Study Guide: Treasure Island — Chapter “Pieces of Eight”
Themes / Big Ideas (and how they connect to the whole novel)
- Coming of age and self-reliance: Jim faces death, treats his own wound, manages sails, and makes independent choices. His growing competence and confidence are part of his larger maturation arc throughout the book.
- Luck vs. skill: Jim’s survival hinges on seamanship and nerve—but also on chance (“a mere pinch of skin,” trusting the Hispaniola to luck). The novel often balances daring with fortune in shaping outcomes.
- Violence and moral ambiguity: Jim coolly disposes of O’Brien’s corpse and reflects on Hands’s death. The adventure glamor is tempered by grim realities, a recurring tension in the novel’s portrayal of piracy and “gentlemanly” conduct.
- Shifting power and betrayal: The apparent safety of the stockade proves an illusion; by night’s end Silver holds the upper hand. Alliances and control swing repeatedly in Treasure Island, highlighting Silver’s cunning and the instability of loyalties.
- Greed and obsession, voiced: The parrot’s relentless “Pieces of eight!” is a mechanical echo of the book’s central obsession—treasure—that drives pirates and gentlemen alike.
- Appearances vs. reality: Moonlight, fires, and snoring suggest calm and friendly ground, yet Jim blunders into the enemy. The novel repeatedly warns that surface appearances—maps, promises, flags—can deceive.
- Nature as indifferent stage: Singing cordage, tides, moonrise, and shadowy woods set a beautiful but uncaring backdrop. The sea and island remain neutral while human greed and courage play out.
Vocabulary
| Word/Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| cant (of the vessel) | noun | A tilt or slant of a ship to one side. |
| cross-trees | noun (plural) | Horizontal bars near the top of a mast used to support rigging. |
| bulwarks | noun (plural) | The sides of a ship that extend above the deck, offering protection. |
| coxswain | noun | The person in charge of steering and managing a ship’s boat. |
| dirk | noun | A long dagger. |
| shrouds | noun (plural) | Ropes/wires that support a mast from side to side. |
| starboard | noun/adj. | The right side of a ship when facing forward. |
| port | noun/adj. | The left side of a ship when facing forward. |
| douse (a sail) | verb | To lower quickly; to put out or drench. |
| halyards | noun (plural) | Ropes used to hoist sails or flags. |
| downhaul (spelled “downhall” in text) | noun | A rope used to pull down a sail or spar. |
| hawser | noun | A very thick rope or cable used for mooring or towing. |
| anchorage | noun | A place suitable for anchoring; also the area where ships anchor. |
| beam-ends (on her) | noun (plural) | Lying over on the side; nearly capsized. |
| maroon (noun) | noun | A person stranded (often intentionally) on an island. |
| palisade | noun | A defensive fence made of stakes. |
| blockhouse | noun | A small, sturdy fort-like building used for defense. |
| niggardly | adjective | Stingy; ungenerous (dated usage; unrelated to a slur but often avoided today). |
| truantry | noun | Absence without leave; shirking duty; truancy. |
| pieces of eight | noun (plural) | Spanish silver coins (worth eight reales), shorthand for pirate treasure. |
Quotes to Look For
- “He was dead enough, for all that, being both shot and drowned, and was food for fish in the very place where he had designed my slaughter.” — Irony and rough justice; the brutal reality of pirate life.
- “The knife… held me by a mere pinch of skin, and this the shudder tore away.” — Survival by inches; the role of chance.
- “For the rest, the Hispaniola must trust to luck, like myself.” — Luck versus control; Jim’s practical acceptance of uncertainty.
- “At least, and at last, I was off the sea, nor had I returned thence empty-handed.” — Jim’s pride and growing independence after a perilous success.
- “Possibly I might be blamed a bit for my truantry… I hoped that even Captain Smollett would confess I had not lost my time.” — Duty versus daring; Jim’s self-justification.
- “The cordage had begun to sing a little softly to itself…” — Nature personified; atmospheric tension before the twist.
- “There was not a soul stirring nor a sound beside the noises of the breeze.” — Calm that conceals danger; appearances mislead.
- “They kept an infamous bad watch.” — Leadership, discipline, and vulnerability when Smollett is down.
- “Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! … like the clacking of a tiny mill.” — The parrot’s refrain embodies the novel’s obsession with treasure.
- “It was she… keeping better watch than any human being…” — The parrot as an unexpected agent of fate; Silver’s camp gains the advantage.
- “Bring a torch, Dick,” said Silver… — The power shift crystallizes; Silver’s command and the cliffhanger capture.