Thus far, Treasure Island has been recorded first person by our protagonist Jim Hawkins. Chapters 16-18 are narrated by Dr. Livesey.
Chapter 16
Stevenson takes us back in time a bit to where the crew reaches the island for the first time, and tells the same story from the Doctor's perspective. When they find out that Jim is in the hands of the conspirators, Dr. Livesey and Smollett worry for Jim's safety. They decide that the Doctor go with Hunter (Trelawney's servant) to the island. After hitting land, they find an old stockade of Flint's. When they return to the ship, the Doctor tells the crew what they found. They all then head for shore after loading two boatloads of necessities. Smollett gives Gray (one of the conspirators) one last chance to join them. He accepts.
Chapter 17
Smollett, Trelawney, Livesey, Redruth, and Gray are all on a tiny boat. Three of them would be too many for this boat, much less five. Not to mention all the other stuff they brought with them. Stevenson says that they're afraid to breath. A battle breaks out between the good guys and the bad. No one dies except a pirate that they shot, and the five wade to shore, but they had to leave half of all their stuff behind.
Chapter 18
They make their way to the stockade and take a moment to reload their guns. While rejoicing after approaching the corpse of the pirate they shot earlier, Redruth is shot. It's clear that there's no way he can survive, and the men carry help him lie down so he can die with dignity. Later that evening, the group of four are shot at continuously with cannon balls, but the ones shooting are aiming for the British flag that is hanging, so the group doesn't worry. Right when Livesey wonders about Jim, Jim appears.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Treasure Island Post 6 (Chapters 13-15)
Chapter 13
The crew is not happy. The weather is bad, and everyone is bummed out. Dr. Livesey heeds warning that they might catch diseases. The anchor is dropped. Smollett keeps his mouth shut on what he knows about the conspiracy. He talks to Trelawney and they decide to let the crew free to the island. The good guys then take control of the ship. Smollett grabs the good guys and takes them aside. Being the pertinent man he is, he gives them weapons. Confident that he will find the treasure soon, Silver leads the way to the shore. Jim runs away from the group.
Chapter 14
Jim walks around the island admiring the scenery, when suddenly, he hears Silver talking to Tom (one of the good guys). Silver inform Tom that his life depends on if he joins the conspirators or not. Tom declines; Silver walks away. Silver throws his crutch at Tom's back. Tom's back breaks. Tom falls to the ground. Silver walks over to Tom. Silver stabs Tom with his knife. Tom dies. Jim runs like heck, and says "so long!" to the Hispaniola and its crew.
Chapter 15
Jim sees a figure in the distance. Is it a wild animal? Is it a cannibal? Jim finally gets close enough to see that it's a human. Jim then remembers that he has a gun. So he approaches the man. Jim meets him, and luckily, he's not a cannibal. His name is Ben Gunn. Ben's been on the island for three years, and mentions more than once that he hasn't encountered any Christians in those three years. As the two have a conversation, Jim finds out that Ben knows how Flint was, and knows the crew. He also learns that the person who buried the treasure was Flint himself, and he murdered the six people who helped him bury it. Ben says that he will help them find the treasure in return for a safe ride home. Ben takes Jim to his headquarters, and they see a Union Jack flag waving in the distance.
The crew is not happy. The weather is bad, and everyone is bummed out. Dr. Livesey heeds warning that they might catch diseases. The anchor is dropped. Smollett keeps his mouth shut on what he knows about the conspiracy. He talks to Trelawney and they decide to let the crew free to the island. The good guys then take control of the ship. Smollett grabs the good guys and takes them aside. Being the pertinent man he is, he gives them weapons. Confident that he will find the treasure soon, Silver leads the way to the shore. Jim runs away from the group.
Chapter 14
Jim walks around the island admiring the scenery, when suddenly, he hears Silver talking to Tom (one of the good guys). Silver inform Tom that his life depends on if he joins the conspirators or not. Tom declines; Silver walks away. Silver throws his crutch at Tom's back. Tom's back breaks. Tom falls to the ground. Silver walks over to Tom. Silver stabs Tom with his knife. Tom dies. Jim runs like heck, and says "so long!" to the Hispaniola and its crew.
Chapter 15
Jim sees a figure in the distance. Is it a wild animal? Is it a cannibal? Jim finally gets close enough to see that it's a human. Jim then remembers that he has a gun. So he approaches the man. Jim meets him, and luckily, he's not a cannibal. His name is Ben Gunn. Ben's been on the island for three years, and mentions more than once that he hasn't encountered any Christians in those three years. As the two have a conversation, Jim finds out that Ben knows how Flint was, and knows the crew. He also learns that the person who buried the treasure was Flint himself, and he murdered the six people who helped him bury it. Ben says that he will help them find the treasure in return for a safe ride home. Ben takes Jim to his headquarters, and they see a Union Jack flag waving in the distance.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Treasure Island Post 5: Chapters 10-12
Chapter 10
Finally, the ship took off! And we find out that Mr. Arrow is drunk as a skunk. Not really, because skunks aren't generally intoxicated, but nonetheless, Mr. Arrow is wobbling around the ship, completely useless. He disappeared on day, and the crew assumed that he fell overboard. There was no mercy for his death, no one really liked him. On rare occasions when he was sober, he would say that he had never been drinking. On one more note, no one knew where he got his alcohol. A man named Job Anderson replaces him. Everything goes pretty normal. Jim meets a two-hundred year old parrot that can talk. The parrot's name is Cap'n Crunch. Just kidding. Its name is Cap'n Flint. Like any thirteen year old boy, Jim got hungry, and went over to the apple barrel. He hopped inside and hid, and listened in to an important conversation.
Chapter 11
Conspiracy! That's what Jim finds out is going on. He overhears Silver talking to several other crew. Except those "crew" are actually former crew members of Flint himself! Posing as just normal crew, they plan to take the treasure for themselves. Silver says that some other crew members have joined the conspiracy, but a few refused. The men drink from a secret stash of rum. I guess that's where Mr. Arrow got his liquor. Someone yells "Land Ho!"
Chapter 12
Smollett discusses where he should drop the anchor, and looks at a map for help. Jim notices that it's the exact same map he saw earlier, but this one is missing the "X" that marks the spot. Silver knows the island like the back of his hand, and tells Jim all about excitedly. Jim later heads down and tells Trelawney and Smollett about Silver's intentions. When I was reading the book, I thought that no one would believe Jim, because he's only thirteen. But they did believe him, and Trelawney says that he was a fool to hire these crooked people, and to trust Silver.
Finally, the ship took off! And we find out that Mr. Arrow is drunk as a skunk. Not really, because skunks aren't generally intoxicated, but nonetheless, Mr. Arrow is wobbling around the ship, completely useless. He disappeared on day, and the crew assumed that he fell overboard. There was no mercy for his death, no one really liked him. On rare occasions when he was sober, he would say that he had never been drinking. On one more note, no one knew where he got his alcohol. A man named Job Anderson replaces him. Everything goes pretty normal. Jim meets a two-hundred year old parrot that can talk. The parrot's name is Cap'n Crunch. Just kidding. Its name is Cap'n Flint. Like any thirteen year old boy, Jim got hungry, and went over to the apple barrel. He hopped inside and hid, and listened in to an important conversation.
Chapter 11
Conspiracy! That's what Jim finds out is going on. He overhears Silver talking to several other crew. Except those "crew" are actually former crew members of Flint himself! Posing as just normal crew, they plan to take the treasure for themselves. Silver says that some other crew members have joined the conspiracy, but a few refused. The men drink from a secret stash of rum. I guess that's where Mr. Arrow got his liquor. Someone yells "Land Ho!"
Chapter 12
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Treasure Island Post 4: Chapters 7-9
Chapter 7
Jim feels stymied by the preparation for the trip to Treasure Island, as it has been delayed. His spirits are lifted once he finds out that Trelawny sent a letter to Dr. Livesey. The letter describes the type of ship they'll be using, and other details, like the crew. Speaking of which, Trewlany had trouble finding a crew until he came across Long John Silver.
Silver says that he misses the sea, and that he wants to be the ship's cook (hence the popular restaurant being named after this fictitious character). The gang departs the next morning to meet Trelawney. He tells them that they will set sail the next day.
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
The gang boards the ship. They meet Mr. Arrow, a crew member. Trelawney gets along well with him. Trelawny's relationship with the captain, however, is a whole new story. The captain's name is Smollett (attractive, right?). Smollett is a pessimist. He talks bad about the crew, and openly tells everyone about his bad feelings about the journey. In addition, Smollett says that there's been too much talk about the treasure, but Trelawny swears he's told no one. When Smollett leaves, Dr. Livesey says he has put his trust it Silver and Smollett.
Jim feels stymied by the preparation for the trip to Treasure Island, as it has been delayed. His spirits are lifted once he finds out that Trelawny sent a letter to Dr. Livesey. The letter describes the type of ship they'll be using, and other details, like the crew. Speaking of which, Trewlany had trouble finding a crew until he came across Long John Silver.
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| Long John Silver's ™ Quick-service Seafood Restaurant |
Chapter 8
I don’t put much faith in your discoveries . . . but I will say this, John Silver suits me.Trelawney gives Jim a note to give to Silver at the tavern in town, the Spy-glass. Silver isn't quite as scraggly as Jim thought he'd be. Suddenly, a man gets up and leaves the bar where Jim is meeting Silver. Jim sees the man who got up and left and identifies him as no other than Black Dog! He tells Silver. Jim has a bad view of Black Dog, and so does Silver. Jim and Silver stroll down the dock talking about sea life and the sort. Silver, Dr. Livesey, and Jim all become acquainted with each other.
Chapter 9
The gang boards the ship. They meet Mr. Arrow, a crew member. Trelawney gets along well with him. Trelawny's relationship with the captain, however, is a whole new story. The captain's name is Smollett (attractive, right?). Smollett is a pessimist. He talks bad about the crew, and openly tells everyone about his bad feelings about the journey. In addition, Smollett says that there's been too much talk about the treasure, but Trelawny swears he's told no one. When Smollett leaves, Dr. Livesey says he has put his trust it Silver and Smollett.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Treasure Island Post 3: Chapters 4-6
Chapter 4
At the end of the last chapter, I mentioned that Jim called out to his mom. In chapter 4, Jim told his mom about the pirate's plan to get Billy's sea chest. Because of this, Jim and his mom head off to a neighboring village to get some help. No one is willing to help. Armed (but not necessarily dangerous), Jim heads back to the inn with his mother. Jim looks around for Bill's key, and finds it hanging around the corpes' neck. They open the chest with the key, and find some gold. Hearing footsteps outside, Jim gets out of the house quickly with his mother, after grabbing some papers that were in the chest. While running, his mother faints, and Jim drags her along. Jim finds a hiding place under a bridge, still being able to hear what's going on in the inn.
Chapter 5
Jim finally looks out from his hiding place and witnesses a handful of men that are surprised that the inn door is open. Among them is the blind man that showed up earlier. The men are dissociated to find that there is only gold in the sea chest. Jim hears them tell each other hat if they can find what they're looking for, they'll be rich beyond their wildest dreams. A kerfuffle breakes out and Jim hears a gunshot. Leaving Pew (the blind man) on the road, the rest of the men flee. Meanwhile, Pew is ran over by men on horses that came to investigate. Pew dies. Jim returns to the inn eventually and finds that the whole place is trashed. He inks that the paper he stuck in his pocket at the last minute might be what the pirates were lusting after. He refuses to give it to the police officer. Jim says he'd rather show them to Dr. Livesey. So Jim and officer Dance go to Livesey's house.
Chapter 6
When the gang shows up at Livesey's house, that learn that he is dining at Mr. Trelawney's house. They head over there to speak to Livesey. Trelawney says that the paper belongs to pirate Flint. It turns out that the paper is not just a list of all the places Flint found money, but it's also a treasure map! The gang makes plans to find the treasure, and they bring Jim along. Everyone makes a promise to keep everything confidential.
At the end of the last chapter, I mentioned that Jim called out to his mom. In chapter 4, Jim told his mom about the pirate's plan to get Billy's sea chest. Because of this, Jim and his mom head off to a neighboring village to get some help. No one is willing to help. Armed (but not necessarily dangerous), Jim heads back to the inn with his mother. Jim looks around for Bill's key, and finds it hanging around the corpes' neck. They open the chest with the key, and find some gold. Hearing footsteps outside, Jim gets out of the house quickly with his mother, after grabbing some papers that were in the chest. While running, his mother faints, and Jim drags her along. Jim finds a hiding place under a bridge, still being able to hear what's going on in the inn.
Chapter 5
Jim finally looks out from his hiding place and witnesses a handful of men that are surprised that the inn door is open. Among them is the blind man that showed up earlier. The men are dissociated to find that there is only gold in the sea chest. Jim hears them tell each other hat if they can find what they're looking for, they'll be rich beyond their wildest dreams. A kerfuffle breakes out and Jim hears a gunshot. Leaving Pew (the blind man) on the road, the rest of the men flee. Meanwhile, Pew is ran over by men on horses that came to investigate. Pew dies. Jim returns to the inn eventually and finds that the whole place is trashed. He inks that the paper he stuck in his pocket at the last minute might be what the pirates were lusting after. He refuses to give it to the police officer. Jim says he'd rather show them to Dr. Livesey. So Jim and officer Dance go to Livesey's house.
Chapter 6
When the gang shows up at Livesey's house, that learn that he is dining at Mr. Trelawney's house. They head over there to speak to Livesey. Trelawney says that the paper belongs to pirate Flint. It turns out that the paper is not just a list of all the places Flint found money, but it's also a treasure map! The gang makes plans to find the treasure, and they bring Jim along. Everyone makes a promise to keep everything confidential.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Treasure Island Post 2: Chapters 1-3
Treasure Island Chapters 1-3
Treasure Island is an adventure book narrated by a timid, yet tenacious boy named Jim Hawkins. Living during the times of pirates, Jim is not conformable with the people he lives with. The whole pirate thing wasn't his cup of tea, or, rum in this case.
Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Jim's age is never specified, but he's probably around twelve to thirteen. Throughout the whole book, we see Jim mature. In the first few chapters however, he is still just a little boy.
Many people die in the first three chapters of Treasure Island. All the deaths were due to pirates being greedy, violent, or just plain temperamental.
In chapter two, a man with just eight fingers enters, and asks Jim if he's seen his mate, "Billy Bones." Jim knows who this guy is talking about, and lets him know that he'll be back soon. When Billy Bones gets back, he tries to kill Black Dog, which is what he calls the man. In the process of attempted murder, Bill has a stroke and is later cared for.
Jim goes to visit Bill, and Bill asks for some rum. Reluctantly, Jim gives him one glass, and it affects him like a teenager drinking a Redbull®. He is instantly rejuvenated and says he wants outsmart his peers. He tells Jim how they want his sea chest. That night, Jim's father dies. After returning from his dad's funeral, Jim meets a blind man who want to see Bill. When they [Bill and the blind man] meet, the blind man gives Bill a "black spot," which seems to be like a certification that you're a pirate. Bill reads it, says he only has six hours left, then keels over and dies. Jim reminds us that he's still just a boy, and calls for his mom.
Treasure Island is an adventure book narrated by a timid, yet tenacious boy named Jim Hawkins. Living during the times of pirates, Jim is not conformable with the people he lives with. The whole pirate thing wasn't his cup of tea, or, rum in this case.
Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Jim's age is never specified, but he's probably around twelve to thirteen. Throughout the whole book, we see Jim mature. In the first few chapters however, he is still just a little boy.
Many people die in the first three chapters of Treasure Island. All the deaths were due to pirates being greedy, violent, or just plain temperamental.
In chapter two, a man with just eight fingers enters, and asks Jim if he's seen his mate, "Billy Bones." Jim knows who this guy is talking about, and lets him know that he'll be back soon. When Billy Bones gets back, he tries to kill Black Dog, which is what he calls the man. In the process of attempted murder, Bill has a stroke and is later cared for.
Jim goes to visit Bill, and Bill asks for some rum. Reluctantly, Jim gives him one glass, and it affects him like a teenager drinking a Redbull®. He is instantly rejuvenated and says he wants outsmart his peers. He tells Jim how they want his sea chest. That night, Jim's father dies. After returning from his dad's funeral, Jim meets a blind man who want to see Bill. When they [Bill and the blind man] meet, the blind man gives Bill a "black spot," which seems to be like a certification that you're a pirate. Bill reads it, says he only has six hours left, then keels over and dies. Jim reminds us that he's still just a boy, and calls for his mom.
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| A bottle of rum |
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Treasure Island Post 1: About the Author
The first book of the semester that my English class is reading is "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson. My first post is about the author.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
Robert Stevenson was born in the mid 1800s. To give you an idea of when he lived, I’ll list a few of his contemporaries. Charles Dickens was living at the same time as Stevenson. Louisa May Alcott and Jane Austin were also living at that time. Known as Robert Louis Stevenson, his full name was Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson. He was Scottish; born in Edinburgh. Every family in those days seemed to have a profession of their own. In Stevenson’s case, it was lighthouse design. Stevenson was not the healthiest off all children. He coughed a lot, and easily got fevers. The colder of a place that he lived, the worse it was. This gave his parents angst. Some think he had tuberculosis, but some are now saying he may have had bronchiectasis. After rejecting Christianity, he said he was curse to his parents. According to Stevenson, his father said “You have rendered my whole life a failure,” and his mother said “This is the heaviest affliction that has ever befallen me.” Stevenson says that his parents were probably the only two people in the world who cared about the Lord.
In his early twenties, he met his future wife: Fanny Sitwell. He married her seven years later. Stevenson was her second husband.
Stevenson wrote twelve novels (including Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde), twenty short stories, and five poems before he died on December 3, 1894, when he was just 44 years old.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
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Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson
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Robert Stevenson was born in the mid 1800s. To give you an idea of when he lived, I’ll list a few of his contemporaries. Charles Dickens was living at the same time as Stevenson. Louisa May Alcott and Jane Austin were also living at that time. Known as Robert Louis Stevenson, his full name was Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson. He was Scottish; born in Edinburgh. Every family in those days seemed to have a profession of their own. In Stevenson’s case, it was lighthouse design. Stevenson was not the healthiest off all children. He coughed a lot, and easily got fevers. The colder of a place that he lived, the worse it was. This gave his parents angst. Some think he had tuberculosis, but some are now saying he may have had bronchiectasis. After rejecting Christianity, he said he was curse to his parents. According to Stevenson, his father said “You have rendered my whole life a failure,” and his mother said “This is the heaviest affliction that has ever befallen me.” Stevenson says that his parents were probably the only two people in the world who cared about the Lord.
In his early twenties, he met his future wife: Fanny Sitwell. He married her seven years later. Stevenson was her second husband.
Stevenson wrote twelve novels (including Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde), twenty short stories, and five poems before he died on December 3, 1894, when he was just 44 years old.
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