Study Questions &
Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. Why do you
think Stevenson chooses a boy to narrate this tale?
2. Discuss the
role of Ben Gunn in the novel. Why does Stevenson include this character,
and why does he describe Ben as he does?
3. Why does Stevenson
make such an effort to show Long John Silver's positive traits?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. Compare Captain Smollett's
leadership abilities to those of Long John Silver. The two men lead
their crews in very different ways. What do their individual styles
reveal about the two characters?
2. Jim never refers to the island
as anything other than Treasure Island, but Treasure Island is only
the voyagers' private nickname for the place. Why doesn't Jim or
Stevenson reveal a more geographically accurate name for this island?
Does this name change our perception of the place?
3. The only examples of religious
activity in this novel occur toward the end. Why do you think Stevenson
shows his characters' religious side only near the end of their
adventure?
4. Though there is nothing political
or colonial about Squire Trelawney's expedition, flags appear frequently
in this novel. Since Treasure Island is not being claimed as a British territory,
the function of the flags seems more symbolic than political. Why
are flags so important in Treasure Island?
5. On Treasure Island, Jim earns
the respect of his colleagues and successfully discovers the fortune
he sought. In light of these successes, why does Jim nonetheless
have an aversion to Treasure Island?
