Treasure Island
Chapter 8 — 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 does Jim, whose suspicions are "thoroughly reawakened" by finding Black Dog in Silver's tavern, end the chapter ready to swear to Long John's innocence?
The tension Jim walks in braced to meet the one-legged sailor of his nightmares and decides at "one look" that this clean, cheerful landlord cannot be a buccaneer. Then Black Dog bolts from Silver's own table, and Jim watches the cook "narrowly". Within a page Silver's show of fury, his grilling of Morgan, his forgotten score and his helpless laughter carry Jim from watching to laughing along, and by the quayside Jim thinks him "one of the best of possible shipmates". The chapter sets what Jim sees against how quickly Silver can change what Jim sees, and asks what did the persuading.
Today's focus
Watch Jim's opinion of Silver change from the moment he reaches the Spy-glass to the moment he leaves with him, and find what moves it.
Two core ideas
- Jim arrives afraid that Silver might be the one-legged sailor and leaves ready to vouch for him; the chapter shows each step in between.
- The chapter gives Jim's view and one hint that Silver was “too clever for me”; it never says what Silver really is.
The shape at a glance
The squire sends Jim to the Spy-glass tavern with a note for John Silver. Jim finds a cheerful one-legged landlord, recognises Black Dog at a table, and cries out as Black Dog flees. Silver sends men after him, questions a sailor named Morgan, and laughs over his own forgotten bill. He walks Jim back to the squire and the doctor, tells the story, and the doctor says he suits him.
A way in
Start with Jim's first look at Silver. Ask what Jim was afraid to find, and what he found instead.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the note, the tavern, Silver, Black Dog's flight, Morgan, the laugh, the walk on the quays and the doctor's word.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes one long sentence about someone they have watched, adding clauses that start with “and too,” and ending on one strong word.
Debate Take sides: should Jim have kept his suspicions? Each side uses at least one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking what Stevenson gains by letting Jim say Silver was “too clever for me.”
Easier Read the tavern scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 4 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 add a third piece of evidence to a critical-thinking answer, from a different moment in the chapter.
Discussion
- Jim decides that “one look” at Silver is enough to rule out a buccaneer. What test is he using, and is it a good one?Inference
What it asks It asks what Jim is comparing Silver to, and how much a few meetings can prove.
One reading
It is a fair test: he has met three buccaneers, and this landlord is nothing like them.
I had seen the captain, and Black Dog, and the blind man, Pew, and I thought I knew what a buccaneer was like
a very different creature, according to me, from this clean and pleasant-tempered landlord
Another reading
It is a weak test: he had been afraid before he arrived, and a single look settles it too fast.
I had taken a fear in my mind that he might prove to be the very one-legged sailor whom I had watched for so long at the old Benbow
But one look at the man before me was enough.
Listen for
- Names what Jim expected a buccaneer to look like.
- Weighs how much three meetings can prove.
If stuck
- Who has Jim already seen whom he calls buccaneers?
- What does Jim see when he looks at Silver?
- What was Jim afraid of before he got to the tavern?
A strong answer Jim compares Silver with the men he has met: the captain, Black Dog and Pew. Silver is “clean and pleasant-tempered,” and Jim calls the buccaneers “a very different creature.” For a boy who has met three of them, that is a fair comparison. But Jim had “taken a fear in my mind” before he arrived, one look settled it, and he says himself, “I thought I knew.” A strong answer says what three men can teach and whether a fear should be settled so fast.
- Silver whispers to Jim that Morgan is “quite an honest man” but “ony stupid.” Why might he say it to Jim, and not aloud?Character
What it asks It asks what a quiet remark does for the man it is about and for the boy who hears it.
One reading
He is being fair to Morgan: he has scolded him before the tavern and will not shame him twice.
Now, Morgan, said Long John very sternly
Hes quite an honest man, Tom Morgan, ony stupid.
Another reading
He is drawing Jim in: a whisper makes a boy feel trusted.
Silver added to me in a confidential whisper that was very flattering, as I thought
Youre a lad, you are, but youre as smart as paint.
Listen for
- Uses what Silver says to Morgan and what he says to Jim.
- Notices that Jim sees the whisper as flattering.
If stuck
- What does Silver say to Morgan aloud?
- How does Jim describe the whisper?
- What does Silver go on to say to Jim about himself?
A strong answer Silver has just sent Morgan back to his seat “for a lubber,” and then says quietly that he is “quite an honest man.” That can be fairness: Jim should know Morgan is not to blame, without Morgan being shamed twice. It can also be a way of drawing Jim close, since Jim calls the whisper “confidential” and “very flattering, as I thought.” The chapter does not say which Silver meant. A strong answer weighs what the whisper does for Morgan and what it does for Jim.
- Silver says neither he nor Jim comes out of it with “credit.” Is that fair to Jim, who cried “stop him!”?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks the student to judge whether blame was shared fairly when a man got away.
One reading
It is fair enough: Black Dog still got clean away, and there is blame to go around.
the two men had come back out of breath and confessed that they had lost the track in a crowd
none of the pair of us smart
Another reading
It is not fair to Jim: he knew Black Dog at once and called out at once.
I recognized him at a glance
Oh, I cried, stop him! Its Black Dog!
Listen for
- Says what Jim did, step by step, and what more he could have done.
- Notices that Silver takes some blame himself.
If stuck
- What does Jim do when he sees Black Dog?
- Who goes after Black Dog, and what happens?
- What does Silver say about himself in the same speech?
A strong answer Jim knew Black Dog “at a glance” and cried “stop him!” at once, so he can say he did what he could. But Black Dog still got away, and Silver says “none of the pair of us smart.” That can be read as fair, since it was Jim's news and Silver's tavern, or as kind, since it spreads the blame and lightens it for Jim. A strong answer says what Jim could have done and how it would have changed the ending.
- Silver falls on a bench laughing over his forgotten score, and Jim joins in. How would you describe that laughter?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear the laughter and say what kind it is, and what it does in the scene.
One reading
It is warm and real: a man laughing at himself and taking a boy with him.
laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks
we laughed together, peal after peal, until the tavern rang again
Another reading
It does a job: it turns a failure into a joke, and Silver is back to business right after.
though I did not see the joke as he did, I was again obliged to join him in his mirth
Dooty is dooty, messmates.
Listen for
- Describes the laughter in words drawn from Jim's own.
- Notices that Jim joined in though he did not see the joke.
If stuck
- What does Silver say just before he laughs?
- What does Jim say about the joke?
- What does Silver do right after the laughing stops?
A strong answer The laughter is big and catching: Silver laughs “until the tears ran down his cheeks” and the two of them laugh “peal after peal, until the tavern rang again.” That is warm and open. But Jim says he “did not see the joke as he did” and joins in anyway, and Silver goes straight back to business with “Dooty is dooty.” So the laughter can be read as real, or as doing work in the scene. A strong answer says what the laugh does and gives a reason for its reading.
- Jim says he “would have gone bail for the innocence of Long John Silver.” Why might Stevenson have him say it so strongly?Author's choice
What it asks It asks why the author lets a boy put his belief in the strongest words, and what the reader should do with them.
One reading
It shows how complete the change was, so the reader feels how easily it happened.
I had taken a fear in my mind that he might prove to be the very one-legged sailor
I would have gone bail for the innocence of Long John Silver.
Another reading
It makes the reader pause: in the same passage Jim admits Silver was too clever for him.
But he was too deep, and too ready, and too clever for me
My suspicions had been thoroughly reawakened on finding Black Dog at the Spy-glass
Listen for
- Sees the contrast with Jim's fear at the start of the chapter.
- Notices that the sentence says “would have,” not “did.”
If stuck
- What did Jim fear about Silver before he arrived?
- What does Jim say about how he watched the cook?
- What does “would have gone bail” say about what Jim did and did not do?
A strong answer The line lands hard because Jim began the chapter afraid that Silver might be the one-legged sailor he had watched for. Saying he “would have gone bail” shows how far he had moved. But the same passage says Silver was “too deep, and too ready, and too clever for me,” and “would have” points back to a moment that has passed. A strong answer says what the reader is being asked to feel, trust or doubt, and stays with the chapter's words.
Critical thinking
- Silver seems to “give something almost like a start” when he sees the squire's letter. Using two pieces of evidence, what might that start mean?
What it asks It asks the student to read a small, uncertain look and to say how far the chapter lets us go.
One reading
It is surprise: a message from the squire was not something he expected.
as he saw the squires letter, he seemed to me to give something almost like a start
Oh! said he, quite loud, and offering his hand. I see.
Another reading
It is nothing more than a cheerful man's quick welcome.
You are our new cabin-boy; pleased I am to see you.
he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Keeps to what Jim saw and says what he could not know.
If stuck
- What does Silver say right after the start?
- What is Silver's mood when Jim first sees him?
A strong answer Jim says only that Silver “seemed” to start, so the chapter gives a look and not a reason. It could be surprise at a message from the squire, since Silver says “Oh!” quite loud and then “I see.” It could also be a quick welcome from a man in “the most cheerful spirits” who says “pleased I am to see you.” A strong answer uses two pieces of evidence and says plainly that the chapter does not decide.
- Silver first cares only that Black Dog has not paid, then cries “In my house!” on hearing he was a buccaneer. Using two pieces of evidence, what does Silver mind most?
What it asks It asks the student to weigh two reactions to the same man and to say which one the chapter shows more strongly.
One reading
He minds the buccaneer most: once he hears the word, he wants him caught.
In my house! Ben, run and help Harry. One of those swabs, was he?
If we run down this Black Dog, now, therell be news for Capn Trelawney!
Another reading
He minds the unpaid score most: it is the first thing he says, and he says it twice.
I dont care two coppers who he is
If he were Admiral Hawke he shall pay his score
Listen for
- Notices the order: the score first, the buccaneer second.
- Uses what Silver does, not only what he says.
If stuck
- What is the first thing Silver says when Black Dog runs?
- What does Silver say after Jim calls Black Dog a buccaneer?
- What does Silver do about Black Dog both times?
A strong answer Silver's first cry is about money: he says “I dont care two coppers who he is” and “he shall pay his score.” Once Jim says Black Dog was a buccaneer he cries “In my house!” and “One of those swabs, was he?” and promises news for the squire. Both reactions are in the chapter, and Jim only watches. A strong answer names what Silver seems to mind most, gives two pieces of evidence, and says what it cannot tell about his real feelings.
- Dr. Livesey doubts the squire's discoveries “as a general thing,” yet says “John Silver suits me.” Using two pieces of evidence, what might have suited him?
What it asks It asks the student to work out what a careful man saw in Silver that a careless man would have missed.
One reading
Silver's honesty: he told the story plainly and asked Jim to correct him.
Long John told the story from first to last, with a great deal of spirit and the most perfect truth.
That was how it were, now, werent it, Hawkins? he would say, now and again, and I could always bear him entirely out.
Another reading
Silver's sense of duty: he came at once to report, and said so.
Dooty is dooty, messmates.
Ill put on my old cocked hat, and step along of you to Capn Trelawney, and report this here affair.
Listen for
- Uses what Silver does in front of the doctor, not only what the doctor says.
- Notices that the doctor is sparing with praise.
If stuck
- What does the doctor say about the squire's discoveries?
- Who tells the story to the two gentlemen?
- What does Silver say he must do?
A strong answer The doctor says he does not “put much faith in your discoveries, as a general thing,” so “John Silver suits me” is praise that is not lightly given. The chapter offers two things he saw: Silver told the story “with a great deal of spirit and the most perfect truth,” as Jim says, and asked Jim to back him up; and he said “Dooty is dooty” and came to report at once. The doctor does not say which mattered. A strong answer picks two pieces of evidence and says what each shows.