Chapter 6 · Treasure Island

Copywork

That was all; but brief as it was, and to me incomprehensible, it filled the squire and Dr. Livesey with delight. Livesey, said the squire, you will give up this wretched practice at once. Tomorrow I start for Bristol.

In the first sentence the word "incomprehensible" comes before the two men it fills "with delight". What does that order tell you about where Jim stands in this room? Why might the author let the boy who understands nothing be the one who tells us what the gentlemen felt?

Discussion

Narration Tell what happens from the ride to Dr. Livesey's door to the moment the squire promises to be silent.

The doctor looks the packet over “as if his fingers were itching to open it,” then pockets it. Why might he wait? Inference
Dr. Livesey slaps his thigh and the squire breaks his long pipe when they hear Jim's mother went back to the inn. What do those reactions show about each man? Character
The squire says the men who attacked the inn care for nothing “but money,” and then plans to fetch the treasure himself. Is there a difference? Moral reasoning
The doctor “can't make head or tail” of the account-book, yet agrees when the squire calls it “as clear as noonday.” Why might he agree? Character
The account-book comes out first, with crosses and sums, and the map only after. What does that order do for the reader? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time two people you know reacted very differently to the same good news.

Vocabulary

incomprehensible: and to me incomprehensible, impossible to understand
wretched: give up this wretched practice at once. miserable; poor and worthless
condescending: very stately and condescending. gracious in a way that shows one feels superior
atrocious: that black, atrocious miscreant, shockingly wicked
prodigiously: so prodigiously afraid of him to an enormous degree
exclamatory: hot-headed and exclamatory given to bursting out in cries
unintelligible: mostly single words and unintelligible. impossible to make sense of
plundered: that they sank or plundered. robbed by force
thrifty: Thrifty man! cried the doctor. careful with money

Critical thinking

Using two pieces of evidence, what does the map's detail tell us about whoever made it?
The squire's plan speeds up from “three weeks” to “ten days.” Using two pieces of evidence, what does his planning show about how he sees the voyage?
How do the doctor and the squire treat Jim? Using two pieces of evidence, is he an equal, a guest, or a boy to be looked after?