Treasure Island by Robert L. Stevenson
Summer Reading Expectations
Directions: Read the novel and answer all questions in complete sentences by the first day of school.
Chapter I (1): “The Old Sea at the ‘Admiral Benbow’”
1. Why does Jim Hawkins decide to keep the location of the Treasure Island a secret from the reader? What
does this decision tell the reader about the outcome of the story?
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2. Briefly describe the captain. How do the patrons of the inn feel about the captain’s presence at the Benbow?
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3. Why does Jim dream about a one-legged man?
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Chapter II (2): “Black Dog Appears and Disappears”
1. Briefly describe Black Dog. Why do you think Stevenson gives both the captain and Black Dog obvious
physical flaws?
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2. Why does the doctor think Bill’s tattoo is prophetic?
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Chapter III (3): “The Black Spot”
1. Why does Jim agree to bring a glass of rum to Bill, knowing that the doctor believes rum will kill the
captain?
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2. What instructions does Bill give Jim if the boy sees Black Dog or the one-legged man near the Benbow inn?
What will be Jim’s reward for following the captain’s instructions?
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3. Why does Jim cry after Bill dies?
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Chapter IV (4): “The Sea-Chest”
1. Why do the men in the neighboring hamlet refuse to return to the inn with Jim and his mother? In what ways
do they agree to help him?
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2. Why don’t Jim and his mother just grab the money the captain owes them and run from the inn?
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3. How do Jim and his mother know the pirates are coming? Why does Jim decide to take the oilskin package
before they escape from the inn?
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Chapter V (5): “The Last of the Blind Man”
1. Why do you think Jim decides to deliver the oilskin packet to Dr. Livesey instead of giving it to Mr. Dance?
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Chapter VI (6): “The Captain’s Papers”
1. Why does the doctor quiz the squire about Flint’s reputation before opening the oilskin package?
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2. Why is the doctor afraid of the squire?
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Chapter VII (7): “I Go to Bristol”
1. What is Dr. Livesey instructed to do in regard to Jim Hawkins?
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2. What is troubling to Jim when he visits his mother, and why does he cry?
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3. Who is Long John Silver? What can the reader infer (educated guess) about his trustworthiness?
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Chapter VIII (8): “At the Sign of the ‘Spy-glass”
1. What happens at the Spy-glass to reawaken Jim’s suspicions that Long John Silver is the notorious onelegged man?
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2. Who does Jim recognize at the Spy-glass?
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3. What happens when Silver sends men after Black Dog?
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4. How does Long John Silver manage to convince the squire and Dr. Livesey that he is telling the truth about
Black Dog’s presence at his inn?
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Chapter IX (9): “Powder and Arms”
1. Briefly explain why Captain Smollett does not like this cruise, the men, or the first officer.
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2. List the captain’s two requests.
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3. What one piece of information about the trip is leaked to the men by sources other than the squire?
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Chapter X (10): “The Voyage”
1. Who is Israel Hands? How does he feel about Barbecue?
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2. Why is Long John Silver proud of his parrot, Captain Flint?
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Chapter XI (11): “What I Heard in the Apple Barrel”
1. What does Silver say that makes Jim wish he would kill him?
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2. Who are “gentlemen of fortune”? What does Silver say about their way of life?
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3. Give reasons why Long John Silver and his men do not take over the ship right away.
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4. What does Silver plan to do with the squire, the doctor, and their men after he takes over the ship?
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5. What does Jim assume about Mr. Arrow’s death, and how does he figure it out?
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Chapter XII (12): “Council of War”
1. Why does Jim think Silver must be disappointed by the captain’s map of the island? What is the real name for
Treasure Island?
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2. How does Jim demonstrate his loyalty and bravery? What evidence is there that in the future he will again be
key to the success of the mission?
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3. Why does the captain think it is best if they just go on as usual, don’t confront the pirates, and don’t turn
back?
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Chapter XIII (13): “How I Began My Shore Adventure”
1. What makes Jim’s heart sink “into [his] boots”?
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2. How does Long John Silver demonstrate his anxiety over the conduct of the men?
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Chapter XIV (14): “The First Blow”
1. What does Jim learn about Long John Silver in this chapter? How does this knowledge create a dilemma for
Jim?
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Chapter XV (15): “The Man of the Island”
1. Briefly describe Ben Gunn.
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2. Why does Jim begin to believe Ben may be an ally?
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Chapter XVI (16): “Narrative Continued by the Doctor-How the Ship was Abandoned”
1. Why does Dr. Livesey believe that Jim Hawkins is dead?
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2. Briefly describe the stockade. Why does the doctor decide to relocate his men there?
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Chapter XVII (17): “The Jolly-boat’s Last Trip”
1. List two reasons the last trip to the log house is the most dangerous for the doctor and his friends.
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Chapter XVIII (18): “End of the First Day’s Fighting”
1. Why do the men in the stockade decide to leave the flag flying, even though the mutineers are using it to aim
their gun?
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2. What is the biggest problem the men face in the stockade?
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Chapter XIX (19): “The Garrison in the Stockade”
1. What potentially important discovery does Jim make on his way to the stockade to rejoin his friends?
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Chapter XX (20): “Silver’s Embassy”
1. What deal does Silver offer Dr. Livesey and the others?
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2. What is the captain’s counter offer?
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Chapter XXI (21): “The Attack”
1. In what ways can the combat with the mutineers be called a victory for Jim and his friends?
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Chapter XXII (22): “How I Began My Sea Adventure”
1. Why does Jim decide to try to cut the Hispaniola’s anchor line?
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Chapter XXIII (23): “The Ebb-tide Runs”
1. Why does Jim think the devil and drink are both very busy aboard the Hispaniola?
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Chapter XXIV (24): “The Cruise of the Coracle”
1. Why does Jim risk boarding the Hispaniola?
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Chapter XXV (25): “I Strike the Jolly Roger”
1. What bargain does Jim make with Israel Hands Define “Jolly Roger.”
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2. What evidence is there that Jim cannot trust Hands?
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Chapter XXVI (26): “Isreal Hands”
1. Why does Hands think killing is a waste of time?
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2. How does Jim know that Hands is up to no good when he asks Jim for a bottle of wine?
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Chapter XXVII (27): “Pieces of Eight”
1. How and why does Jim find a way to gain control of himself after seeing Israel Hands dead on the sand?
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Chapter XXVIII (28): “In the Enemy’s Camp”
1. Why do Silver’s men want to kill Jim?
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2. Why do you think Silver is very willing to switch sides at this point in the story?
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Chapter XXIX (29): “The Black Spot Again”
1. Where do the pirates get the paper to make the black spot?
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2. How does Long John Silver convince the conspirators that they still want him for captain?
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Chapter XXX (30): "On Parole"
1. Why does Jim return to Long John Silver instead of running for it, as the doctor suggests?
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2. What advice does the doctor give Silver before he leaves the stockade?
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Chapter XXXI (31): “The Treasure Hunt-Flint’s Pointer”
1. Why is Jim disgusted with the pirates for living “hand to mouth”?
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2. Briefly describe Flint’s pointer.
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Chapter XXXII (32): The Treasure Hunt-The Voice among the Trees”
1. Find a passage in the story which illustrates Jim’s continuing mistrust of Silver and Silver’s promise to keep
Jim alive.
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Chapter XXXIII (33): “The Fall of a Chieftain
1. In this chapter, find one good thing and one bad thing Jim observes about Silver’s character.
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Chapter XXXIV (34): “And Last”
1. How do you think Jim feels about Long John Silver at the end of the story? Does Jim see any good in the
man?
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2. Give reasons why Jim does not want to take another trip to Treasure Island to retrieve the remaining treasure.
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