Treasure Island
Chapter 15 — Teaching Companion
Robert Louis Stevenson · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
Why do Jim and Ben Gunn, two frightened strangers who each have reason to suspect the other, decide to trust each other so quickly?
The tension Jim takes the shaggy figure for bear or cannibal and prefers even Silver to the unknown, until his pistol gives him courage. Ben throws himself on his knees begging for talk and cheese, then shows "startled slyness", tests Jim with the name of Flint's ship and a man with one leg, and bargains for a thousand pounds and a passage home before he will tell his boat's hiding place. Jim, hearing that Ben fears Silver too, tells him everything. The chapter sets need against caution in both of them, and asks what each finally trusts.
Today's focus
Notice how Jim and Ben each decide what to trust, and what each is afraid of.
Two core ideas
- Jim moves from fear of an unknown figure to talking with a stranger, using his pistol, his reasoning and what Ben says.
- Ben is pitiful and shrewd at once, and the chapter lets both sides show without deciding between them.
The shape at a glance
Jim meets a shaggy figure in the trees, who proves to be a marooned man named Ben Gunn. Ben asks whether Silver is aboard, hears how Jim and his friends stand, and bargains for a passage home and a share. He tells of Flint's burying the treasure and of his own marooning, and he sends a muddled message to the squire. Cannon and musket fire break out and Jim runs toward the anchorage, with Ben beside him, until he sees the flag above the wood.
A way in
Start with the figure in the trees. Ask what Jim does, and what makes him change his mind.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the figure, Jim's reasoning, Ben Gunn, the questions about Flint and Silver, Ben's story, the cannon and the flag.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes three sentences in the same pattern: one fact that calms a fear, one step that follows from it, and one action.
Debate Take sides: was Jim right to tell Ben so much so soon? Each side uses at least one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking what Ben Gunn adds to the story that nobody else could.
Easier Read the meeting with Ben aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 3 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student write one critical-thinking answer with two pieces of evidence.
Harder Ask the student to compare what Ben asks of Jim with what Jim asks of Ben, and add it to a critical-thinking answer.
Discussion
- Jim first takes the shaggy figure for a bear, a man or a monkey, and soon prefers Silver to it. Why would a known danger feel better than an unknown one?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to explain a frightened boy's odd choice, and whether it is wise.
One reading
A known danger can be planned for, and an unknown one cannot.
I began to prefer the dangers that I knew to those I knew not
Silver himself appeared less terrible in contrast with this creature of the woods
Another reading
Jim is only trading one fear for another, since Silver is the murderer he has just fled.
behind me the murderers, before me this lurking nondescript
my fear of Silver began to revive in proportion
Listen for
- Says what makes the unknown harder to face.
- Notices that Jim's fear of Silver comes back once he sees the figure is a man.
If stuck
- What does Jim think the figure might be?
- What does Jim say about Silver in comparison?
- What happens to Jim's fear of Silver once he sees it is a man?
A strong answer Jim says he began “to prefer the dangers that I knew to those I knew not,” and Silver “appeared less terrible in contrast with this creature of the woods.” A known danger can at least be planned for, which an unknown figure cannot. But Silver is the man Jim has just fled, and his fear of him “began to revive” as soon as he saw the creature was a man. A strong answer says what makes the unknown harder to face, and whether Jim's choice was wise.
- Jim sets his face “resolutely” toward Ben only after remembering his pistol. Does courage come from the pistol, or from something else?Character
What it asks It asks what Jim's courage rests on, using the sentence in which he explains it.
One reading
The pistol: his courage returns the moment he remembers he is armed.
As soon as I remembered I was not defenceless, courage glowed again in my heart
the recollection of my pistol flashed into my mind
Another reading
Reasoning: he works out that a man is less frightening than a monster, and then stops to think.
the mere fact that he was a man, however wild, had somewhat reassured me
I stood still, therefore, and cast about for some method of escape
Listen for
- Puts Jim's steps in order: what he thinks first and what he remembers next.
- Says whether the pistol or the thinking matters more.
If stuck
- What does Jim think when he sees the figure is a man?
- What does he do before he remembers the pistol?
- What does Jim do once he remembers it?
A strong answer Jim says plainly, “As soon as I remembered I was not defenceless, courage glowed again.” That points to the pistol. But before that he had stopped, thought and found that “the mere fact that he was a man, however wild, had somewhat reassured me.” So some of his courage comes from reasoning. A strong answer says which matters more, and whether courage that comes from a weapon is the same as courage that comes from thinking.
- Ben kneels and begs, yet shows “startled slyness,” testing Jim with questions about Flint's ship. How should we take a man who is both pitiful and shrewd?Character
What it asks It asks the student to hold two sides of one man together, and to say which one the chapter leans on.
One reading
Pitiful: three years alone have left him childlike and starved for company.
showing a childish pleasure in the presence of a fellow creature
I havent spoke with a Christian these three years
Another reading
Shrewd: he tests Jim before he trusts him and bargains for a share.
he perked up into a kind of startled slyness
And a passage home? he added with a look of great shrewdness.
Listen for
- Names both sides and finds a moment for each.
- Notices that the two sides appear in the same scene.
If stuck
- What does Ben do when he first sees Jim?
- What does Ben ask Jim about Flint's ship?
- What does Ben ask for before he will say more?
A strong answer Ben is both. He throws himself on his knees, strokes Jim's jacket with “childish pleasure,” and says he has not spoken with a Christian “these three years.” He also tests Jim on Flint's ship, grows sly, and asks for a thousand pounds and “a passage home” with “a look of great shrewdness.” A strong answer says why the two sides appear in the same scene, and what each is for.
- Ben pinches Jim and tells him to say, “Nor he werent, neither.” Jim says he does not understand. Why would Ben speak in such a roundabout way?Inference
What it asks It asks why a man sends a message the messenger cannot follow, and what that suggests about what he wants.
One reading
He wants to share a secret only with the squire, so he hides it even from Jim.
So much Ill tell you, and no more.
Just you mention them words to your squire, Jim
Another reading
He is bargaining: he wants to be paid before he gives anything away.
would he be likely to come down to the toon of, say one thousand pounds
And a passage home?
Listen for
- Uses what Ben asks Jim to do and what Jim says in reply.
- Says what Ben gets by being unclear.
If stuck
- What does Ben ask Jim to say to the squire?
- What does Jim answer when Ben has finished?
- What does Ben ask for in return?
A strong answer Ben tells Jim to say “Nor he werent, neither,” and that “Gunn is a good man,” then pinches him “in the most confidential manner.” Jim answers, “I dont understand one word that youve been saying.” Ben may be hiding something even from Jim, since he says “So much Ill tell you, and no more.” Or he may be bargaining, since he asks for a thousand pounds and a passage home before he tells where his boat is. A strong answer says which it finds stronger and stays with the words.
- Ben trots along beside Jim and talks the whole way, while cannon and musket fire sound ahead. What do you make of Ben's talk at a moment like that?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear what Ben's talk is doing as the danger grows, and what it shows about him.
One reading
He talks from loneliness: three years without company have left him unable to stop.
So he kept talking as I ran, neither expecting nor receiving any answer.
I havent spoke with a Christian these three years
Another reading
He talks to guide Jim and keep him calm, as he knows the ground.
Left, left, says he; keep to your left hand, mate Jim! Under the trees with you!
They dont come down here now; theyre all mastheaded on them mountings for the fear of Benjamin Gunn.
Listen for
- Hears both the guiding and the rambling in his talk.
- Says what Jim is doing while Ben talks.
If stuck
- What directions does Ben call out?
- What does Ben talk about besides directions?
- Does Jim answer him?
A strong answer Ben's talk does two things. He guides Jim with “Left, left” and “Under the trees with you!”, so he is useful. He also rambles about killing his first goat and praying in the cemetery, and Jim says he talked on “neither expecting nor receiving any answer,” as if three years of silence had to come out. A strong answer says what the mix shows about him, and about what the shots ahead are doing to the scene.
Critical thinking
- Ben asks whether it is Flint's ship, and then whether a man with one leg is aboard. Using two pieces of evidence, what does he fear?
What it asks It asks the student to read fear from a man's questions and from his body, and to say how much we can tell.
One reading
He fears Flint's old hands, and Silver most of all.
Now, Jim, you tell me true: that aint Flints ship?
If you was sent by Long John, he said, Im as good as pork, and I know it.
Another reading
His fear shows in his body before it shows in his words.
there came suddenly a lowering shadow over his face
he tightened his grasp upon my hand and raised a forefinger threateningly before my eyes
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says what Ben fears and how the chapter shows it.
If stuck
- What does Ben ask first, and what second?
- What does Ben say would happen if Silver sent Jim?
- What does his face do when he asks?
A strong answer Ben fears Flint's old hands, and Silver most of all. He asks, “that aint Flints ship?”, then gasps “Not a manwith oneleg?”, and says that if Long John sent Jim, “Im as good as pork.” His fear shows in his body too: “a lowering shadow” comes over his face and he tightens his grasp. A strong answer uses two pieces of evidence and says what each shows.
- Ben says he was marooned by his own shipmates after he urged them to search for Flint's treasure. Using two pieces of evidence, how far should we trust his story?
What it asks It asks the student to weigh a story that cannot be checked, told by a man with something to gain.
One reading
Quite far: it fits what Jim has seen, and the details are specific.
I were in Flints ship when he buried the treasure; he and six alongsix strong seamen.
Billy Bones was the mate; Long John, he was quartermaster
Another reading
Only a little: he is alone, he wants something, and he tells it his own way.
So much Ill tell you, and no more.
What I mean is, would he be likely to come down to the toon of, say one thousand pounds
Listen for
- Separates what Ben says from what Jim has seen for himself.
- Notices that Ben ties his story to a request.
If stuck
- What names does Ben give from Flint's crew?
- What does Ben ask for?
- How much does Ben say he will tell?
A strong answer Ben's story has specific details: Flint “and six alongsix strong seamen,” Billy Bones as mate and Long John as quartermaster. But the story cannot be checked, and Ben has a reason to tell it his way, since he says “So much Ill tell you, and no more” and then asks for a thousand pounds. A strong answer weighs the details against his reasons and does not claim to know.
- Jim says, “I had a happy inspiration,” then tells Ben that some of Flint's hands are aboard. Using two pieces of evidence, was that wise?
What it asks It asks the student to weigh what Jim risks by speaking, and what he gains.
One reading
Wise: Ben dreads Silver too, and Jim finds an ally.
I began to believe that I had found an ally, and I answered him at once.
Ah, said he, so you would. And he seemed very much relieved.
Another reading
A risk: Ben might have been Silver's man, and Jim cannot tell from the start.
If you was sent by Long John, he said, Im as good as pork, and I know it.
Not a manwith oneleg? he gasped.
Listen for
- Says what Jim knew about Ben when he spoke.
- Uses what Ben says to show how he took the news.
If stuck
- What did Jim know about Ben at that moment?
- How does Ben take the news about Silver?
- What does Ben say to Jim about the squire?
A strong answer Jim's choice paid off: he says he “began to believe that I had found an ally,” and Ben, hearing that Flint's hands are aboard, dreads Silver and is relieved when Jim says they will need him. But Jim spoke before he knew anything certain about Ben, who might have been working for Silver. A strong answer says what Jim risked, what he gained, and which of them the chapter shows more clearly.