Literature Network » Robert Louis Stevenson » Treasure Island
Treasure Island
(1883)
To this wonderful book I owe the confirmation of my imagination. As a child I must have heard or read some pirate stories and we played pirate games often. Then in the last year of primary school some muse prompted our teacher to read this book to us last class every Friday. It was wonderful! I could imagine that steamy island, those skeletons, Flint, Long John Silver, the parrot, and Ben Gunn who had survived on his own for years there. I even dreamt about this story. Such an imaginative yarn. I have read it at intervals throughout my life and it gets better each time.What a story teller Stevenson was! --Submitted by Brendan
~
In an age of declining literacy standards, it is instructive to revisit a work of literature which has done more than almost any other to promote reading amongst boys. Whether revisiting it or discovering it for the first time, adults will also be enchanted by Stevenson's consummate skills as a story-teller.
Treasure Island is a gripping pirate story, fast-paced by the standards of its time and full of action. For this reason, it has been a staple of school reading lists, at least until the stultifying hand of political correctness started to remove it from the curriculum. Unlike modern attempts to inculcate children with a love of reading through the use of action-packed and exciting stories (think
Harry Potter),
Treasure Island has the merit of being written in faultless and elegant English prose. True, a few expressions sound a little stilted to the modern ear--
"If you do not put that knife this instant in your pocket..."--but the language is wholly accessible to a competent reader in Year 6 or above, and the occasional archaic formulation adds to the old-world charm of the work.
Treasure Island also provides a gentle introduction to the genre of nautical adventure stories set in the age of the sail (e.g. Patrick O'Brien's Jack Aubrey novels, now popularised in the Russell Crowe movie 'Master and Commander', and C.S Forester's Hornblower stories, the subject of a 1951 Gregory Peck movie and the recent Ioan Gruffud mini-series). Adults who have not read this wonderful book will do themselves a favour by trying it. They will do an even bigger favour for their school-age boys by introducing them to it. --Submitted by Alan Anderson
~
Fan of this book? Help us introduce it to others by writing a better introduction for it. It's quick and easy, click here.
Quizzes on Treasure Island
Please submit a quiz here.
Recent Forum Posts on Treasure Island
Treasure island help!
TREASURE ISLAND : ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON Can you help me answer these questions? 1. What is the symbolism of the treasure? 2. What are the obstacles they faced as they journeyed to find the island? 3. What attitude/significant character and from whom helped the, achieve/not their goals? I REALLY REALLY NEED THESE FOR MY PROJECT OR ELSE I'LL FAIL. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?
Posted By neverbeenkissed at Sat 2 Jan 2010, 8:05 PM in Treasure Island || 0 Replies
Help!
TREASURE ISLAND : ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON Can you help me answer these questions? 1. What is the symbolism of the treasure? 2. What are the obstacles they faced as they journeyed to find the island? 3. What attitude/significant character and from whom helped the, achieve/not their goals? I barely understood the book. @-) I need it ASAP.
Posted By neverbeenkissed at Sat 2 Jan 2010, 4:53 AM in Treasure Island || 0 Replies
Treasure Island
Last week I read Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, "Treasure Island". I'm thirty years old so when my friends saw me walking around with a book with a skull and bones on the cover they busted my chops a little. Having never read the book themselves they are under the impression that a book about pirates and treasure can only appeal to young boys. But I couldn't disagree more. In my opinion I found Treasure Island to be very well written, Stevenson's prose are excellent and his vocabulary was extensive. I was really surprised. In saying that I mean that the although the book is about pirates, etc, it's actually a book that I think many adults would enjoy. It has that perfect blend of childhood adventure and mature realism, i.e. the pirates were real guys, not some walking sack of bones with a curse. I'd like to get some other opinions on this book. I'm sure others have read it.
Posted By Indian Boy at Mon 17 Aug 2009, 9:50 AM in Treasure Island || 4 Replies
Help
PLEASE HELP ME I need 5 major event from treasure island in chronological order. Also i need one special event from the story that was important to the development to the story. PLEASE I NEED IT BY TOMORROW
Posted By joseph 009 at Sun 10 May 2009, 12:50 AM in Treasure Island || 0 Replies
Considering reading
I was afraid to open up any of the existing threads because of spoilers. The back of the book I got from the library makes it seem like a simple adventure book. Is there more to it?
Posted By Bancini at Tue 10 Feb 2009, 2:20 PM in Treasure Island || 0 Replies
Finished it
I just got done reading it,I liked it even though it is quite hard to understand.With a little help from sparknotes i could understand what was going on.I really liked this book what about you?
Posted By Tyking at Thu 24 Jan 2008, 4:52 PM in Treasure Island || 0 Replies
I need help wit an essey i have to do tommorrow (ASAP)
i have to write and essey at least 5 paragraphes or more answering the following Why does Stevenson choose to portray Long John Silver in a positive light, considering he is a villain? i dont need the essey i can right that myself all i need is the answer to that question cause ima use it as my thesis? and it would help if u can quote the book with concrete details to answer the question to. plz ppl i really need help i read the book but i didnt get it fo nothing and i have to have the the question answered by tonight
Posted By eriland91 at Tue 18 Sep 2007, 9:14 PM in Treasure Island || 0 Replies
Treasure island Help
This is the assignment: In a Composition of at least 5 paragraphs, respond to the following essay questionBe sure to respond to the entire question, citiong examples from the novel- when appropriate - which support your argument and conclusion. Remeber to proofread your final draft for omission or mistakes. This is the question, Who do you freel is the strongest leader, Captain Smollett or Long John Silver? List details from the story to justify your choice. I need this Essay ASAP it is 8:52 pm I need it by the morning Pleaseeeeeeeee!!! If I do not have this by the morning I will FAIL!! :(:(:( So please please please helpp me!!!!!!!!!
Posted By skeet-skeet at Tue 31 Oct 2006, 9:00 PM in Treasure Island || 1 Reply
Horrible!
How can anybody possibly like this book? This could be the worse book I've read in a long time. The language has is as interesting and colorful as a rock. The ending was beyond horrible. I would not recommend this book; actually I would say to stay away from it.
Posted By bubbaroo at Sat 10 Dec 2005, 5:04 PM in Treasure Island || 19 Replies
Treasure Island
This is my favorite book, and I read it at least once a month. The fantastic writing and thrilling plotline makes this book a real page-turner! Fans of this book should read "Long John Silver" by Bjorn Larsson.
Posted By Alex Rowe at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in Treasure Island || 0 Replies