It is about pirates and a treasure hunt on a tropical isle. Many critics claims that long john silver is the novels real hero, and not jim hawkins or flints treasure. Treasure island is an adventurous story written by robert louis stevenson. Why it works is my occasional series where i take books i love and try to pinpoint what the author does especially well. Arrow is the first mate on the hispaniola but not a good one. This study guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of treasure island. During the book jim meets ben gunn who has lived on the island for three years. Theres no other mention in the book, but with black sails concluded, its obvious that woman is madi.
Treasure island audiobooks listen to the full series. Treasure island not only has a plot that moves swiftly and logically from development to development, but is also stocked full of a cast of characters that will long remain in your mind and heart. At the start of the book jim lives with his mother in an inn. All 34 characters in treasure island are listed by chapter along with character descriptions. Treasure island includes a wide range of vivid and memorable characters, drawn with great subtlety and psychological perception. Full of action, intrigue, doublecrosses, death, and of course lots of treasure. Jim hawkins the firstperson narrator of almost the entire novel. Probably around twelve or thirteen years old, he is the quiet and obedient son of the owner of an inn near bristol, england. Most of us first discover robert louis stevensons pirate classic, treasure island, when we are children. Disney has released various video games based on the animated film treasure planet, including treasure planet. Fortune and greed theme in treasure island litcharts. Treasure island is one of the most popular pirate stories of all time.
This lesson offers an analysis of the important themes and formal traits of robert louis stevensons treasure island. Treasure island, classic adventure novel by robert louis stevenson that was serialized in the magazine young folks in 188182 under the title the seacook. A pirate shot dead by long john silver on treasure island when he. The characters of treasure island include jim, long john silver, israel hands, benn gunn, and dr. It is the book that almost everyone of us had in our childhood, immersing ourselves in the world of dangerous adventures, fame, fortune, storms and hidden treasures. Prereading activities, summaries and teaching suggestions, after reading the novel, and extended learning. We think long john silver is the best part of this book. Then, given the chance, he fights free and joins the honest party. Ben urges jim to make a bargain with trelawney on his behalf. There is a certain moral ambiguity in all of stevensons characters. The treasure chest, rather than making up part of a larger system of morality in the book, simply lies in wait, ready for the lucky ones who discover it. Discussion questions use our litlovers book club resources. Treasure island book project by brandon arbogast on prezi.
Ben gunn was the main inspiration for herman toothrot character in monkey island game series. That being the case, the only character we could possibly identify with is the juvenile c. This book is a hootits own unique little thing but with echoes of sarah bird and lydia millet shining through its pages. Jim hawkins, his mother, and his father live at the admiral benbow when a seafaring buccaneer comes to stay at their inn. I thought this might be a bit on the boring and dry side because its such an old book, but i was very pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable the tale was. Ben gunn the man of the island, who has been marooned there three years before. Livesey, captain smollett, long john silver, ben gunn, pew, israel hands, tom redruth. It was published first as a magazine serial before being produced as a book in 1883. The book, which was published in 1883, is about english buccaneers in search. Billy boness treasure map leads to the bloodthirsty captains cache of gold on treasure island. He is one the mutineers, and is killed by gray in the assault on the stockade.
Detailed analysis of characters in robert louis stevensons treasure island. For plain and pure imaginative delight, treasure island is unsurpassed. Jim hawkins, billy bones, black dog, squire trelawney, dr. Published by holt, rinehart and winston publication date september 4, 1998 195 pages the genres of treasure island are adventure, action, and fiction novel.
James jim hawkins is the main protagonist and the firstperson narrator of treasure island. How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and nonfiction readthinktalk a guided reading chart also, consider these litlovers talking points to help start a discussion for treasure island. The first pirate we meet in treasure island, billy bones stays at the. Learning outcomes when you get done with this lesson on treasure island, take measure of. Treasure island 3 introduction to treasure island during the summer of twothousand, i had the fortunate opportunity to read a copy of robert louis stevensons treasure island.
Treasure island, written by robert louis stevenson in 1881, is a classic tale of pirates and buried treasure, which created many of the pirate tropes, including. Description a boy who accompanies a ships crew in search of treasure finds that most of the men on board are actually pirates. Ben gunn, a pirate marooned by captain flint on treasure island. Stevensons novel kidnapped 1886 also features a dangerous blind man. Treasure island is a book by robert louis stevenson. Cast of characters let get you up to speed on key information and facts on treasure island by robert louis stevenson. Ben gunn is a marooned sailor jim hawkins finds on the island. Treasure island is supposed to be a novel for boys. Jim lives at the admiral benbow inn with his father and his mother, where they are unfortunately living with billy bones, a sailor of the sea who was the first mate of captain flint. Jim hawkins twelve or thirteenyearold boy, an innkeepers son. From the moment narrator jim hawkins meets the blind pirate pew at the admiral benbow inn until the spirited battle for hidden treasure on a tropic island, the novel spawns unforgettable scenes and characters that have thrilled readers young and old since its original publication in 1883. Life is pretty ordinary jims father is sick, which sucks, but other than that, there isnt much going on for him.
They have taken over an old fort on the island and are fighting off silver and his pirates. X marks the spot on a treasure map to show where the pirate booty is hidden a peg leg and a parrot as the standard pirate look despite silver not having a peg leg in the original book the excessive use of nautical slang by. For sheer storytelling delight and pure adventure, treasure island has never been surpassed. Analysis and discussion of characters in robert louis stevensons treasure island. As the narrator of treasure island and the instigator of its most important plot twists, jim is clearly the central character in the novel.
Similarly, the fortunes of the characters in treasure island are subject to the whims of treacherous life on the sea. Ben gunn provides comic relief in the island, a breath of fresh air in a. Try it out in your classroom or get a personal account for unlimited reading. It deals with themes such as fighting, pirates, sailing ships and finding treasure. What makes this book such a popular one across generations. Ben gunn is a former member of captain flints crew and has been marooned on. He is a pirate who has acquired the map that shows where captain flint buried the treasure. The young probably or 14 jim hawkins is the narrator of the adventure. From the moment young jim hawkins first encounters the sinister blind pew at the admiral benbow inn until the climactic battle for treasure on a tropic isle, the novel creates scenes and characters that have fired the imaginations of generations of readers. Remembering having read the book as a young man, i was. Jim finds the captain, trelawney, livesey and a few other faithful men. Although not the first book about pirates, treasure island is considered by many to be the best. Billy bones is the old seaman who stays at the admiral benbow inn, where he is known as the captain.
Major events of treasure island billy bones arrives at the benbow inn. While dying, he gave his treasure map to billy bones. Treasure island free ebook online literature project. Characters jim hawkins as the narrator of treasure island and the instigator of its most important plot twists, jim is clearly the central character in the novel. Our narrator starts as a fairly harmless narcissist and progresses to a dangerous sociopath, all because of her addiction to the robert louis stevenson novel, treasure island. Of all the pirates in the novel, silver is the only one who is noted to have a wife, further separating him from typical notions of what a pirate is like. He later escapes the island together with jim hawkins, dr. The book treasure island by robert louis stevenson became an iconic adventure pirate story. Treasure island briefly mentions that long john silver had a wife and that she was a woman of color. Doctor livesey is the local medical man and judge in jims hometown back in england. This classic adventure story has everything youd want in a book for kids.
Famous characters include jim hawkins, long john silver, and ben gunn. Joyce another of trelawneys servants, apparently the valet who takes care of his clothes and grooming aids. The main character, young jim hawkins, helps his parents run the admiral. And in a second tide of delighted industry, stevenson wrote, i finished treasure island. At the start of treasure island, jim hawkins is living with his mother and father at their inn, the admiral benbow. Billy bones is the first pirate that jim meets in the book his. Admiral benbow inn a lodging house jims parents owned. They are aided by captain smollet and by ben gunn, a pirate marooned on skeleton island. It is especially vividly seen at the end of the story. Who is your favorite character in the treasure island and. Learn all about how the characters in treasure island such as jim hawkins and dr. A lot of the writing advice out there focuses on what not to do. So is treasure island a certifiable classic, in that case. Cliffsnotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what youre studying, cliffsnotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams.
Treasure island by robert louis stevenson, which i recently reread for the first time since i. Captain smollett, long john silver, ben gunn, pew, israel hands, tom redruth. Treasure island, classic adventure novel by robert louis stevenson that was. Long john silver, fictional character, resourceful pirate, one of the main. Ben will help stop the impending mutiny and surrender the treasure if trelawney will pay him and give him passage home. How black sails leads into treasure island screen rant. The book has been adapted to movies, comic books, and other media. What would be considered the major events in treasure island. Treasure island study guide contains a biography of robert louis stevenson, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Treasure island study guide contains a biography of robert louis. The ben gunn society album released in 2003 presents the story centered around the character of ben gunn, based primarily on chapter xv man of the island and other relevant parts of the book. Financed and launched the voyage to treasure island. Treasure island and the flints treasure itself is the symbol of greed and low desire that can turn men into animals.
Abraham gray is an honest sailor who briefly falls in with the mutineers. Formerly a member of captain flints crew, ben gunn was abandoned on treasure island three. Literal makes reading books fun and engaging by putting it in a fun chatfiction format. Lucasarts adventure monkey island is partly based on treasure island, lending many of its plot points and characters and using many humorous references to the book. Treasure island, classic adventure novel by robert louis stevenson, serialized in the magazine young folks from october 1881 to january 1882 under the title the seacook.