ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

Student’s File

Secondary Compulsory Education

 “El gust per la lectura”
“A taste for reading”

Secretaria General de Polítiques Educatives

Subdirecció General de Llengua i Plurilingüisme

Novembre, 2013

Robert Louis Stevenson

NOEMÍ BAGÉS FORTACÍN

NÚRIA IVERN MORETÓ

.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
INDEXINDE
INDEX

INTRODUCTION 7

TEACHER’S GUIDE 8

1. Objectives 8
2. Contents 8
3. Didactic guide 10

I - ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON. BIOGRAPHY 12

II - THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE 15

1. Before reading 15
2. While reading: reading guide 18
3. After reading 29
3.1. Let’s have a closer look 29
3.1.1. The characters 29
3.1.2. Who tells the story? 33
3.1.3. Letters as a literary device 34
3.1.4. The novel as a symbol 37
3.2. Let’s find out more 40
3.2.1. Drugs 40
3.2.2. The limits of Science 40
3.2.3. Visual poems 40

III – TREASURE ISLAND 43

1. Before reading 43
1.1. Am I a pirate? 43
1.2. Islands and treasures 48
1.3. Ships 49
2. While reading: reading guide 51
3. After reading: a fantastic journey 56
3.1. Destiny: an unknown island 56
3.1.1. Where are we now? 56
3.2. Objective: in search of a treasure 56
3.3. Travelling companions 57
3.4. Supplies and resources 60
3.4.1. What are we going to take with us? 60
3.4.2. Symbols 60
3.4.3. Words are also important 61
3.5. We go back home 61

BIBLIOGRAPHY 63

APPENDIX 1. Pirates 64

6
INTRODUCTION

This dossier is about the nineteenth century Scottish writer Robert L. Stevenson. It is a
compilation of diverse activities of two of his most well known works: The Strange Case
of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Treasure Island.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a short novel that explains the terrifying
events that happened to the scientist Dr Jekyll when he decided to go ahead with his
experiments on human duality.

Treasure Island is an adventure novel that tells the story of young Jim Hawkins whose
life changes radically when an old pirate stays at his tavern and tells him about the
existence of a hidden treasure. The death of the pirate and of Jim’s father speed up the
events and the young boy and his friends, Doctor Livesey and Mr Trelawney, begin a
trip full of excitement and dangers to an unknown and remote island.

Both novels, apparently very different in form (extension), genre (horror and adventure
respectively) and plot (the speculations and experiences of a scientist without scruples
and the adventures of a young man), share two aspects that make them specially
attractive to young readers: an exciting and shaking narrative rhythm and the invitation
to a reflection on human duality and the complementarity between good and evil.

The dossier is structured in three blocks: a general introduction and two parts that refer
to each novel. The introduction contextualizes both works, it deals with the author, his
time and different literary genres.

Both parts referring to The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Treasure Island
have identical structures:

- A section with activities to carry out before reading, to introduce the topic, motivate
the students into reading and update the novels by establishing a relationship with our
historical and social context.

- A reading guide which target is to foster the reading skill and which is structured in
chapters.

- A section with activities to be carried out after reading the chosen novel to reflect on
the form and the content of Stevenson’s novels as well as to encourage the students’
creativity.

The activities are based on the following books:

First Cycle ESO:

Treasure Island - Penguin Readers - Level 2

Second Cycle ESO:

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Oxford Bookworms - Stage 4

There is an answer key for the activities which have a closed answer and suggested
answers for most of the activities which have more open answers.

7
TEACHER’S GUIDE

1. Objectives

1. To encourage a taste for reading.

2. To discover reading as a means of personal development and enrichment.

3. To learn about Stevenson’s historical context and his work.

4. To identify the elements that shape a literary work (time, space, characters,
structures and plot) and analyse them.

5. To plan and produce texts of different typologies.

6. To use ICT tools.

7. To develop a critical attitude so that the students are able to create a debate with
a line of argument and with respect towards their own ideas and the ideas of the
others.

8. To reflect on the ideas stated in the work of Stevenson on the complexity of

human nature.

9. To encourage interest in the relationship among the different areas of human

knowledge: Science, Technology, History, Anthropology, and Language and
Literature.

10. To relate Stevenson with other authors and works

11. To encourage students’ creativity

2. Contents

Aesthetic and literary Dimension

1. Reading of classical juvenile literature works following a literary itinerary.

2. Use of strategies and techniques that help analyse and interpret a literary text
before, during and after the reading.

3. Analysis of the elements that shape a literary work (characters, lexicon,

narrative structure, topic, place, themes and plot) and of the narrative elements
of the novels that are being studied (narrative point of view, narrative time and
historical time, style…)

4. Learning about the most significant facts of R. L. Stevenson’s biography and

the characteristics of his main works (The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr
Hyde and Treasure Island)

5. Identification of the historical and social context of the literary works and
reflection on the relation between the works and their context.

8
 6. Development of reading autonomy and recognition of reading as a source of
knowledge of the world, of human nature, and of the relationship among people
and oneself.

7. Reflection, from the motivation of literary works, on present topics and conflicts
in the scientific, technological and humanistic fields.

Communicative dimension

1. Understanding and interpreting written texts with special attention to the specific
characteristics of narrative texts.

2. Oral and written production of texts of different typologies.

3. Participation in oral debates about topics related to the content of the novels.

4. Use of ICT and audiovisual languages.

5. Resolution of linguistic resources.

6. Attitude of cooperation and critical respect towards differences of opinion in

collaborative learning.

7. Participation in interaction as a means to arouse awareness of values and

feelings of oneself and of the others, and to regulate conduct.

8. Development of strategies for linguistic correction and grammar revision of the

texts

9. Identification of the lexical and semantic fields that appear in the messages and
increase of knowledge and command of the new lexicon, the new mechanisms
of word formation and of idioms and proverbs.

10. Organisation and appreciation of individual work to improve in the learning

process in an autonomous manner and for personal and team work
improvement for a collective building of knowledge.

Intercultural and plurilingual dimension

1. Awareness of the fact that languages are elements that define personal and
collective identity, a tool to encourage communication and learning and a door
open to the understanding of the world and of other people.

2. Awareness of belonging to a linguistic, social and cultural community and a

positive attitude of interest and trust in language and cultural diversity

3. Readiness to use language knowledge according to the different command one

may have, in real contexts and in different functions: exchanges with people or
in information research in any possible format (audiovisual, internet, consulting
material)
4. Awareness of own attitudes towards different languages and cultures, and
appreciation of the cultural and linguistic variations.

5. Critical attitude towards messages that may mean any kind of discrimination,
and will to overcome prejudices.

9
 Common contents with other subjects

Interaction, understanding and expressing oral, written and audiovisual messages

connected to contents from other curricular subjects (Social Sciences, Music, Maths,
Experimental Sciences, Citizenship, Visual and Plastic Education).

3. Didactic guide

For the teaching / learning process

The dossier presents enough types of activities to be carried out by a wide range of
students. We also believe that both works of R. L. Stevenson that are presented here
(The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Treasure Island) can meet the needs
of the boys and girls of ESO.

Activities of different kinds referring to the content as well as to the typology are
presented to be carried out. This diversity of activities would like to contribute to the
development of cross competencies and, in addition to those that are strictly
communicative, have an effective effect in the methodological and personal
competencies and in those related to the social and civic competence.

Although the activities in this dossier are presented following a conducting thread, we
leave it to the teachers to choose those they may consider more adequate to meet the
diversity in the classroom.

For the evaluation

To tackle the initial evaluation, we suggest a choice of the activities in the “Before
reading” section, where there is an attempt to relate the students’ world to the novel
they are going to read. In this section, therefore, concepts that have already been
worked in previous courses may be found.

Regarding the formative evaluation, we believe it is important for the student to deal
with the understanding of the text and to be able to express own ideas. These
evaluation activities can be found in the second block of each book, that is, in the
reading guide. Evaluation should be carried out throughout all the reading process and
the students should know what they are going to be evaluated about.

The summative evaluation should take into account, in addition to the previously
mentioned aspects, the motivation and the effort of the students and their degree of
commitment in their work on the reading. The most adequate activities for this
evaluation can be found in the “After reading” section where the aim is to reflect on and
to work deeply on the novels as well as the on topics suggested.

10
11
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

I - BIOGRAPHY
Stevenson was born on November 13,1850 in Edinburgh, the son of Thomas
Stevenson a noted engineer and Margaret Isabella Balfour.
Since his childhood, Stevenson suffered from tuberculosis and this illness marked both
his childhood and his adult life. As a child, he had to stay at home for long periods and
his nurse, Alison Cunningham, known as Cummy in the family circle, told him stories
and read aloud to him. The child soon showed a natural inclination towards literature.
As an adult, his bad health made him travel abroad in search of mild climates.

He studied engineering and then law at the University of Edinburgh but when he was
21 years old, Stevenson openly declared his intention of becoming a writer against the
strong opposition of his father.
In 1876 in France, Stevenson met an American woman named Fanny Osbourne who
was separated from her husband and had two children. Stevenson fell madly in love
with her and they married in 1878 in California. After his marriage, he and his wife lived
in Switzerland and in the south of France for four years.

Stevenson became famous with the romantic adventure story Treasure Island, which
appeared in 1883. Among his other popular works are Kidnapped (1886), The Strange
Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) and The Master of Ballantrae (1889).

In 1889, Stevenson and his family set out on a cruise of the South Sea Islands. When it
became clear that only there could he live in relative good health, he settled on the
island of Upolu in Samoa.

Fascinated by the Polynesian culture, Stevenson wrote several letters to The Times on
the islanders' behalf and published novels like The Beach Of Falesa (1893) and The
Ebb-Tide (1894), which condemned European colonial exploitation.

Stevenson died on December 3, 1894, in Vailima, Samoa.

Read Robert Louis Stevenson’s Biography twice and then try to answer the
following questions without looking at the text:

1) Robert Louis Stevenson,

a) Was born in England and died in Samoa.

b) Was born in Samoa and died in Scotland.
c) Was born in Scotland and died in Samoa.

2) As a child Robert Louis Stevenson,

a) Did not like literature.

b) Really liked literature.
c) Didn’t have any contact with literature.

3) At university,

a) He studied engineering and then law.

b) He studied literature.
c) He did not study anything.

12
4) He met his future wife in:

a) Samoa.
b) France.
c) California.

5) The novel that made him famous was:

a) Kidnapped.
b) Treasure Island.
c) The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

6) He and his family travelled to the South Sea Islands,

a) Because they had family there.

b) Because Stevenson wanted to write a novel about Samoa.
c) Because the weather was good for his health.

7) In Samoa,

a) Stevenson was fascinated by the island’s culture.

b) Stevenson wrote some letters against the Polynesian culture.
c) Stevenson tried to impose his own culture to the native people.

13
II. THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE

14
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE

1. BEFORE READING

1. Do you know this symbol? Do you know its meaning?

a) Go to the following web page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang, where you

will find information about it and then try to fill in the chart you have below:

Name of the
symbol

Meaning:

Origin:

Examples to
explain its
meaning:

b) You have probably heard about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, about their relationship and
what they represented. Still, read both the back cover and the story introduction on the
first page of the book to know more about it:

Mark in what sense the main subject of the novel you are about to read can be related
to the yin and yang symbol:

15
1. It is about love and hate.

2. One mad scientific has double personality.

3. It deals with good and evil.

4. It is about a mysterious character.

5. It is about friendship.

6. It is about the duality of a person’s nature.

2. This videogame cover very well represents one of the main subjects in
Stevenson’s book: duality, the coexistence of good and evil in the same person.

a) The author considers that this duality exists in all of us. Before discussing this idea in
the class, read the following assertions and decide if they are true for you. Mark YES or
NO in each box.

I have been cruel to an animal once (for I have taken care of an injured animal.
example: throwing rocks to a cat, hunting
an insect and keep it in a box, cut a
lizard’s tail on purpose, burning bugs…)
YES NO
YES NO

I have wished somebody ill. I have wished somebody well even if I

16
 don’t really know this person.

YES NO
YES NO

I have acted wrong in order to get a profit I have left something I really wanted
from it. because in order to have it, I had to do
something wrong.

YES NO
YES NO

I have laughed at same mate. I have stood for a mate being laughed at.

YES NO YES NO

I have not helped somebody who really I have helped somebody even if it was
needed it. hard for me.

YES NO YES NO

I have blamed somebody else for I have been sincere even if I knew I would
something that I was guilty of. be told off or punished for that.

YES NO YES NO

I have stolen something. I have given back a valuable object I have

come across.
YES NO
YES NO

I have felt no sympathy for anyone I have suffered for people I don’t even
suffering. know personally.

YES NO YES NO

How many How many negative How many How many negative
affirmative answers? affirmative answers?
answers? answers?

17
b) After the results, discuss the following in class:

i) Do you recognize a dark side in you?

ii) Do you think that kindness and cruelty can live together in the same person?

iii) Do you agree with Stevenson in that everybody has two different personalities
at the same time?

3. The novel you are about to read has remained popular in modern times. Find
out about books, films and plays that have been inspired by the story.(information at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Case_of_Dr_Jekyll_and_Mr_Hyde)

Books Films Plays and musicals

18
2. WHILE READING

1. Read chapter one “The mysterious door” and answer the following questions:

a) The first chapter starts describing the novel’s main character. What do we know
about him? Complete the following chart:

Name:

Job:

Personality:

Hobbies and
way of life:

b) Say if the following statements are true or false. Put a tick in the appropriate box:

TRUE FALSE

1) Mr. Utterson’s best friend was a distant cousin called

Richard Enfield.

2) They are friends because they are really similar to each

other.

3) Mr. Enfield tells Utterson a strange story. A mysterious

building with a dusty door reminds him of this story.

4) The facts Enfield recalls happened at day light with

crowded streets.

5) Mr. Enfield explains that a man and a child bumped into

each other and the man calmly walked all over the child’s
body with heavy boots.

6) That man was short and had a very evil look.

7) Mr. Enfield scared him and made him run away.

19
8) The girl was obviously injured after the incident.

9) Everybody took a violent dislike to the short man.

10) The man agrees to hundred pounds for the child’s

family if the incident isn’t made public.

11) The cheque he gave was not signed by himself but by

a very well-known person.

12) The strange man didn’t want to tell his real name.

2. Read chapter two “In Search of Mr. Hyde” and answer the following:

a) In chapter two we meet the main characters in the novel and we know about
their relationships. Complete the following chart with the names given

Dr. Lanyon, Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll, Poole, Utterson

He is the servant.
He has orders to
let Mr. Hyde in He visits him to
the house. ask about Jekyll.

he meets him in he is his

they are old
the street. lawyer
friends but
they don’t see
each other
often.

20
b) Utterson spent many nights waiting for Hyde. The night when he finally saw him was
a “dry, clear winter night” and “the street was empty and silent”. Why do you think the
author makes it clear that in that night, visibility was good?

c) Why is Utterson so nervous about Dr Jekyll’s will?

d) Why do Utterson and Dr Jekyll meet a fortnight later?

e) What is Dr Jekyll like?

f) Mr. Utterson and Jekyll talk about the will. What does Jekyll say about it?

g) What does Jekyll say about Dr Lanyon?.

e) The last words in the chapter are “I promise”. What does Utterson promise? To
whom?

3. Read chapter three “The Carew murder” and answer the following questions:

a) What terrible incident happens just one year later?

b) Who is the witness?

c) Why does the servant girl recognize Mr Hyde? .

d) How does Hyde murder his victim?.

e) What time does the murder take place?

f) What is the servant girl’s reaction?

g) What weapon does the murderer use?

h) What does the victim carry with him?

i) Why do the police contact Utterson after Mr Carew’s murder?

j) Utterson identifies the body. Who does he say is the dead person?

k) Where do the police and Utterson go together?

l) What two objects at Mr Hyde’s house show that he is the murderer?

m) In what sense the outside and the inside of Mr. Hyde’s home differ?

4. Read chapter four “Doctor Jekyll receives a letter” and answer the following
questions:

a) Join the two parts of a sentence to summarize the main events in the chapter:

21
1. Utterson visits Dr. Jekyll a. that nobody will ever hear
of Hyde again.

2. Utterson wants to know b. through a letter.

3. Dr. Jekyll assures c. and finds him white and ill.

Utterson

4. Hyde says he is safe and d. Hyde’s handwriting is

will not appear anymore almost identical to Dr
Jekyll’s

5. Dr. Jekyll gets Hyde’s e. if Jekyll hides Hyde.

letter

6. Utterson keeps Hyde’s f. by hand, not by post.

letter

7. Mr. Guest thinks that g to make Mr Guest examine

it

5. Read chapter five “The death of a friend” and answer the following questions:

a) Complete the text with the names of the following characters (they can be used
more than once):

Utterson, Hyde, Lanyon, Jekyll

Time passed but there was no sign of ________ . The police tried to arrest him but he

had just disappeared. ________ was calmer and he invited his friends to his house, he

was at peace with himself and the world. In January, however, his attitude changed and

he refused to see visitors. ________ decided to talk about this with ________but the

doctor had changed completely: his face was grey and thin and he looked old and sick.

Besides, he refused to talk about ______but didn’t want to explain why. Then, ______

wrote a letter to _______ to know why the two doctors were no longer friendly. The

answer was long and not easy to understand.

22
Finally,_________ died but he left a letter to _________The envelope said “ not to be

opened until the death or disappearance of__________”.

b) Why doesn’t Utterson read Dr Lanyon’s letter even if he is really worried about
Jekyll?

c) He asks Pool about his master, Jekyll. What is the servant’s answer?

6. Read chapter six “The face at the window” and answer the following
questions:

a) Where do Utterson and his cousin happen to pass through one day?

b) What does Utterson suggest?

c) At an open window of the study above the laboratory they see Jekyll. How does he
say he feels?

d) What happens after Jekyll says “That’s an excellent idea”?

7. Read chapter seven “The last night” and answer the following questions:

a) Why did Poole visit Utterson after dinner?

b) Describe the atmosphere in the street that night.

c) When they arrived, the hall was full of people. Who were they? And why were they
all together?

d) What is the voice that comes from the room like?

e) What is Poole’s suspicion?

f) How did Dr. Jekyll give orders to the servants this week?

g) What did he ask for in the notes?

h) Who did Poole see when the study was open?

23
i) What do Utterson and Poole decide to do?

j) Who did they find when they broke into the room? In what state was he?

k) Did they find Dr Jekyll?

l) In the room they also found a large packet addressed to Mr. Utterson with three
envelopes. What was the content of the three letters?

8. Read chapter eight “Doctor Lanyon’s letter” and answer the following
questions:

a) In this chapter, Stevenson finally unveils the novel’s mystery. Can you explain it
briefly?

.b) The secret is revealed when Utterson reads the letter that Dr. Lanyon has sent him.
Here is a short version of this letter. Try to fill in the blacks with the words provided:

Fear letter appearance book unknown favour evil

danger knock chemical powders shook murderer liquid hate

Dear Utterson,

Four days ago, I received a ……….. from Dr Jekyll. It was surprising. He asked me
a……….. : that very same night I should go to his house and get some packets
of………………, a small bottle and a ……….. from his study.

He also said that before midnight I would receive a visit from a man who would collect
everything. He asked not to fail him because he was in fearful ………... I thought that
Dr Jekyll was mad but I still decided to help him.

At midnight there was a ……….. on my door. A short man was standing in the
shadows. There was something really unpleasant about him. His ……….. was
extremely strange. His face was a mask of pain, violence and……….. . He took the box
and put a little of the red ……….. in a glass and added a packet of powder. He asked
me if I wanted to leave or stay and experience something ………. to science. I stayed
and saw how he drank the liquid and his whole body ………. and jumped. As I watched,
his whole body seemed to change. There, before my eyes, pale, shaken and sick,
stood Dr Jekyll.

I cannot make myself write down the things that Jekyll with tears in his eyes confessed.
Now ……….. and horror are my only companions. Sleep has left me and I feel I have
not long to live. The ……….. thing that came into my house that night was known by
the name of Hyde and was wanted by the police for the ………. of sir Danvers Carew.

Hastie Lanyon

24
9. Read chapter nine “Doctor Jekyll’s confession” and answer the following
questions:

a) Are these sentences true or false? Put a tick in the T box or in the F box.

T F

a) As a young man, Jekyll was already a very successful scientist

b) But he also was a fun-loving young man-about-town.

c) He was not worried at all about his double personality.

d) He studied a way to separate the two personalities living in him

e) On a stormy night, his two personalities separated after a

lightning reached him.

f) Both Jekyll’s personalities were physically identical. It was

impossible to distinguish one from the other.

g) At the beginning, the good side of his character was stronger than
the evil side.

h) Hyde became bigger and stronger and it reached a point were he

appeared without Jekyll drinking the drug.

i) Jekyll was afraid of his alter ego Mr. Hyde.

J) Dr. Jekyll wrote his confession under the appearance of Mr. Hyde.

K) Dr. Jekyll felt he was about to die while he wrote his confession
and he didn’t know what was going to happen to Hyde.

25
3. AFTER READING

3.1. Let’s have a closer look

3.1.1. The characters

a) Imagine you are a policeman and you are investigating Mr Carew’s murder. Read
the descriptions that different witnesses give about the appearance of Mr Hyde before
the tragic murder occurs. Could you fill in the police file from the descriptions? Probably
not, as the descriptions are too vague.

“Although Utterson could not see his
face, he felt a strong, almost violent,
dislike for the stranger.” ( p.10)
Witness: Utterson
“He is not easy to describe, although
I remember him perfectly.. He is a
strange-looking man. He’s short, but
has a strong, heavy body. There’s
something ugly and unpleasing- no,
something hateful. I disliked him at
once.”( p.6)

Witness: R.Enfield

There were no photographs of the

wanted man and no two people
could agree about his appearance.
They all agreed on one thing,
however.” An evil man, sir,” the
servant girl said.” You could see it
in his face.” ( P.18)

Witness: the servant girl

26
However, now that you have finished the novel, you have a much more clear idea
about his looks. Try to fill in the following police record file.

POLICE DEPARTMENT(LONDON)

Police record

Name:

Crime:

Address:

Physical appearance:

Body:

Face:

Clothes:

Personality: POLICE SKETCH

b) Using all our senses.

All the characters in the book that saw Mr. Hyde at some point agreed that he was
almost impossible to be described. None of them could remember the exact traits of his
face but they did remember the immediate dislike they felt for him.

We get the feelings from the world and the people around us through all our senses,
not only the sight. In fact, the hearing is as effective as sight when it comes to arousing
different feelings.

Now, we suggest that you listen to five different music bits (the links allow you to listen
to them directly from youtube) and then decide which ones remind you of Hyde.

Vivaldi, Summer (Presto, 3r mov.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxplDa3M5Io

27
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iWj6y_ACk0

Vivaldi, Spring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50lmd0ngwPc

Stravinsky, The Rite of spring- the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqB6nz_enn4

sacrifice. &feature=related

Mussorgski, A night in a bald http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl_t3xjxrrA

mountain.

Mozart, A little sweet music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DSTqp-bqFQ

c) Apart from Jekyll and Hyde, there are two more characters that are very important
in the story. To whom do the following statements belong? Rewrite them in the labels
below.

- He is a doctor and a friend of Jekyll.

- He tries to investigate Hyde’s identity.

- He dies after he sees Jekyll transform into Hyde.

- He is Richard Enfield’s cousin.

- He thinks that committing suicide is his only way out.

- His servant is called Poole.

- He can’t control his rage and his hate.

- He wants to separate the two sides of his personality, the good one and the evil one.

- He does not agree with Jekyll’s ideas and investigations.

- He murders Carew.

- He is really worried about Jekyll.

- His will states that Hyde inherits all his money.

- His only presence causes immediate distress and a feeling of dislike.

- He only goes out at night.

- He reads Lanyon’s confession.

- He were mates at university..

Jekyll

28
Lanyon

Utterson

Hyde

29
3.1.2. Who tells the story?
A point of view is the relationship of the narrator to the story. We can have novels with:

Point of view

First-person Third-person limited Third person

The narrator is a
character in the story,
referred to as “I”.
The narrator reveals the
thoughts, feelings, and
observations of only one
character, referring to
that character as “he” or
“she”.
omniscient
The narrator is not a
character but someone
who stands outside the
story and comments on
the action.

a) Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is told from different points of view. Decide the point of view
used in the following three fragments in the story:

30
 “ this will had both worried and
annoyed Mr. Utterson. To a
lawyer it was an unusual and
dangerous kind of will. It was bad
enough when Edward Hyde was
only an unknown name, but now
that the lawyer knew something
about Hyde, the will worried him
more than ever.”
P. 7
“I was born in the year 18-. I
inherited a large fortune, a strong
healthy body and an excellent
mind. I was naturally hard
working and soon I was
extremely successful in my
chosen work as a scientist.”
P. 55

“ Something terrible is happening to my master.

I can’t explain. But… please, sir, can you come
with me and see for yourself?”
At once Mr Utterson fetched his coat and hat.
“Thank you, sir,” whispered Poole gratefully.”
P.37

b) In what ways would the story be different if the narrator was Jekyll from the very
beginning? Why do you think the author uses the character of Utterson to tell the story?

3.1.3 Letters as a literary genre

In the novel, there are many letters. In fact, letters are a literary device that Stevenson
uses to unveil the mystery hidden in his work. The characters in the novel get in touch
by letters. Discuss in groups:

a) Why do you think they use letters to communicate? Was there any other mean of
communication in 1886?

b) How do you think characters would talk to each other if the novel was set
nowadays?

c) How do you communicate with your friends (letters, mails, cell phones, phone)? How
often do you do it? Is there any mean of communication that you never use?

31
d) Here you have an imaginary letter that Utterson could have written to Richard
Enfield at the end of the story, after having read himself Lanyon’s and Jekyll’s letters.
Put it in the correct order so that it makes sense:

Paragraph 1
London, January 1889

Paragraph 2
You know how much I appreciate you and how much our friendship
means to me. It is for this reason that I want to share with you the
last unbelievable incidents I have been involved with. I have to ask
you to keep the revelation secret, because as you will see, it is a
very serious matter and it may have consequences for the future
development of science and humanity.

Paragraph 3
You might be surprised that I didn’t turn up to our weekly meetings
but in the last weeks I have witnessed the most exceptional facts
and I needed time to clarify my thoughts.

Paragraph 4
All the best,

Paragraph 5
Dear Richard Enfield,

Paragraph 6
The terrible facts to which I am referring to are the following: Dr.
Lanyon and Dr.Jekyll letters unveil a terrible secret. Both recognise
doctor Jekyll and Mr.Hyde as the same person! Yes, my friend... the
mysterious behaviour of our friend Jekyll was due to his secret
experiment, which tried to separate his evil personality from his good
one. He achieved it, it resulted in death. Lanyon witnessed the
experiment and his health was not able to stand as much anguish.

Paragraph 7
Mr. Utterson

Paragraph 8
Do you understand now why I beg you to be cautious? Please, do
not talk to anyone about it. We can talk it through in the next
meeting which I hope will be as soon as possible.

32
Order of Paragraphs:

e) Letters have several parts, which give us the necessary information and structure
the text. These parts are the following:

signature closing salutation

place and date body

Now that you have put the above letter in the correct order, could you identify its parts?
Write in the labels the number of the fragment. Bear in mind that in some of the labels
you will have to write more than one fragment.

If you have any doubts you have many examples at :

http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/

f) Write a letter to a friend of yours. After asking about his/her life, tell him/ her about
you reading The Strange Case of Jekyll and Hyde. Recommend this book to his/her
and say why you think it is worth reading it. Don’t forget to include all the parts in a
letter.

3.1.4 The novel as a symbol

As you have already seen in the introduction, this novel was written in the Victorian era,
in the year 1885. During the last years of the XIX Century, England went through very
important changes both at economical and social levels as well as religious ones. It
seems that the great success of Jekyll and Hyde was due to the fact that the novel was
able to capture all the fears that Victorian society was facing, and also the feeling that
Victorian society was in fact really fragile and almost hypocritical.

a) The new ideas that put Victorian values into jeopardy appeared after the thoughts
expressed by three of the most relevant personalities of the time. After reading the
information, try to guess their names. You can use the internet to find out the
information.

I wrote Civilization and Its Discontents

where I stated that the relationship
between individuals and society are never
easy, as the same institutions that provide
survival and happiness for humans,
cause them unease. I also pointed at the
subconscious as a determinant element
for both society and individuals.

I am ________________

33
 I wrote the On the Origin of Species
and I expressed my doubts about the
human being as the centre of the
divine creation. I provided scientific
evidence that all species of life have
evolved over time from common
ancestors.

I am ________________

I wrote The Capital in 1867 and I stood

for the working class. I thought that
man was alienated for economical,
political and religious reasons.

I am ________________

b) The book The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde can be interpreted as a
symbol for all the menaces that Victorian society had to face.

Would you be able to relate the three thinkers above to the three possible symbolic
meanings of Hyde in the novel?

Symbol Thinker

Hyde might represent the new power of the

working class.
Hyde might also represent the man free of social
restrictions and religious beliefs, specially the idea
of man as a divine creation
Hyde might also represent not only Jekyll’s
subconscious but that of a Victorian society that
always has to mind its manners.

34
c) In the novel there are other elements that are used to symbolize the two main
characters and the situations where their actions take place. Use arrows to match
them.

Fog, wind, and cold

Weather

Nice weather

Jekyll

day

Time

night

Hyde

Elegant, wealthy
housing neighbourhood

Dirty, depressed area

d) The names of the three main characters in the novel, Hyde, Jekyll and Utterson, can
be seen as symbols as well. Hidden under spelling differences we can infer the
following verbs from each of the characters’ names :

1. Utterson = To utter

2. Hyde= To hide

3. Jekyll= To kill.

a) What do these three verbs mean? Translate them into Catalan.

b) How can the meaning of these three verbs relate to each of the characters?

35
3.2. Let’s find out more

3.2.1. Drugs

Dr Jekyll decides to test his theory of the two sides of human nature by performing an
experiment with heavy drugs. He knows death is possible but still decides to go on with
the experiment. He considers that potential benefits override the risks. This fact brings
forward two really controversial topics: On the one hand, drugs and its effects on
people’s personality and on the other, the limits of scientific experimentation.

Read the following information about drugs

http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/drugs_alcohol/know_drugs.html and then prepare a
class PowerPoint presentation by answering the following questions:

1. What are drugs?

2. What are illegal drugs?

3. Why are they dangerous?

4. How can I tell if somebody is addicted to drugs?

3.2.2. The limits of Science

Today, scientists explore the possibilities of cloning and creating life. Read the
following article:
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20040128/Feature1.asp
and start a debate about genetic manipulation. The class can be split into four groups,
two of which will be in favour of it and the other two will be against it: “There should be
limits to scientific experimentation”. Before the oral debate starts, each group has to
write down at least two arguments.

3.2.3 Visual poems

a) The front page for the musical based on Jekyll and Hyde

(http://www.jekyll-hyde.com)/

uses a visual poem to introduce the play:

36
 a) Could you translate the poem into Catalan?

b) Do you agree with the poem? Why?

c) Do you think the poem is a good introduction to

the novel? Why?

b) Visual poetry is one of the most important work innovations by the poet Joan Brossa,
as he said:

Visual poetry is neither a drawing nor a painting but a means of communication

Here you have some examples:

http://www.joanbrossa.org/obra/brossa_obra_poesia_visual_llistat.htm

Would you be able to play with the words GOOD an EVIL and create your own visual
poem?

Have a look at these two examples to get inspired:

37
38
III - TREASURE ISLAND

39
TREASURE ISLAND
1. BEFORE READING

You have probably heard about the novel Treasure Island and so the plot might be
familiar to you. If not, you can read the back cover and the story introduction that will
tell you about Jim. The main character in the story will go far across the sea aboard a
ship called the Hispaniola to Treasure Island, with a gang of dangerous pirates.

1.1. Am I a pirate?
1.1.1. Watch the following video about the popular film Pirates of the Caribbean at
youtube: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=zRsUTdV0TDE

After you have watched many scenes about pirates, try to complete this brainstorming
with the words you relate to Pirates:

Ship

Desert Fights
Island

Rum Pirates Treasure

Mutiny Jolly
Rogers

Sailing

1.1.2 Watch the video again and this time, pay attention to the song. It is a famous
hymn for pirates. Here you have the lyrics:

40
 Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and loot,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot,
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

We extort, we pilfer, we filch, and sack,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle, and even hijack,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

We kindle and char, inflame and ignite,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

We're rascals, scoundrels, villans, and knaves,

Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

We're beggars and blighters, ne'er-do-well cads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

a) As you can see, pirates use many verbs and adjectives to describe their actions as
well as themselves. Look at the diagrams below where you will find the verbs grouped
by similar meanings and use an arrow to match them with their Catalan translation.

41
 Pillage, plunder, ravage, loot,
sack, maraud.
saquejar

Kindle, char, inflame, ignite,

burn up. segrestar o

extorsionar

Extort, kidnap, hijack, fright.

cremar

robar
Filch, pilfer, rifle, embezzle.

b) In the chart below, you have all the words in the song that describe the pirates.
Listen to the song again and place the words in the correct blank.

English Catalan English Catalan

villains vil
rascals pillet knaves brètol
scoundrels canalla blighters plaga
devils dimonis black sheep ovella negra
bad eggs ous podrits near-do-well desastre
beggars pidolaires

C) Apart from Pirates of the Caribbean, Which novels or films about pirates do you
know?

Novels Films

42
1.1.3. The word pirate has more than one meaning.

a) Have a look at the definition of the word pirate at http://www.websters-online-

dictionary.org/ and write down the definition related to each context:

A pirate at sea:

A pirate In computing:

A pirate with books and writings:

b) The word pirate is almost identical in many languages:

Catalan Basque Spanish English French German

pirata pirata pirata pirate pirate pirat

Use a dictionary to find out the origin of the word pirate and which its original meaning
was.

c) In English, the words pirate and hacker share some meaning. Check it by looking
out the meaning of both words in the dictionary on line http://www.websters-online-
dictionary.org/.

Write down the meaning they have in common:

pirate Hacker

A programmer for whom computing

is its own reward; may enjoy the
challenge of breaking into other
computers.

1.1.4. Famous pirates.

a) Both literature and cinema are full of adventures where pirates star. All these stories
have been inspired by real pirates, some of which are legendary. Here you have three
of the most famous pirates in history. Read their biographies1 or check at
http://piratemaster.wetpaint.com/page/Famous+Pirates and fill in the chart below:

1
Annex 1

43
 Century and
main territory:

Henry
Morgan
Why is he
famous?

Century and
main territory:
Edward
Teach
Barba
Negra Why is he
famous?

Century and
main territory:

Anne
Bonney
Why is she
famous?

1.2. Islands and treasures

1.2.1 Islands

a) Write down, without the help of an atlas, the names of all the islands you can
remember.

b) How do you imagine your ideal island? First try to fill in the chart and then write a
brief description with all the information decided.

My Ideal island

Situation:

Size:

Climate:

Population

Flora and fauna:

44
Geographical features:

c) What would you take to a desert island? Who would you go with?

1.2.2. Treasures

a) Would you dare to take part in an expedition in the search of a treasure?

b) Where would you hide a very valuable object? How would you mark the place?
How would you mark the exact place to remember it later on? How would you pass
the secret information about the treasure to someone else?

c) Make a list with ten things you consider a treasure.

___________________________________ ___________________________________

___________________________________ ___________________________________

___________________________________ ___________________________________

___________________________________ ___________________________________

___________________________________ ___________________________________

Now circle the ones that are not material objects, if there are any.

1.3. Ships

The action of the novel takes place mainly on board, on the Hispaniola ship. Do you
know the main parts of a ship?

Read the following definitions in Catalan. Could you match the English counterpart
after having a look at the picture below?

45
 piratemaster.wetpaint.com/page/The+parts+of+a...

Catalan English Definition

Arbre o Cadascun dels pals fixats en un vaixell de vela,

pal perpendicularment a la quilla, destinat al sosteniment de
les veles.

Popa Part posterior del buc d'un vaixell.

Proa Part davantera del buc d'un vaixell.

Babord Costat esquerre d'un vaixell mirant-lo de popa a proa.

Bauprès Pal ajagut que surt de la proa del vaixell.

Estribord Costat dret d'un vaixell, mirant-lo des de popa a proa.

Major Pal o arbre vertical que va situat al mig d'un veler.

Mitjana Pal o arbre vertical que va situal a la part de popa d'un

vaixell de tres arbres

Trinquet Pal o arbre vertical que va situat a la part de proa d'un

veler.

46
2 . WHILE READING

1. Read chapter one “Jim Hawkins Story I” and answer the following questions:

a) Who tells the story you are about to read?

b) An old man comes to the Inn. His physical appearance is quite peculiar. Mark the
traits that describe him:

Pale
Elegant Skinny
Plump Short

c) Why does he decide to stay at the inn?

d) How does he behave?
e) Who is the captain afraid of?
f) Early one January morning, Black Dog appears at the inn. Match the actions with the
corresponding character:

1. He is looking for his friend Bill

2. His face went white. Black Dog

3. He says the captain is really ill.

4. He fell on the floor. Captain

5. He sees two men fighting.

6. He runs out of the house Jim

7. He calls Billy Bones to the captain

8. He gets the captain a drink. Dr. Livesey

g) Put the actions in the correct order:

1. Jim’s father dies.

2. The blind man puts a black paper into the captain’s hand.
3. The captain is dead on the floor.
4. The captain spends a week in bed
5. A blind man arrives at the inn.
6. The captain says he has three hours, as they are coming at 10 o’clock.

Order of the actions:

h) Where do Jim and his mother go to look for help?

i) Everybody was too afraid of helping them. What do they decide to do?
j) What do they find inside the captain’s box?
k) They suddenly hear a noise and they have to rush. What do they have time to take?
l) Jim and his mother hide behind a tree but the pirates look for them because they
want the envelope. Who comes to rescue them? People in the village.

47
m) Decide if the following sentences are true or false:

1. When Jim arrives at Mr Trelawney’s house, he is alone. T F

2. Jim tells Mr Trelawney’s about the pirates T F

Mr Trelawney says Flint was a famous pirate and a very

3. T F
bad man.

4. Mr Trelawney is not excited about the treasure. T F

5. Inside the packet there is a map of the island T F

6. The map says nothing about a treasure. T F

7. Mr Trelawney decides to go to Bristol to buy a ship. T F

8. He also decides that Jim and Dr Livesey travel with him. T F

n) Some weeks later Dr. Livesey gets a letter from Bristol. Trelawney has everything
ready for the journey. What is the name of the ship? What is the name of the cook?
What is peculiar about him?
o) Why does Jim go to the Spy Glass Inn?
p) Jim sees Black Dog and tells Silver about him. What does Silver do?
q) Captain Smollet is not happy about the trip. Why? Fill in the chart with his objections

Things Smollet doesn’t like Why?

.
Objective of the journey

The sailors

r) One night Jim climbed inside a barrel to get some fruit and he hears a very
dangerous conversation .Complete what Long John Silver said with the words given:

Treasure captain map leg dead kill ship

Flint was our ………. . I lost my ……….. and Pew is ……….. now. Most of Flint’s men
are now on this………. . We want to ………. Captain Smollett, Trelawney and the
doctor but let’s wait. They have the ………. so let them find the ……….. first.

s) What does Jim do with this information?

t) When they arrive at the island, many facts happen. Imagine that Jim writes them
down in some papers in order to remember everything when he comes back to
England. Unfortunately the papers get all mixed up. Can you help him to put the in the
correct order?

48
 I quietly get in one I climb a hill and I Smollet gives free
of the boats that saw a man. He is time to the sailors
go the island too. Benn gun. to avoid a mutiny.

Once on the island John Silver and I hear the pirates

I run away from thirteen men got in talking angrily.
the pirates. Silver the small boats to There is a fight
calls me but I don’t get to the island. and one man dies.
listen to him.

I tell Ben Gun the Smollet tells Mr. I and Benn gun
whole story. Trelawney’s men run to the beach
about Silvers’ and hear a fight.
intentions.

2) Read Chapter 2 “Dr Livesey’s Story” and answer the questions:

a) Mr Trelawney, the doctor and captain Smollet were on the ship together with six
pirates when the other thirteen pirates go to the island. What did they do there?
b) Why did Dr Livesey and Hunter take a boat and went to the island?
c) Finish the following sentences:

1. Joyce and the doctor carried the food from……………………….

2. Joyce stays in the house with the gun and the doctor……………….
3. The five men put food and guns into a small ship and ……………….
4. Then the pirates on the Hispaniola heard them and wanted to …………………
5. Mr. Trelawney shot at them and ………………………….
6. The pirates on the island……………………….
7. The five men jumped on the beach and most of the food ……………….
8. They reached the house and shot ………………….
9. One of the pirates and Redruth ………………
10. The person they hear outside the house is……………..

3) Read Chapter 3 “Jim’s Story II” and answer the questions:

a) When Jim gets to the house he tells Dr Livesey about somebody. Who?
b) How many people are there in each gang?
c) Next morning Silver comes to the house with a white flag. What does he want?

49
d) What is Captain Smollet answer?
e) Afterwards the pirates attack the house. Who dies?
f) After Livesay left the house. Jim takes some food and a gun and leaves the fortress
as well. Where does he go?
g) What does Jim want to do at the Hispaniola?
h) How many men were on the ship at that moment, what were they doing?
i) Next morning Jim decides to climb onto the Hispaniola . What happens there?
Complete the sentences with the correct option:

has dissapeared.

1. One of the pirates is dead but

Israel Hands….
lies there with his leg badly
hurt.

fights Hands

2. Jim …
gives Hands some water.

Hands hill help him sail

North if he gives him food.
3. Jim and Hands agree that
They should both wait for
the others.

Hands and Jim fight. Jim

gets hurt.
4. Once the ship was near the
beach on North Inlet Hands and Jim fight. Jim
fallss into the sea.

Everybody is happy to see

him
5. Jim gets to the house and
John Silver is there.

j) How many pirates are there in the house?

k) Silver decides not to kill Jim, even if all the other pirates don’t agree. Why?
l) How does Silver make the other pirates agree with him?
m) Who asks “Why are you with the pirates, Jim”?
n) Silver, Jim and the pirates start looking for the treasure. At the beginning of the
expedition they are really happy. What changes their mood?
o) What do they find under the tree? p) What is the pirates’ reaction?
q) Who saves Jim and Silver from the pirates?

50
r) Who gets the treasure before Silver and the pirates get to the place? Where does he
hide it?.
s) Why does the doctor give the map to Silver?
t) Why do they break one boat?
u) How do they celebrate the happy ending?
v) What is Silver’s attitude?
x) Explain how the story ends.

51
3. AFTER READING

The novel Treasure Island is a journey towards a lost island in the far seas. We want
you to relive that trip by doing the activities below.

3.1. Our Destiny: a desert island

In the past, seamen used compasses and the stars to find their way in the sea.
Besides, they had to make guesses about the weather. Nowadays, we have very
modern systems such as the GPS (Global Position System) which allow us to know
exactly where we are, the exact coordinate.

3.1.1. Where are we right now? Do you know you position right now? By using the
program Google Earth you will find it out easily ( if you don’t have it in your computer
you can download it easily from http://earth.google.com/intl/es/

Write the name of your town here

Here you can see the coordinates

The program will show you an aerial image of your town. You can come closer if you
click on +. Now complete:

Town/village: coordinates:

3.2. Objective: in the search of a treasure

The final goal of the expedition is to find a treasure. In the end, Jim and his mates are
happy because they find it. However, some men die during the adventure. Give your
personal opinion on the following questions:

a) Do you think it is ethical to get a treasure by robbing and sacking as Flint did?

52
b) Do you think it is correct that Jim and his friends share the gold even if it was
previously robbed to someone else?

c) Ben Gun had the treasure for a long time but it was useless on the island. The
author of the novel seems to reflect on the fact that sometimes material goods are not
important. What do you consider to be treasures? In groups, make a list of non material
things that you consider to be treasures. Vote the best suggestion so that the whole
class comes up with the most non material treasure

Our treasure is……………………………..

Compare you answer to the one you wrote down in exercise 2.2 in Before Reading.

d) Stevenson wrote Treasure Island after he drew a map of an imaginary island with a
hidden treasure. It seems hat he wrote the novel to entertain his family. In fact, the map
is a basic element in the story as all characters want to have it. I groups, draw a
treasure map. Following these instructions:

1. The island is your school, so draw a map of the school and decide where you will
hide the treasure.
2. Make up symbols and their meaning.
3. Write down at least five tracks.
4. Leave trails in the places marked in the map.
5. Hide the treasure (it can be just a paper with the thing you have decide is a treasure
in exercise 2b)
6. If you want your map to look like an old and authentic map, crease the paper and
throw some coffee on it. . After it dries up, it will look like a real XIX century map!

3.3. Travelling companions

a) Imagine you have to go on an expedition to look for a treasure on a desert island.

Who would you go with? Make your own crew with characters from novels, cartoons or
films.

MY CREW

Captain Helmsman

Commander Cleaning team

Cook Doctor

b) Stevenson sometimes uses the names he gives to his characters as symbols. For
example, we can guess John Long Silver is going to be a very important character in
the novel just by the meaning of his name. What does “Silver” mean? Find out the
meaning of the following Characters:

53
 .
Black Dog

Ben Gunn

Silver

Billy Bones

Hunter

Livesay

Trelawney

c) Do you remember the role of each character in the novel? Match the picture with its
definition

He is the hero of the book. He finds the

map in the captain’s box and eventually
saves everyone from the pirates. After
many adventures on Treasure Island he
returns to England with the treasure.
TRELAWNEY

54
He is hired by the Squire to be the cook
on the Hispaniola. He turns out not to be
a cook but an evil pirate who is also
hunting for Captain Flint's treasure.
Generally he is not to be trusted. He is a
clever, sneaky and villain who is feared FLINT
by all. He escapes at the end of the book
with some of the treasure and is never
seen again.
He funds the secret treasure hunt, but
due to his big mouth he lets the secret
out, alerting Long John Silver and his
pirate mates. Brave, means well, but a
little bit stupid - he is also hopeless at JIM
keeping secrets.

A decent, honourable man, who is

practical and sensible even when things
get tough. Due to his common sense the
treasure is found and brought safely
home. SILVER

He has been on the island for three

years. He helps Jim and the others to
overcome the pirates and take the
treasure home.

LIVESEY
.A drunken, violent and yet terrified man
who brings the map to Jim's Inn. He is
given the Black Spot by Blind Pew and
dies of a heart attack from terror.

BEN GUNN

He is a fine, upstanding gentleman and

an excellent captain. He is immediately
suspicious of his motley crew. He proves
to be very brave and trustful.
PEW
An evil and sinister pirate who was
blinded in a pirate attack. He is cruel,
scary and determined to get the map. He
gives Billy Bones the Black Spot.
BILLY BONES
He was the most evil, cruel and heartless
pirate to sail the seven seas and it is his
treasure that everyone is after.

SMOLLET

55
3.4. Supplies and resources

What would you take to a desert island to be able to survive there? In groups decide
which twelve things would be the most necessary ones. Bear in mind that on the island
there will be fruit trees, rabbits and a stream.

1. _______________________________ 7. _______________________________

2. _______________________________ 8. _______________________________

3. _______________________________ 9. _______________________________

4. _______________________________ 10. ______________________________

5. _______________________________ 11. ______________________________

6. _______________________________ 12. ______________________________

3.4.2. Symbols
Flags are important as they are symbols that may represent a nation or an ideology. In
the novel, both pirates and gentlemen respect the white flag in the middle of the fight.
In fact, each group has a flag that represents them: the pirate flag and the England
flag.
In those times, each pirate was able to have his own flag, although the meaning was
always the same: frighten the enemy and make it clear that they were dangerous. Here
you have some examples:

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolly_Roger

How would you design your flag if you were a captain on a pirate ship? Design it by
using at least three elements and explain what they mean:

My flag Symbols

56
3.4.3. Words are also important
When you go on a dangerous trip like that, it is important to know the environment, to
be familiar with the words related to geography. Could you complete the picture with
the correct words?

Cave, hill, island, port, dune, delta, cliff, peak, crag, slope, bay, pond.

3.5. We go back home.

a) Imagine you are Jim Hawkins and you have a personal diary. Choose the episode in
the novel that you have liked the most and write about it in your personal diary. Don’t
forget:

• to write down the date and place where the events took place

• Use the present perfect tense. (I have seen, we have made...)

• Apart from telling about the main facts, you must talk about your feelings and
your spirits.

• You can draw some pictures to go with the text.

b) Discuss in groups: What would you do with your part of the treasure?

d) In the end of the book we know that Silver disappears with some of the treasure in
the first stopover. This fact leaves many questions open: will he spend all his money in

57
few months? Will he be arrested? Will he be a pirate again or will he be a different
person?

Write down the imaginary letter that John Silver writes to Jim Hawkins twenty years
later. Follow the instructions:

addressee
(Jim Hawkins)

writer/ heading
(John Silver)

salutation

body

Closing

Signature

Localitat des d'on s'escriu i data

58
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Baker, Franklin, T. Introduction to Stevenson, R.L., Treasure Island. Charles E. Merrill

Co. New York. 1999

Gish, Nancy. Jekyll and Hyde: The Psychology of Dissociation. International Journal of
Scottish Literature. 2007

McGlinn, Jean M. and McGlinn James E. Teachers guide to the signet classical edition
of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Ed. Signet Classics

Study for the Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The
Glencoe Literature Library. Ed. Glencoe Mc Graw Hill. New York

Stevenson, R. L. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Oxford Bookworms

Level 4. OUP. 2008

Stevenson. R. L. Treasure Island. Penguin Readers Level 2. Pearson-longman. 2008

Pirates, corsairs and buccaneers. Centre of educational resources of the sea of the
Maritime Museum of Barcelona.

The schooner of Saint Eulàlia. Centre of educational resources of the sea of the
Maritime Museum of Barcelona.

Web sites:

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.2008:

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/treasure

National Library of Scotland. Robert Louis Stevenson. 2008:

http://www.nls.uk/rlstevenson/

Dury, Richard. The Robert Louis Stevenson web site. Bergamo University.2008
http://dinamico.unibg.it/rls.htm

Nelson, Brittany (2000). Classic Note on Treasure Island (Grade Saver site):
summaries, analyses, links

Treasure Island: A Literature Unit Study

http://www.easyfunschool.com/article2275.html

Several articles and activities about Stevenson and his novels

www.teachit.co.uk

The Victorian web:

http://www.victorianweb.org/

Several documents on Jekyll and Hyde:

http://www.teachit.co.uk/index.asp?CurrMenu=24&S=486

Treasure Island Study guide:

http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/treasure/section3.html

59
Appendix 1

Pirate Name: Anne Bonny Born: between 1697 and 1705

Hailed from: County Cork, Ireland Died:1782

Physical characteristics:

Early Life: Her father, attorney William Cormac, had an affair with his maidservant Mary
or Peg Brennan. She became pregnant with Anne and the affair became public. William
married Ms. Brennan then moved the family from Ireland to Charleston, South Carolina.
There he made a fortune and bought a plantation where Anne grew up.

How she became a pirate: When Anne was 16, she fell in love with and married a
pirate hunter called James Bonny. Her father disowned her. James moved with Anne to
the Bahamas. There she began to mingle with pirates. James began turning pirates in to
the governor of Nassau. Anne despised him, finding herself more attracted to the real
pirates - like "Calico" Jack Rackham.

She met Jack Rackham and had an affair. In order to avoid superstition and join Jack's
crew, Anne dressed herself up as a man.

Her main territory: Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Turk and Caicos Islands.

Famous/Infamous for: She was a female pirate. She never commanded her own ship.

Physical characteristics:
Blackbeard was tall and muscular, and used his physique to his advantage. His mere
reputation had enemies surrendering with little resistance. He had a long black beard,
which he would braid ribbons into before battle. He wore a bandolier across his chest
with six pistols. Blackbeard had long hair, and was also known to weave matches
(candle wicks) into it and would light them before a battle, cloaking his head in a cloud
of smoke

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Early Life:
The truth of his early life was never known. Others have said that he was the illegitimate
child of a barmaid and a nobleman. Even his true name has it doubts. It has been
referenced as Thach, Tach, Tache, Tatch, Teatch and Thatch. ''Teach'' seems to be the
accepted spelling since it was used by Lt. Maynard, who eventually slew him.

Finally met her end: Mysteriously disappeared At her trial, both her and Mary Read
were sentenced to hang. But, they were spared when they "plead their bellies." Meaning
they were both pregnant, so the court would not hang an innocent child. It is said that
both were carrying Calico Jack Rackham's child. And both ladies had given birth to a
child before. Mary died in prison before the sentence could be carried out, and their are
two stories of what happened to Anne. One was that a Doctor had taken fancy to ther
and notified her father who was known in Jamaica, and had pull with the Governor,
enough to get her pardoned. The other story was that Anne, on a previous occasion told
the Governor of a plot to kill him, and he pardoned her with the proviso that she leave
the Caribbean and never return. And as stated previously, she did disappear. (Note: I
am writing a novel, and as a result of research the facts reported are everything that is
known of what happened to Anne and Mary)

Biggest myths: Anne started a fire on here father's plantation in retaliation for her
father disowning her over marrying the pirate James Bonny. Also rumoured to have had
a sexual relationship with Mary Reade

Captain Morgan

Click Easy Edit to add details about this pirate!

Real Name: Sir Henry Morgan Born: 1635

Hailed from: Wales, UK Died: August 25, 1688

Physical characteristics:

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Early Life:

How he became a pirate:

Her main territory:

Famous/Infamous for: When he died in 1688, there were almost no pirates left.
Morgan was one of the most ruthless and brutal of all pirates. His wit and force made
him one of the most respected and feared pirates of all time. He has been said to be the
king of all pirates.

He was knighted and made left tenant of Jamaica.

Finally met his end:
Sir Henry Morgan, the greatest buccaneer, died on August 25, 1688. The Governor of
Jamaica, the Duke of Albemarle immediately ordered a state funeral. Morgans body
was taken to the King’s House at Port Royale for viewing by friends, family and drink
mates. The funeral procession with Morgan atop a gun carriage was slow and mournful.
Sir Harry was taken to the church of St. Peters which boasted the tallest stone tower in
the city. A church Sir Harry had donated much of the money to build.

Dr. Longworth gave a fine eulogy for ole Harry. Many a tears was seen to flow as they
carried him to the cemetery of the Palisadoes and laid poor Harry to rest. Captain
Wright ordered the gun crew of the Assistance to give him a twenty two gun salute. The
HMS Drake, which lay in harbour and many other warships, echoed the salute. After the
last of the warships guns had fired, the merchant ships in one thunderous explosion
fired their guns as well.

Never again will such as Captain Henry Morgan sail these waters.

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