Study Guide: Treasure Island — Chapter 1, “The Old Sea-dog at the ‘Admiral Benbow’”
Themes / Big Ideas
- Threshold between home and the outlaw world
- In-chapter: The quiet Admiral Benbow inn becomes a gateway to danger when the “captain” arrives.
- Whole-book tie: Jim repeatedly crosses from safety into the pirate world and back, growing each time.
- Coming-of-age through fear and responsibility
- In-chapter: Jim is entrusted to “keep [his] weather-eye open” and wrestles with real fear.
- Whole-book tie: Jim’s courage and judgment are tested as he moves from boy to capable adventurer.
- Law and order vs. piracy and intimidation
- In-chapter: Dr. Livesey (a magistrate) calmly confronts the captain’s violence and lawlessness.
- Whole-book tie: The novel contrasts social order (Livesey, Trelawney) with pirate codes and coercion.
- The allure and the horror of piracy
- In-chapter: The sea-song and thrilling tales fascinate locals even as they are terrified.
- Whole-book tie: Treasure and adventure tempt characters, but greed and violence exact a cost.
- Addiction and self-destruction
- In-chapter: Rum powers the captain’s moods, threats, and decline; Livesey warns it will ruin him.
- Whole-book tie: Intemperance repeatedly leads to weakness, betrayal, and death among pirates.
- Secrecy, paranoia, and foreshadowing
- In-chapter: The “one-legged man” haunts Jim’s dreams; the unopened sea-chest promises hidden danger.
- Whole-book tie: Secrets (maps, codes, disguises) drive the plot and reveal character.
- Power, authority, and leadership styles
- In-chapter: The captain rules by fear; Livesey rules by calm moral authority and the law.
- Whole-book tie: The novel contrasts brute force with cunning, discipline, and principled leadership.
- Money, debt, and exploitation
- In-chapter: The captain’s initial gold turns into mooching and bullying, harming Jim’s family.
- Whole-book tie: Treasure—its pursuit and division—exposes greed, loyalty, and justice.
Vocabulary
| Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| sea-dog | noun | An experienced, tough sailor. |
| sabre | noun | A curved, single-edged sword. |
| cove | noun | A small, sheltered bay. |
| hand-barrow | noun | A hand-propelled frame or small cart used to move heavy loads. |
| handspike | noun | A sturdy wooden lever used aboard ships (often to turn a capstan). |
| grog | noun | Rum mixed with water; a sailor’s drink. |
| grog-shop | noun | A tavern that sells spirits. |
| berth | noun | A place to sleep or stay; lodging. |
| before the mast | idiom | Serving as a common sailor rather than as an officer. |
| weather-eye | noun | Watchful alertness, originally for changes in the weather. |
| fourpenny (four-penny piece) | noun | A British coin worth four pence. |
| abominable | adjective | Extremely unpleasant; detestable. |
| decline (in a decline) | noun | A wasting illness; gradual loss of health. |
| assizes | noun (plural) | Periodic criminal courts formerly held in English counties. |
| clasp-knife | noun | A folding pocketknife. |
| magistrate | noun | A local civil officer or judge. |
| knuckle under | verb phrase | To submit; to give in. |
| rout out | verb phrase | To force out of hiding; to drive out. |
| Spanish Main | proper noun | The Spanish-controlled mainland and sea-lanes of the Caribbean. |
| Dry Tortugas | proper noun | Remote islands west of Key West, Florida, noted in seafaring lore. |
Quotes to Look For
- “Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey, and the rest of these gentlemen having asked me to write down the whole particulars…” — frames the story as Jim’s retrospective account.
- “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!” — iconic pirate refrain; glamor and menace in one.
- “This is a handy cove… and a pleasant sittyated grog-shop.” — the captain staking out the Benbow as his base.
- “You mought call me captain.” — hints at self-made authority and murky past.
- “Keep my weather-eye open for a seafaring man with one leg.” — major foreshadowing of Long John Silver.
- “His stories were what frightened people worst of all.” — the dark truth beneath the romance of piracy.
- “The great sea-chest none of us had ever seen open.” — symbol of secrets and the coming quest.
- “I paid pretty dear for my monthly fourpenny piece…” — the cost of fear and responsibility for Jim.
- “Silence, there, between decks!” — the captain’s habit of commanding by threat.
- “If you keep on drinking rum, the world will soon be quit of a very dirty scoundrel!” — Livesey’s moral clarity.
- “You shall hang at the next assizes.” — law confronting lawlessness.
- “The captain soon knuckled under.” — shows the limits of bullying when faced with real authority.