Chapter 7 · Treasure Island

Copywork

It was on seeing that boy that I understood, for the first time, my situation. I had thought up to that moment of the adventures before me, not at all of the home that I was leaving; and now, at sight of this clumsy stranger, who was to stay here in my place beside my mother, I had my first attack of tears.

Jim says the sight of the boy taught him "my situation" for the first time. What was his situation all along, and why did it take "this clumsy stranger" in his mother's bar, rather than the map or the letter, to make him see it?

Discussion

Narration Tell what happens from Jim's waiting at the hall to the squire's words outside the inn at Bristol.

Read the squire's letter aloud. What do you hear in his voice: pride, excitement, or something else? Tone
The squire hires the cook “out of pure pity.” Is pity a good reason to choose a crew member for a long, dangerous voyage? Moral reasoning
Jim admits he led the new boy “a dogs life.” What do you think lies behind that? Character
As Jim leaves home, one of his last thoughts is of the captain. Why might he think of him now? Inference
Jim says that in all his daydreams nothing was “so strange and tragic as our actual adventures.” Why might the older Jim tell us that now? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you were so excited about something new that you hardly thought about what you were leaving behind.

Vocabulary

situation: I understood, for the first time, my situation. the state of affairs one is in
attack: I had my first attack of tears. a sudden fit or bout of something
anticipations: full of sea-dreams and the most charming anticipations of strange islands and adventures. eager expectations of what is to come
brooded: I brooded by the hour together over the map, thought long and deeply about one thing
engaged: Long John even got rid of two out of the six or seven I had already engaged. hired; taken into service
swabs: just the sort of fresh-water swabs we had to fear a sailor's insult for worthless fellows
despised: if ever I despised a man, it was old Tom Redruth, looked down on with scorn
lament: who could do nothing but grumble and lament. complain or mourn aloud
superintend: to superintend the work upon the schooner. oversee and direct
multitude: the great multitude of ships of all sizes and rigs and nations. a very great number

Critical thinking

The squire calls Bristol's talk against Blandly “transparent calumnies.” Using two pieces of evidence, how far would you trust his defence of Blandly?
Redruth growls, “A pretty rum go if squire aint to talk for Dr. Livesey.” Using two pieces of evidence, is Redruth loyal, or simply used to obeying?
On the Bristol quays Jim is as delighted as if he had seen “as many kings or archbishops.” Using two pieces of evidence, what delights him most?