Discussion Questions

Coming of Age

Leaving home - At the beginning of the story, Jim finds his life changing course. It is something that occurs in the lives of many young people. What incidents and events lead to Jim’s exodus? How was it different from what young people today might encounter? Are the differences simply historic? Are they related to socioeconomic factors? Geographic factors?

Making decisions - As Jim begins to make decisions for himself, what considerations must he make? Are there things he neglects to consider? How does his decision making capacity change as the story progresses? When young adults begin to determine their own direction, what skills do they need to be successful? How has this skill set changed over time?

Mapping - Jim’s first real-life adventure occurs with little forethought. How could he have benefited from planning out his quest? What is the importance of having a plan or “road map” to work from? Think about the value of planning for these important life events: education, career, family, health, retirement, death. Can planning help prepare us for things we don’t anticipate?

Rights of passage - What are some of the acts or ceremonies described in the book that represent passage into adulthood? Does Jim recognize them when they occur? What are some of the rights of passage in our society? Are they granted special significance based on gender? Based on ethnicity? Based on socioeconomic status? How do they differ from those in other cultures?

Search for role models - Young people model their behaviors on what they see around them. Who does Jim seek to emulate? Is his admiration rewarded? Do his perceptions change over the course of the story? What characteristics and attributes do young people identify with in our society?

Consider the role of each of the following in the development of personal ethics: family, peers, the media, society, technology.

Duty and Honor

Living by a code of conduct - There are at least two codes of conduct alluded to in the story. What social and cultural factors cause the different characters to adopt a code? What factors cause them to break from the code? What are the ramifications of not keeping to a code of conduct? Identify some of the codes of conduct that exist today and discuss their importance in our lives. Consider these words: implied consent, peer pressure, social contract.

A Sense of Duty - How does the author portray the tension between duty and survival? Which characters face dilemmas that pit honor and duty against personal survival? Where does Jim place his allegiance? Think about his sense of duty toward the following: friendship, family, his commander, the government, himself.

How do we define duty in the context of our culture and point in history?

Leadership and Trust

Respect for authority - Which characters have positions of authority in the story? Has the respect of others been earned or imposed? Discuss these words in relation to power and respect: ruthlessness, rank or position, honesty, integrity, wisdom. Are positions of authority granted the same level of respect? How has this changed?

Heroes and role models - Jim loses his father at the beginning of the story. Think about how this affects his interactions with the other characters. What traits and characteristics does he profess to admire? Jim is forced to rethink his opinions of his ship mates several times. How do trust and confidence factor into his estimation of Long John Silver? Of Captain Smollett?

How does our society define heroism? What responsibilities come with role modeling?

Greed and Solitude

Greed and desire - All of the characters in the novel are motivated by greed and desire. To what degree does greed motivate Long John Silver? Jim? the others? Do any of the characters find satisfaction? What are they willing to risk to satisfy their greed? At what point does the cost become too great for each of them?

How do some of the symbols (ie. the empty hole where the treasure should have been) reflect Stevenson’s thoughts on greed? Talk about some of the things that we associate with greed in our culture. Have they changed much over time?

Solitude - Though Jim is often in the company of others, it is those moments in the novel when he is alone that his mettle is truly tested. How does Jim reveal his true character at these times? Consider when Jim: meets Pew, uncovers Silver’s mutiny, discovers Gunn and the treasure, decides to take the coracle.

How might these moments in the story have been different if Jim was not alone? How do the decisions Jim makes on these occasions impact the other characters?

What qualities and feelings do we associate with solitude? Think about strength, loneliness, fear. Are we comfortable making decisions individually? How can such decisions be seen by others?

Symbolism

In the context of the story, what is the significance of each of the following:

• the color black
• the map
• rum
• the coracle (dingy)