Stockade, My Sea Adventure, and Captain
Silver. With the exceptions of the 3rd and last part, each part has enclosed in it 6 chapters (part 3
has 3 chapters, and part 6 has 7 chapters). The entire book is essentially one flowing narration
told by Jim Hawkins, a young boy who finds himself embarking on a journey for buried treasure
with a sinister group of pirates. The six parts represent (for the most part) changing scenes in the
story. (For example, My Shore Adventure recounts Jims arrival on the shore of the island).
The last chapter of the book is written is present tense, as though the story is no longer a past
event, but a living moment that is destined for additional adventures. This possibility is alluded
to in Jims last statement to the reader: The bar silver and the arms still lie, for all that I know,
where Flint buried them; and certainly they shall lie there for me (Stevenson 187). In a very
real sense, the story never ends, nor will it, as long as there are readers willing to set sail with the
swashbuckling prose and the teeth-gritting action that exist within the pages of Treasure Island.
models his own behavior after the pirate Long John Silverhe takes the leadership,
courage, and independence from the pirate, while avoiding the dishonesty and piratical
tendencies.
Another theme is the longing for past heroic agesUbi Sunt, if you will.
Evidences of this theme are seen in the fact that the story is set in the 1700s (much
earlier than the publication date of the novel). The many pirates we are introduced to are
all victims of scars, handicaps, and disease, showing how they are disappearing from the
modern world. And in Silver, Robinson shows many of the good traits (charm, passion)
that are lost to the world with the disappearance of pirates.
SettingDuring the eighteenth century, near Bristol, England, and Treasure
Island, an island off the coast of Spanish America. The novel starts at the Admiral
Benbow, an inn owned by Jims father, and moves to the coast (where the adventuresome
crew and cargo is assembled), to the ship, then to the island, and finally, back home
again.
ForeshadowingThere are many examples of foreshadowing throughout the
book. For starters, Billy Bones is handed his black spot and dies soon thereafter.
Another major one is when Captain Smollett is suspicious of his new crew, which turns
out to be mutinous. Mr. Arrow repeatedly gets drunk and proves his uselessness as a
sailor, then disappears from the ship. Jim sees Israel Hands hide a knife under his jacket,
and Hands soon attacks him; the sailors sing about a dead mans chest before the
adventure has begun, and almost all of them end up dead in the end.
Point of View, Narrative VoiceThe first-person narrative is invigoratingit
gives life and emotion to an already compelling tale of adventure. Jims use of I helps
the reader to associate more with what the protagonist is going through at all times. As a
narrator, Jim is open and reliablehe has a sense of innocence and trust that, in turn,
helps the reader to trust his credibility.
Stevensons choice of a boy-narrator is significant. While the adult men have
greater life experience, education, and verbal skills than this young boy has, Jims
account is unhampered by political motives and pursuit of fame. The boy has fears and
dreams, worries and inadequacies, all of which combine to help the reader associate
much more to the story that is being told. We are able to see that Jim is learning about
himself and developing his own moral character. Without this perspective, the novel
would just be a narration of events, rather than a rich story with many twists and turns,
unexpected events, and moral progression.
ToneJims attitude changes throughout the novel, depending on who (or what)
you are talking about. The fact that he hardly mentions his parents (and hardly blinks
even after his father dies) suggests indifference toward his family. Jim shows moderate
respect (and sometimes impatience) when describing Captain Smollett and Dr. Livesey.
When Jim describes the pirates, however, his tone suggests that he admires and reveres
them, and is fascinated by their cunning ways and scandalous practices. Jims tone is
generally modest when narrating his own acts of bravery
IronyTo me, the most ironic element of the novel is that the man who
everybody trusted the most was the man they should have trusted least. Silver effectively
pulls the wool over everyones eyes, showing how ironically bad human judgment can
sometimes be. It is also ironic that almost all of the very pirates who sang of a dead
mans chest ended up in coffins themselves.
SymbolsFirst, the coracle. There are two main representations associated with
the coracle. First, it is a small boat used to help Jim take on a big ship (David and
Goliath). However, the coracle also symbolizes Jims desertion of Captain Smollett, and
thus, his morality and loyalty to law as well. It represents Jims tendency toward piracy.
Another symbol is the treasure map. This is the object that takes Jim on his
journeyindeed, the entire story revolves around the map. The map also symbolizes
desire and greedmen are willing to do anything to get their hands on it. The map does
not lead to happiness, but to sadness and disappointment, and thus comes to symbolize
the futility of seeking happiness through material gain.
emphasis we put on material possessions (and the lengths we are willing to go to achieve
them) is also applicable in todays society.
Vocabulary
There are many words that must be addressed when reading Treasure Island. The words
used are rich in meaning but there are many which certainly are not used in common everyday
speech. In only the first chapter, the following words are mentioned: schooner, marooned,
buccaneers, cove, bearings, saber, handbarrow, tottering, capstan bars, connoisseur, berth,
desirous, fourpenny, Dry Tortugas, Spanish Main, tyrannizes, hawker, rheumatics, ruffian, and
assizes.
The following link is a great one to use for many activities used to teach Treasure Island,
as well as extensive vocabulary lists given for each chapter.
(Amity Learning
http://amitylearning.com/treasure/schedule.html)
Background Knowledge
One thing I love about this novel is the need to understand the era in which the story is
set. Students would do well to study the lives of famous pirates, as well as the mythical and
historical facts that accompany pirates. Knowledge of sailing, maps, and navigation would also
be helpful. In addition, knowing the context in which the story was written would help readers
to understand much more about the novel.
that groups of individuals who vastly differ in moral upbringing and professional training can get
along. I think a historical look into the traditions and practices of certain races of pirates would
be interesting and helpful to diverse students.
There are also great distinctions made in the book between the wealthy and the poor, the
educated and the illiterate characters. In a classroom made up of a group differing in talents and
economic means, class discussion of these issues might be relevant.
Gender Issues
Besides Jims mother, there is almost no mention whatsoever made about women. The
novel is about men and boys who are becoming men. This absence might make for interesting
discussion in a multi-gender classroom. Was Stevensons omission of female characters
accidental or purposeful? And if the latter is true, what is the author trying to say in his
commentary about women in society?
Informational/functional texts
1. Maps
2. Biographical books on Stevenson
3. Additional books by the author
4. Videos of piracy (but not pirated videos)
5. Books on geography, the sea, islands, rainforests, etc
6. Ships logs