STAGE
4
Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson
Introduction
This ungraded summary is for the teacher’s use only
and should not be given to students.
The story
Treasure Island is narrated by young Jim Hawkins
who lives with his parents in a remote inn near the
sea. One day a rough sailor called Bill arrives carrying
a sea-chest. He is hiding from a group of pirates and
tells Jim to look out for an evil man with one leg. Bill
is sick and the local doctor, Livesey, warns him against
the treasure and returned years later to look for it.
drinking. One day, a violent man called Blind Pew
When he couldn’t find anything, Gunn was left by his
appears and gives Bill ‘the black spot’ – a death threat
fellow sailors. He will help Trelawney if he can return
naming the time that the pirates are coming for him.
home in their ship.
Bill suddenly dies of fright.
Trelawney and his men go onto the island and
Jim and his mother immediately look for Bill’s sea
fight a series of battles against the mutineers. Silver
chest and open it to find gold coins and papers. Jim’s
takes Jim hostage and is given the treasure map by
mother takes money while Jim snatches the papers
Dr Livesey. Silver and his men are horrified to find that
and they hide before the pirates arrive. The gang look
the treasure has gone. Ben Gunn has taken it all to a
for the papers and realise that Jim has taken them.
secret cave. Dr Livesey attacks the gang of pirates,
The law officers come, killing Blind Pew by accident.
who flee. Silver, however, changes sides again and is
The pirates escape in a ship nearby.
allowed a safe passage home.
Jim meets nearby with local official Squire Trelawney
Jim, Livesey, Trelawney, Smollett, Gunn and Silver,
and Dr Livesey. Among Bill’s papers they find a map of
set sail leaving the remaining pirates on the island.
an island, showing where a famous dead pirate, Flint,
Silver disappers in South America with some of
buried treasure. Trelawney and Livesey decide to sail
the gold. The others return home and share out the
in search of the treasure with Jim as cabin boy but
treasure between them.
Livesey is worried the pirates are looking for the map
Background to the story
and he knows Trelawney cannot keep a secret.
Trelawney goes to Bristol and hires a ship called
Treasure Island was based on the story that Stevenson
The Hispaniola. An honest-looking sailor with one
wrote for his family during a holiday in Scotland in
leg, Long John Silver, helps to recruit the crew. Silver
1881. Cold rainy weather had forced them indoors and
himself will be the ship’s cook. Trelawney gives the
to entertain them all Stevenson started writing the
secret away and soon the whole crew know they are
story that is still enjoyed by many children all over the
looking for treasure. Captain Smollett fears a mutiny
world. It has been the source of many films and one
on the voyage.
of the most memorable pirate characters, that of Long
Soon after The Hispaniola sets sail from Bristol,
John Silver.
Jim overhears Long John Silver talking to another
sailor and Jim tells his friends. Silver is really a pirate
who sailed with the notorious Captain Flint. With the
help of other pirates on the ship, he plans to steal
the treasure from Trelawney. When they arrive at the
island, Trelawney and Livesey let the sailors go ashore
to find out exactly who the pirates are.
Jim secretly goes onto the island and meets the
wild-looking Ben Gunn who has been marooned there
for three years. Gunn sailed with Flint when he buried
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STAGE
4
Treasure Island
Pre-reading activity
Word search
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To the teacher
Aim: To familiarize students with some of the key
the sixteen words, check that they understand the
vocabulary and introduce them to the story
meaning. Then ask what sort of story might contain
Time: 20 minutes
these words.
Organization: Give a copy of the word search to
Key: sail, anchor, captain, sailor, compass, deck,
each student, or each group of students. Ask them
crew, treasure, sword, cabin, rope, voyage, rum,
to find as many words as possible relating to ships
mutiny, admiral, pistol.
and pirates. When they have found all or most of
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136
STAGE
4
Treasure Island
While reading activity
Spot the mistakes
This is a letter from Jim Hawkins to his mother. There are nine mistakes in it. Find them
and write in the correct words. The first one has been done for you.
Dear Mother
Bristol
I am very excited to be in London! I thought I would write one last time before I sail
at four o’clock on our ship The Hispanic.
When I arrived yesterday Squire Trelawney came to meet me. He asked me to take a
letter to Long Jack Silver at a place called The Spyglass Inn. Silver has been to sea
many times before and will be the ship’s doctor. I recognized him immediately because
he has only got one arm. I was afraid that he might be the man that old Bill talked
about, but one look at him and I realised he couldn’t be.
At The Spyglass I was surprised to see that evil man with two fingers who came to
the Admiral Nelson Inn one day and fought with old Bill. Do you remember him?
His name was Black Cat. For some reason he suddenly left The Spyglass yesterday
soon after I arrived. Silver chased him outside because he hadn’t paid for his drinks
but didn’t catch him.
I must go now and join my new boat. Dr Flint and Squire Trelawney are waiting for
me.
Pray for my safe return
Your loving son
Jim
To the teacher
Where: At the end of chapter 5
student, or pair of students a copy of the summary.
Aim: To help with summarizing and revision of
Ask them to underline the things that are not correct
reading
and change them. When everybody has finished, go
Time: 25 minutes
through the answers as a class.
Organization: Give out the letter from Jim to
Key: London: Bristol; The Hispanic: The Hispaniola;
his mother, written just before he leaves on The
Jack: John; doctor: cook; arm: leg; two fingers: three
Hispaniola. There are nine factual mistakes in it and
fingers; Admiral Nelson Inn: Admiral Benbow Inn;
the first one has been done as an example. Give each
Black Cat: Black Dog; Dr Flint: Dr Livesey.
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STAGE
4
Treasure Island
After reading activity
What’s he/she like?
Jim
Hawkins
Old Bill
Dr
Livesey
Blind
Pew
Squire
Trelawney
Israel
Hands
Long John
Silver
Ben
Gunn
Clever
Stupid
Handsome
Ugly
Charming
Honest
Loyal
Sensible
Strong
Drunken
Successful
Good
Evil
Naive
Greedy
To the teacher
Aim: To revise characters and characteristics through
any new vocabulary. Ask them to tick the adjectives
discussion
which are relevant to the particular characters.
Time: 30 minutes
Encourage plenty of discussion. Students may have
Organization: Give each student, or group of
slightly different answers but they must be able to
students a copy of the grid. Check the meaning of
justify their ideas.
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138