Given that this book has been adapted numerous times, it might be insightful to watch some of the available versions to assess how closely the adaptations adhere to the original text. For instance, one might consider whether the characters are portrayed as clearly and fully as they are in the novel.

1. Does the conflict between David and Alan come across as realistic? Although they have no substantial reason for their disagreement, both are exhausted and anxious. Is this sufficient to make the scene believable and compelling?

2. Throughout much of the story, David is conflicted: he likes Alan and feels loyal to him, yet he is also uneasy about Alan's chosen path. Is this inner conflict depicted convincingly by Stevenson? Does it enhance the hero's characterization?

3. Is the fight scene on The Covenant plausible? Could two individuals realistically fend off such a large group of attackers as described in the text?

4. What are the primary conflicts in the novel, aside from the obvious physical confrontations? Are these conflicts well-developed? Are any of them unnecessary?

5. Does Kidnapped contain any elements that directly support Stevenson's assertion that romance is a literary form deserving of high regard?

6. What seem to be the main motivations for the Highlanders to support a clearly doomed cause? Are these motivations credible?

7. Why does David not ultimately separate from Alan, despite the clear risk of associating with a wanted outlaw? Do his reasons align with his character as it has been developed in the story?

8. Does the element of chance play too significant a role in the plot? Like other notable authors such as Dickens and Hardy, Stevenson has sometimes been criticized for relying too heavily on coincidence to resolve his stories. Is there any merit to this criticism?

Fred B. McEwen