Chapters 16-18

Is Charlotte Innocent?

Question #1

Could Zachariah have murdered Mr. Hollybrass as Charlotte suspected?  Prove your answer.

Question #2

What does the Captain's disheveled physical state indicate about his state of mind?  

Question #3

Has your impression of Mr. Keetch changed since you learned that he planned to hide Zachariah?  Explain your reasons.

Question #4

What difficulties would Zachariah have in taking Captain Jaggery to court in Rhode Island in 1832?

Question #5

Given the power held by the captain of a ship during this period in history, do you feel Charlotte had a fair trial?  Defend your answer.

Question #6

Reread Chapter 18, look closely at the questions the Captain asked.  How were the questions designed to "tighten the noose" around Charlotte's neck?  Be specific.

Chapters 13-15

Who Tilts the Scales of Justice at Sea?

Question #1

What do you think Charlotte meant in Chapter 13 when she said, "And yet I had to climb. This was my restitution"?  Restitution for what?

Question #2

Charlotte's choice of clothing poses an issue for Captain Jaggery.  Why does what she wears matter to him?  What does her choice of clothing say about her?

Question #3

Captain Jaggery and the crew call Charlotte by different names, what do you see as the significance of these two names?  Which name fits Charlotte?

Question #4

Charlotte refers to "a prison" "as her proper place", what do you think she means by that statement?  To what prison does she refer?

Question #5

When and why did Grimes begin teaching Charlotte to use a knife?  Good decision or poor one?  Explain.

Question #6

What do you believe will happen as a result of the death of Mr. Hollybrass?  What do you think should happen?

Chapters 9-12

Up, Up, and Up?

Question #1

What did volunteering to go for Ewing's needle indicate about the change in Charlotte's character?

Question #2

Although Charlotte had been spying on the crew,  how do you think she felt when they began to spy on her?  Is turnabout fair play?

Question #3

Why was Charlotte the only one to defend Zachariah against the captain?  Would you have defended  him? Why or why not?

Question #4

At what point did Charlotte finally recognize the captain's true nature?  What event or events pushed her decision in your opinion?

Question #5

Do you think that Charlotte made the correct choice in siding with the crew?  Explain.

Question #6

Irony is a twist of words or events that turns out to be the opposite of what is expected. What is ironic about the captain's saying to Cranick, "I wondered where you'd gone. Not to hell as I'd hoped - but here"?

Tough Choices!

Tough Choices For Charlotte!
Chapters 6-8

Question #1

Charlotte makes a choice to not tell the captain about her adventure in the hold.  She also makes the choice to keep the dirk.  These choices place her in opposition to authority on the ship.  Why do you think Charlotte is placing herself in this position?  Explain. 

Question #2

Of all the men on the ship, who could have placed the carved head in the hold? Why do you really think the head was placed there?

Question #3

What does Charlotte's response to Zachariah's gift of sailor's clothing indicate about the development of her character?  

Question #4

If you could talk to Charlotte, what advice would you give about staying safe on this journey?  

Question #5

At the end of Chapter 7, Charlotte said that she wanted to hide the knife and forget about it. What does this tell you about her growth as a character and what do you think will happen to the knife?

Question #6

What do you think Charlotte meant at the end of Chapter 8 when she said, "But the storm was--at first--man-made"? To what different kinds of storms might she have been referring?

TRUST

 Who do you Trust?
How do you Decide?

Question #1

Why does Charlotte choose to trust the Captain?  Who else had she trusted unwisely?

Question #2

Who do you trust on the ship?  Explain your choice(s).

Question #3

Charlotte chooses to lie to the Captain about the person who gave her the dirk?  What motivated her lie?  What would you have done in that situation?

Question #4

The author uses the metaphor, "A ship is a nation of its own".  What do you think is meant by this?  Explain your response.

Question #5

What does the saying "no ship sails the same sea twice" mean?

Question #6

Do you think Charlotte made the correct choice in casting her lot with Captain Jaggery?  Explain.

Setting Sail

"Alone" on a Crew Filled Ship

Question #1

The prologue is entitled, "An Important Warning", from the very first paragraphs things are seriously wrong with the plans for Charlotte's voyage.  What potential problems do you see?

Question #2

Zachariah thinks that he and Charlotte will be friends, yet she disagrees. What do you think? Explain.

Question #3

The author makes it a point to share the fears expressed by the porters. Do you think this information is significant? Explain.

Question #4

What is your impression of Charlotte Doyle? Do you like her?  Explain.

Question #5

Society was very different in 1832, what difference is the most striking to you?  What do you think would be the most difficult aspect to deal with?