In Treasure Island (1883) by Robert Louis Stevenson, a nasty, blind pirate named Pew gives ex-pirate Billy Bones a mark of revenge. This act is precisely what the black spot stands for when given in malice: judgement day. For those who hold it are doomed to die! But what is the literary origins of the black spot? Why did Robert Louis Stevenson choose the black spot as his means of vengeful conveyance? In this post, we will examine the literary origins of the black spot.
Continue reading Marked for Doom: The Literary Origins of the Black SpotTag Archives: treasure island
The Surprising Inspiration Behind “Dead Man’s Chest” by Robert Louis Stevenson
There are many famous poems with lines that transcend the very work in which they appear. In this poem, by Stevenson, the utterance of “Fifteen Men on the Dead Man’s Chest” has now permeated culture, from Muppet’s Treasure Island (1996) to The Pirates of the Caribbean (2003). Such longevity might make one wonder: what is the staying power of this verse?
Continue reading The Surprising Inspiration Behind “Dead Man’s Chest” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Treasure Island as a Gilded Age Novel: Perspective and Historical Significance
The gunfight at the O.K. Corral, President James Garfield is shot and killed by Charles Guiteau, and the first Christmas tree with electric lights is manufactured by Thomas Edison employee Edward Johnson. The Gilded Age was a strange time. But all of these events happened the same year Robert Louis Stevenson penned the landmark pirate novel Treasure Island. Thus, we can look at Treasure Island as a Gilded Age novel.
Continue reading Treasure Island as a Gilded Age Novel: Perspective and Historical Significance
How to Write Like Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson is a celebrated writer. His focus on action and suspense created many compelling dramas. These include Treasure Island, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Black Arrow, and Kidnapped. He is also known for his complex imagination and a distinctive writing style. In this post, we will analyze Stevenson’s writing style and contribution to fiction by analyzing how to write like Robert Louis Stevenson.
Continue reading How to Write Like Robert Louis Stevenson
Treasure Island 2012 Mini-Series Adaptation: Dark and Grim
Treasure Island is a timeless adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. It has had many iterations throughout the years in television and film. A personal favorite of mine is Muppet Treasure Island (1996), which has a stirring performance from Tim Curry as Long John Silver. Nevertheless, the book has captivated readers for generations with its tale of pirates, treasure hunts, and swashbuckling escapades. And this brings us to another wonderful adaptation. In this post, we are going to take a look at the Treasure Island 2012 mini-series release. In it, Eddie Izzard, Toby Regbo, Donald Sutherland, and Elijah Wood give excellent performances.
Understanding Pirate Literature by through the Life of a Pirate
In Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, we get a good idea as to what pirating looks like according to the author. Much of it is ne’er-do-well behavior and much of it is also unsavory behavior. Long John Silver, for instance, is a liar and a conman who is very much in league with a sordid sort, and is looking to murder those who get in his way. Such is the life of a pirate.
Continue reading Understanding Pirate Literature by through the Life of a Pirate
You must be logged in to post a comment.