Educational Notes

a. Describe the expository scene of the story.

Ans: The story opens with the two treasure hunters, Evans and Hooker, approaching an island in a canoe. The scene is vividly described with a thick and deep green forest surrounding a sloppy hill, while a small river flows into the sea. This picturesque and mysterious setting establishes the tropical island atmosphere, creating an adventurous mood right from the start.

b. What does the map look like and how do Evan and Hooker interpret it?

Ans: The map that Evans and Hooker possess appears very old, worn out, and creased due to repeated folding. The markings are unclear and faded. Evans interprets the twisting lines on the map as representing a river and views a star symbol as indicating the treasure’s location. Meanwhile, Hooker examines the dotted and straight lines and focuses on the route leading to a lagoon. Their differing interpretations highlight their individual perspectives on the same map.

c. How did Evan and Hooker know about the treasure?

Ans: Evans and Hooker learned about the treasure when they overheard a conversation among Chinese men. They also obtained a map from a Chinese man, which indicated the location of the buried treasure. This information motivated them to embark on the risky treasure hunt on the island.

d. Describe Evan’s dream.

Ans: During their journey, Evans dozes off and dreams about the treasure and a man named Chang-hi. In his dream, he sees three Chinese men sitting around a small fire, speaking quietly in English. He overhears that Chang-hi had salvaged gold from a shipwrecked galleon and secretly buried it on the island. The dream depicts a violent confrontation where Chang-hi is brutally killed. Evans suddenly wakes up, feeling as if someone was calling him, startled by the intensity of the dream.

e. What do the two treasure hunters see when they walk towards the island?

Ans: As Evans and Hooker walk toward the island, they notice three palm trees, thick bushes, and dim white flowers near the stream’s mouth. Their exploration leads them to find the dead body of the Chinese man, Chang-hi. The sight shocks both men and adds a dark tone to their adventure.

f. In what condition did the treasure hunters find the dead man?

Ans: The dead man, Chang-hi, was found lying in a clearing among trees with his neck swollen and purple, and his hands and ankles also swollen. This indicates that he died a painful death, likely as a result of poisoning or strangulation.

g. How did the treasure hunters try to carry gold ingots to the canoe?

Ans: To transport the heavy gold ingots, Evans and Hooker used a coat as a makeshift sling. Each of them held onto one collar of the coat, allowing them to lift and carry the treasure together toward the canoe.

h. How were Evan and Hooker poisoned?

Ans: Hooker was pricked by a slender, two-inch-long thorn that was poisoned. Upon seeing Hooker fall, Evans rolled over him, and both men collapsed to the ground, suffering from the effects of the poison. This tragic event ultimately led to their demise.

a. How do you know the story is set on a tropical island?

Ans: The story’s setting is clearly a tropical island because of several descriptive details. The presence of coral reefs, thick green forests, palm trees, and a hot sun all point toward a warm, tropical climate. Additionally, features like mangroves, freshwater streams, and salt marshes reinforce this setting.

b. Why do you think Evan and Hooker took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island?

Ans: Evans and Hooker took the dangerous risk of searching for treasure on a remote desert island because they were driven by greed and the desire for wealth. The promise of valuable gold left by a shipwrecked galleon motivated them to take this risk, despite the dangers and uncertainties involved.

c. Do you think the narrator of the story is racist? If yes, what made him feel superior to other races?

Ans: Yes, there are signs that the narrator holds racist views. The story depicts the Chinese man, Chang-hi, in a negative and mysterious light and describes his brutal murder by Evans and Hooker without condemnation. Additionally, the way the Englishmen dominate the Chinese character and the tone of superiority suggest racial bias, reflecting the narrator’s prejudiced perspective.

d. What do you think is the moral of the story?

Ans: The moral of the story is that greed and selfish desire can lead to destruction and tragedy. Evans and Hooker’s ruthless pursuit of treasure leads to murder and ultimately their own deaths due to poisoning. The story warns readers that excessive greed harms not only others but oneself as well.

a. Interpret the story as a mystery story.

Ans: “The Treasure in the Forest” fits well into the mystery genre because it contains suspenseful and unpredictable events. The mysterious old map, secretive conversations, a brutal murder, the hidden treasure, and the poisoned thorns all add elements of suspense and danger. The story keeps readers guessing about what will happen next, making it an intriguing mystery tale.

b. Treasure hunting is a favorable subject of children’s story. Remember a treasure hunting story you read in your childhood and compare and contrast it with ‘The Treasure in the Forest.’

Ans: I remember reading “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson as a child. Both “The Treasure in the Forest” and “Treasure Island” involve adventures centered around treasure maps and hidden gold. However, “Treasure Island” is more adventurous and family-friendly, featuring lively characters like Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver. It contains themes of friendship, betrayal, and courage. In contrast, “The Treasure in the Forest” is darker and tragic, focusing on greed, murder, and fatal consequences. While “Treasure Island” is imaginative and action-packed, “The Treasure in the Forest” serves as a cautionary tale about human greed and its destructive effects.