A & E Classroom is proud to present "The Ebb-Tide", an original drama based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson."The Ebb-Tide", like many of Stevenson's works, is a nautical adventure combining mystery, murder and memorable characters."The Ebb-Tide" brings Stevenson's characters to life, and follows their adventures in the blue waters of the Caribbean to an uncharted island where they meet a deranged pearl merchant."The Ebb-Tide" would be useful for classes on Literature, Science and Technology, World History and Maritime History. It is appropriate for high school.

NOTE TO EDUCATORS

"The Ebb-Tide" contains a scene of brief nudity and sexual situations that might not be appropriate for younger viewers.

• Archipelago
• Squalor vermin
• Venture tryst
• artful
• endeavor
• patronize
• pestilence
• profanity
• quarantine
• venomous

1. Swanson attributes Bunch's survival to Darwin's theory of evolution and the "survival of the fittest."What is meant by this term and how does it apply to Bunch's survival?

2. When Chisholm saw the sea captain arresting a man for stealing his money, he told the captain that Bunch stole his money. Why did he tell him this? Why did he put a man, who was supposedly his friend, at risk?

3. When Chisholm takes over the Farallone, he and Swanson find two dead bodies in the hammocks. Why were they there? Why didn't the previous crew remove them?

4. Chisholm was man who was down on his luck. Why was he given the opportunity to command the Farallone?

5. Why did Bunch black out the name of the Farallone on the side of the ship?

6. Chisholm states that he seeks redemption. Why does he desire to be redeemed?

7. Why did Chisholm go mad and drink?

8. Chisholm was very attached to a mermaid doll. Why? What did the doll represent to him?

9. When Chisholm, Swanson, and Bunch meet Elstrom, Elstrom speaks differently to Swanson than he does to Chisholm and Bunch. Why does he speak "down" to Chisholm and Bunch, but not to Swanson?

10. Swanson was an educated and cultured man. How did he end up poor and in the company of Chisholm and Bunch?

11. Why did Elstrom kill his servant girl's lover and burn a boat full of quarantined villagers?

12. Swanson finds the servant girl murdered by Elstrom. Why did Elstrom kill the girl? Is Elstrom mad?

13. Captain Chisholm shoots his friend Bunch. Why did he do this? Was it an act or murder or mercy?

14. Did Chisholm find the redemption he was seeking?

15. What do you think happens to Chisholm?

1. Imagine that you are a crew member aboard the Farallone. Keep a log or journal of your journey and adventures.

2. Read the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson and compare the film and the novel. What differences are there? How does a filmmaker interpret a novel? How is "seeing" a novel a different experience from reading a novel?