Kidnapped 4 5 by Robert Louis Stevenson 6

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T e a c h e r’s n o t e s 1

3 Kidnapped 4 5 by Robert Louis Stevenson 6

ELEMENTARY S U M M A R Y

avid Balfour knows little about the politics of ABOUT ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON D Scotland when he sets out from his Lowland home with a letter from his late father to his uncle, Robert Louis Stevenson was a poet, a travel writer and a Ebenezer. But he is quickly drawn into a web of intrigue novelist. Although he trained as an engineer and then as a which involves rebels and the forces of repression in the lawyer, he was always interested in writing and at the age Highlands. His uncle, afraid that David has come to claim of 25 began to devote his life to literature. his birthright as the child of the eldest son, arranges for He was a sickly child and his wanderlust may be partly David to be kidnapped and taken aboard a ship bound for accounted for by his search for a cure for his illness. At the Carolinas in the United States. He thinks he has seen various times in his life, he lived in France, The United the last of his nephew and at first, as David is carried States and in the South Seas, where he became known as around the north of Scotland, his plan appears to be ‘The Teller of Stories’. This was a fitting title for the person working. who gave the world the children’s classic Treasure Island, But near the western island of Mull, fate intervenes. published in 1883 and the horror story, The Strange Case David’s ship strikes a boat and a man from the boat is of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886). taken on board. He turns out to be a rebel Scot, Alan Stevenson died, aged only 44, on 3 December 1894 in Stewart, also known as Alan Breck, who has been forced Samoa. to live in France with the chieftain of his clan following the defeat of the Scots at the hands of the English on the field BACKGROUND AND THEMES of Culloden. Alan returns to Scotland regularly to collect money from his people for the exiled chieftain. Kidnapped is set in Scotland in 1751. This was a turbulent The captain of David’s ship decides to kill Alan Breck, but time in Scottish history. Just five years previously, the David, unable to stand by and see murder done, sides with rebellion of Scots against the English, called ‘The ‘45’, had Alan and between them they beat off the attack. Alan gives been put down decisively at the bloody battle of Culloden. David a shiny button from his French coat and tells David This brought to an end the attempt by Charles Edward he can use it anywhere in the Highlands to get help. Stuart, otherwise known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. to oust George II and become King of Great Britain. Problems Then a further disaster strikes. The ship runs aground between England and Scotland were age-old, but most and David is lucky to survive. He gets to the island of Mull recently they had been caused by the political union of alone and goes in search of Alan Breck. The shiny button 1707 which created the kingdom of Great Britain and which helps on several occasions and the pair finally meet up was an attempt to prevent the Scots objecting to the again after the murder of the Red Fox, one of the accession of George I of the Hanoverian line, following the Campbells who sided with the English at Culloden. death of the last Stuart, Anne. At Culloden, the Scots had At first, David suspects Alan of the murder but is soon hoped to surprise the English redcoats but were heavily convinced of his friend’s innocence – of this crime, at least. defeated by the Duke of Cumberland, who was George II’s Alan offers to take David back to his home, and a long and son. Following the defeat, Bonnie Prince Charlie fled to dangerous journey begins for the pair, as they avoid France, smuggled out of the Highlands by his many English redcoat soldiers several times. Eventually, David is supporters. home and he finds his uncle’s lawyer, who tells him that he Stevenson shows the two sides of Scotland at that time – no longer works for Ebenezer Balfour. Mr Rankeillor helps the Lowlanders, represented by David Balfour – who might to trap David’s uncle into admitting the plot to kidnap have been in favour of the political union of England and David, and the old man has to sign documents transferring Scotland in 1707, and the Highlanders, in the shape of ownership of the house at Shaws into David’s hands. Alan Breck, who felt oppressed, forbidden to wear their tartan costumes and unable to speak English, the language of the newly created Great Britain.

3 Ask students to work in small groups. Tell them to Communicative activities work out what happened in the fight in the roundhouse (Chapter 6) and after it. Ask them to The following teacher-led activities cover the same act out the events sections of text as the exercises at the back of the Reader and supplement those exercises. For Chapters 10–14 supplementary exercises covering shorter sections of 1 Ask students to work in pairs. and tell the story of the book, see the photocopiable Student’s Activities the death of the Red Fox (Chapter 10) from pages of this Factsheet. These are primarily for use David’s point of view. with class readers but, with the exception of the discussion and pair/group work activities, can also be 2 Ask students to work in pairs and decide where used by students working alone in a self-access David is by the end of the story and how he got centre. there. Elicit ideas from the pairs. 3 Remind students that Alan Breck said or implied ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK that he had killed people. Ask students to discuss Check that students understand the word kidnapped. in groups whether it is ever right to kill people for Ask them to look at the illustrations, including the a good cause. picture on the cover and the map opposite page 1 ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK Ask them to work out or guess the following points: Students work in small groups. Look at the titles of (a)when the story is set the chapters on the contents page. Try to remember (b)where the story takes place the story from the title of each chapter. (c)some of the events of the story from this information. ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION G l o s s a r y

Chapters 1–4 It will be useful for your students to know the following new words. 1 Ask students to work in pairs and to summarise They are practised in the ‘Before You Read’sections of exercises at the story so far, in particular, what happens to the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman Active Study Dictionary.) David and why. Elicit ideas from the pairs. 2 Ask students in pairs to think of two completely Chapters 1–4 different ways the story could develop from here. captain (n) someone who is in charge of a ship or plane hill (n) an area of high land, like a small mountain Elicit ideas from the pairs. key (n) something that you put into a lock to open a door, cupboard, Chapters 5–9 etc. kidnap (v)to take someone by force and keep them as your 1 Ask students to work in pairs and decide where prisoner until people give you money or things you want. David is by the end of this section, and how he lawyer (n) someone whose job is advise people about the law and got there. Elicit ideas from the pairs. speak for them in court 2 Write the first conversation between David and lightning (n) a bright flash of electric light in the sky during a storm murder (v) to kill someone deliberately and illegally Alan Breck on the board. Gradually erase words – articles first, then prepositions, then verbs then Chapters 5–8 nouns. At each stage, ask students to remember chieftain (n) the leader of a tribe clan (n) a large group of Scottish families that are all related to each the sentences. Then put students in pairs to role other play the conversation. Ask the pairs to continue fox (n) a wild animal like a dog with red-brown fur, a pointed face the conversation for a few more lines. and a thick tail David: Do you want them to kill you? island (n) a piece of land completely surrounded by water Alan: What do you mean? king (n) a man from a royal family who rules a country land (n) not the sea David: They’re all murderers on this ship. They soldier (n) a member of the army, especially someone who is not murdered a boy. Now it’s you. an officer Alan: Will you help me? button (n) one of the small round things sewn on a shirt, a pair of trouser, etc that you put through a hole in order to fasten it David: Yes. I’m not a murderer. rock (n) a large piece or solid mass of stone Alan: Good. What’s your name? roundhouse (n) a cabin on a sailing ship David: David Balfour. David Balfour of Shaws. shoot (v) to kill or injure someone with a gun sword (n) a weapon with a long sharp blade and a handle Alan: My name is Stewart – a king’s name. But they call me Alan Breck. How many are there? David: Fifteen. Alan: Oh!

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Student’s activities 1 Kidnapped 2 Photocopiable 3 Students can do these exercises alone or with one or more other students. Pair/group-only exercises are marked. 4

Activities before reading the book 5

Look through the illustrations and find these things: (e) The Covenant (v) Ebenezer’s 6 lawyer beds button gun hill horse knife sword table (f) Mr Shaun (vi) the first office ELEMENTARY (g) Mr Alexander (vii) the ship’s captain Activities while reading the book 6 Answer these questions about the information in Chapter 4. Chapters 1–4 (a) Why did David hate his uncle? 1 Match these questions and answers about the (b) Why did the back of David’s head hurt? information in the first part of Chapter 1 (to for the (c) Why did Mr Riach take the captain to see David? last time page 2) (d) Why did they move David to the seamen’s (a) How old was David Balfour? room? (b) Where did he live? (e) Why did David’s uncle help the men to kidnap (c) Who gave him a letter? David? (d) Who was the letter from? (e) Where did David’s father want him to go? Chapters 5–8 (i) David’s father. 1 Who said these words in the first part of Chapter 5 (ii) 17 (to then he fell asleep page 13) (iii) Essendean. (a) The boy’s dead. (iv) Mr Campbell. (b) You murdered the boy. (v) To the house of Shaws. (c) He brought me a dirty cup. 2 What or who, in the second part of Chapter 1 was 2 Match these questions (a–i) and answers … ? Discuss in pairs. (i–ix) about the information in the next part of (a) strange Chapter 5 (up to the drinks and gun room page (b) big 15). (c) little (a) Where did the ship hit something? (d) thick and heavy (b) What did the ship hit? (e) angry (c) What happened after the ship hit the boat? (f) old (d) Why did the man have a French coat? (g) dead (e) What did the man mean by ‘one of us’? (f) Where did the man want to go? 3 Are these sentences true or false about the (g) Where did Hoseason say he would take him? information in Chapter 2? (h) What did Riach want David to do? (a) There were no lights in the kitchen. (i) Where did they take the man from the boat? (b) Ebenezer and David were alone in the house. (i) a boat (c) Ebenezer and David had dinner together. (ii) a man came onto the ship (d) David didn’t give the letter to Ebenezer. (iii) because he lived in France (e) There was a fire in David’s room. (iv) near the island of Mull (f) David didn’t sleep in the bed. (v) on the same side = against the king of (g) Ebenezer was younger than David’s father. England (h) Ebenezer tried to kill David. (vi) and the king’s soldiers in red coats (i) Ebenezer was afraid to see David when he (vii) to France came into the kitchen. (viii)to get the guns from the roundhouse 4 Discuss in pairs. What happens to David in (ix) to Loch Linnie Chapter 3? Explain in one sentence. 3 Who or what are these people and places from 5 Match each thing or person from Chapter 3 to one Chapter 7? Match each name (a–h) with a description.(i viii) of the descriptions. – (a) Mr Campbell (a) Elias Hoseason (i) a boy (b) Appin (b) The Hawes (ii) a hotel (c) Ardshiel (c) Mr Rankeillor (iii) a ship (d) George (d) Ransome (iv) David’s father (e) James Stewart (f) The Red Fox

(g) Culloden chapter, using the phrases (h) The Highlands • sunny day (i) Alan’s chieftain • a lot of soldiers (ii) Alan’s town • another rock (iii) an area of Scotland with mountains • watching the river (iv) a friend of David’s • the widest place (v) Ardshiel’s brother • out of the sun (vi) Cohn Campbell of Glenure – the king’s man • from rock to rock in Appin • small river (vii) King of England • cold water (viii)the place of a big fight between the English • blue French coat and the Scots. • tall strong boy • very tired 4 Put these events from Chapter 8 in order. • open ground (a) A man called ‘Rocks! Stay away from the • hot sun land.’ • woke up and looked round (b) David found his wood again and swam across • Ben Alder to Mull. • good places up there (c) David found some wood and kicked his legs. • on his stomach (d) David knew he was on a small island with no • started to get dark houses or people. • nearly dead (e) David put his feet on the bottom and walked to the land. 3 Match the questions (a–h) and answers (i–viii) (f) David saw the big island of Mull across the about the information in Chapter 13. water. (a) Why couldn’t they use the bridge over the (g) The sea pulled David out of the ship and into river? the water. (b) How did they get across the river? (h) The ship got nearer to the island of Mull. (c) Who did David meet outside his house? (i) The wind changed and the ship turned onto (d) Why did David tell him his story? the rocks. (e) What was Mr Thomson? (j) When he climbed the rocks on Mull, some (f) Who did Ebenezer Balfour fall in love with? money fell out of David’s pocket. (g) Which brother did the girl choose to marry? 5 Complete these sentences about the information in (h) How did Ebenezer get the house of Shaws? Chapter 9. Use words from the box. (i) A girl took them in her father’s boat. (ii) After David’s grandparents died, his father English evening hill language river rocks and mother went away and left the house. ships smoke sun (iii) Because the lawyer said he didn’t work for (a) David was tired and found a place to sleep Ebenezer Balfour now. between two … (iv) Because there were a lot of soldiers there. (b) The ... woke him. (v) David’s father. (c) He found a small ... and had a drink. (vi) Mr Rankeillor, his uncle’s lawyer. (d) He climbed a small ... (vii) That was the name the lawyer gave to Alan (e) He saw ... from a house to the north-east. Breck. (f) He arrived at the house in the … (viii)The same girl as his brother. (g) He found an old man who didn’t speak ... 4 These sentences are about the information in (h) The old man said ‘There are no ... to Chapter 4. What do the words in italics refer to? Toronsay. Ask people.’ Discuss in pairs. (i) He asked people but he didn’t understand the (a) We have to hear him say that. Highland .... (b) They are yours. Chapters 10–14 (c) I won’t know you again. (d) He hit it hard. 1 Are these sentences about the information in Chapter 11 true or false? (e) You can pay us and we’ll lose him for you. (f) He can get more when he sells the boy in the (a) The Red Fox was murdered by Alan. Carolinas. (b) Alan sometimes killed people. (c) David didn’t have to stay with Alan. (g) You will put your name to them. (h) I hope you will be happy in your house. (d) The people at James Stewart’s house didn’t want the soldiers to find their guns and swords. Activities after reading the book (e) Alan and David slept at James Stewart’s house. Work in pairs. Which part of the book is: (f) The place between the rocks was a good 1 the most interesting place. 2 the most exciting 2 Look at these phrases from Chapter 12. They are 3 the most difficult to understand in order. Work in pairs and tell the story of the

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by Terry Philips Factsheet series developed by Louise James © Pearson Education 2001