1. The concept for Treasure Island seemingly originated from a treasure map that Stevenson sketched for his stepson, Lloyd Osbourne, during a chilly, wet summer in Scotland. Refer to a biography of Stevenson to discover more about the creation of the story and its initial publication.

2. The theme of the "double" plays a significant role in Stevenson's fiction, with Long John Silver's dual nature clearly paralleling the bizarre double life of the protagonist in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Compare these two novels. Why do you think Stevenson was so fascinated by the ambiguity between good and evil?

3. The storyline of Treasure Island shares similarities with another Stevenson novel, Kidnapped, where young David Balfour escapes his captors and journeys across Scotland. Compare David Balfour and Jim Hawkins as young protagonists.

4. Why is it crucial to Stevenson's plot that most of the adventure unfolds on a secluded island in the West Indies, far from England or Scotland? What are the benefits of a distant, exotic setting for adventure or romance?

5. Jim discovers the mutiny while hiding in an apple barrel, encounters Ben Gunn after sneaking ashore without permission, and regains control of the brig after deserting his friends during a perilous time. How believable are Jim's feats? Is he overly favored by fortune, as Captain Smollett suggests?