Week 33

Monday

We will listen to the radio rendition of Chapters 18-19...then discuss and read about Modern Day pirates.



Chapter XVIII: Narrative Continued by the Doctor: End of the First Day's Fighting
As the men come ashore, they make for the stockade. Seven mutineers pursue them, but Hunter, Joyce, Dr. Livesey and the squire open fire, killing one man and forcing the others to flee. Then Redruth is shot and mortally wounded. They reach the stockade, and the captain runs up a British flag. The mutineers continue to fire at them from outside but cause no damage, although they do succeed in stealing some of the men's stores that have been laid bare by the outgoing tide. Just as the doctor is contemplating what might have been Jim's fate, Jim returns to the stockade.   

Chapter XIX: Narrative Resumed by Jim Hawkins: The Garrison in the Stockade
Jim takes up the narrative where he left off at the end of Chapter XV. Ben Gunn tells him that he wishes to see the doctor or the squire and make some proposal to them. Ben tells Jim where he may be found. The two of them then scatter in different directions when they hear the sound of cannon fire. Jim moves from one hiding place to another. He finally decides to return to the stockade. He also notes the white rock where Ben's boat may be found.  

In the stockade he is warmly received. Captain Smollett keeps all the men occupied so they do not get depressed about their situation. He sets up a rotating schedule of watches; sends men out for firewood, and orders a grave dug for Redruth. The squire, who had formerly disliked the captain, now appreciates him. However, the squire, the doctor and the captain are at their wits' end to know what to do. Rations are low. They decide to kill as many of the buccaneers as they can. Fifteen are left, and the doctor expects many of them to contract malaria, since they are camped in a marsh. Then Silver arrives with a flag of truce.  

 


Tuesday

We begin the new version of Treasure Island, the movie!  Students will compare and contrast to the character and plot development.

Wednesday

Chapters 20-21 of Treasure Island



Thursday

Duct Tape Island:  What did Ben Gunn need to survive?  Would duct tape have helped?

Friday

We will listen to the radio rendition of Chapters 22-24...then discuss and read about Modern Day pirates.



Chapter XXII: How My Sea Adventure Began
Dr. Livesey treats the wounded. One pirate dies, as does Hunter. The captain has shoulder and leg injuries, and is told he should not walk or move his arm for weeks, and should speak as little as possible. After dinner, to the surprise of everyone, the doctor leaves the stockade and goes off alone into the woods. Jim realizes that Livesey has gone to meet Ben Gunn. Jim also decides to slip out when no one is watching, so that he can search for Ben's boat under the white rock. It is afternoon when he leaves and by the evening he finds the very small, crude homemade boat. Then Jim has another idea, to take the boat out at night and cut the Hispaniola adrift. This would prevent the mutineers sailing away to sea.  

 Chapter XXIII: The Ebb Tide Turns
The small boat (called a coracle) proves difficult to manage, turning in every direction except the one Jim wants to go in. Nonetheless, he reaches the Hispaniola and cuts the hawser (the anchor rope). He also hears the two drunken crew members on board quarreling fiercely. As schooner and coracle glide through the water, Jim grabs a light cord that trails from the ship, and pulls himself alongside it. He takes a peek through the cabin window and sees the two men fighting. One of them is the coxswain Israel Hands. The Hispaniola is swept by the current towards the open sea, and Jim is terrified, expecting that the raging breakers will destroy both ship and coracle. He lies flat at the bottom of his boat for hours, and eventually manages to sleep.  

 Chapter XXIV: The Cruise of the Coracle
Jim wakes up and it is morning. His coracle is at the southwest corner of the island. Realizing the dangers of trying to get ashore at that point, he allows the current to take him north, hoping to find an easier landing spot. But although the coracle rides the waves well it proves difficult to steer. Jim paddles as best he can, and gets close to the shore. Then less than half a mile ahead of him he sees the Hispaniola under sail. But he guesses from the erratic course of the ship that nobody is steering it. He decides to board the ship himself. He gets closer and closer to it, and when the moment is right, he catches the jibboom and clings to it. (Jibs are small triangular sails; a jibboom is a wooden beam that extends along the front of the jib.) At the same time, the Hispaniola strikes the coracle, leaving Jim on the Hispaniola with no line of retreat.