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"?