The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - Questions

Ch 9-12 At what point did Charlotte finally recognize the captain's true nature?

After she returned to her cabin and began thinking over the events that had happened.

Ch 19-21 What did Zachariah mean when he said to Charlotte, "It does you honor"?

Because Charlotte had told him that the reason she didn't say that she thought Zachariah killed Hollybrass was because she knew that he was the only one that would be able to get off of the ship and go to the authorities about Captain Jaggery.

Ch 22 Why did Charlotte tell her mother that she was reading Dr. Dillard's essay on patience?

Because she knew that it was an acceptable thing for her to be reading and her parents would approve. It also gave her the chance to prepare to run away.

Ch 6-8 Why were the crew's quarters off-limits to Charlotte?

Because she was a girl.

Ch 13-15 Why was Charlotte's clothing such an important issue for the captain?

Because she was a young lady from a good family, and she was wearing clothing fit for a sailor. Her clothing was a statement of defiance.

Ch 1-2 What did the porters seem to fear? Why do you think the author mentioned their fears?

Captain Jaggery and the Seahawk, the author mentioned it to give foreshadowing.

Ch 13-15 Captain Jaggery and the crew decided to call Charlotte by different names. What was the significance of the new names?

Captain Jaggery called her Mister Doyle. He said that Miss Doyle was lost. The crew now called her Charlotte instead of Miss Doyle. They had accepted her as part of the crew.

Ch 13-15 When did Grimes begin teaching Charlotte to use a knife? Why did he do this?

He began teaching her after she called Captain Jaggery a coward and fraud. He did it so that she could protect herself.

Ch 3-5 Why did the Captain show Charlotte the round robin and ask her to be his eyes and ears among the crew? Do you think Charlotte made the right decision by casting her lot with him? Explain.

He wanted Charlotte to tell him if she saw the crew with a round robin because that meant they were going to cause trouble on the boat. Yes and no. Yes, because it will let him believe that she will help him. No, because he may not be as trustworthy as she thinks he is.

Ch 3-5 Why did Captain Jaggery ask about Mr. Cranick when he was addressing the crew?

He wanted to remind the crew of what happens if they didn't do as they were told.

Ch 6-8 Why did Barlow want to speak privately with Charlotte?

He wanted to warn her about the Captain.

Ch 22 Why did Zachariah tell Charlotte that he had never returned home because he didn't know if he would be welcome?

He was a black man during a time when free black men were not common.

Ch 1-2 If, as Charlotte believed, Mr. Grummage was a gentleman like her father, what kind of man do you think her father might be?

He would be a caring father, because he was a gentleman.

Ch 22 When Charlotte dressed to go ashore, she felt pinched and confined in her old clothes. What did her clothing symbolize to her?

Her old way of life; the time before she became a part of the crew.

Ch 19-21 In Chapter One, the figurehead of the Seahawk reminded Charlotte of an avenging angel. How did its appearance in Chapter 21 support this interpretation?

His arm was gripped in the foaming beak of the figurehead, then he was tossed off the Seahawk. He was not to be seen again.

Ch 19-21 Why did the argument with Mr. Hollybrass provoke Captain Jaggery to violence?

Hollybrass accused him of deliberately sailing into the storm which is a serious charge. The ship's owners would not have liked that at all.

Ch 6-8 Of all the men on the ship, who could have put the carved head in the hold? Why do you really think the carved head was put there?

It could have been any one on the ship. It was put there to scare Charlotte.

Ch 16-18 Could Zachariah have murdered Mr. Hollybrass as Charlotte suspected?

It is possible, because he hadn't died like she believed.

Ch 19-21 How would you assess the captain's plan for getting rid of Mr. Hollybrass, Zachariah, and Charlotte?

It was a crazy plan.

Ch 1-2 What was your first impression of Mr. Keetch? How did the author create this impression?

Mr. Keetch is a small, unkempt man. He is fidgety and nervous. The author created this impression in the description that he gives.

Ch 16-18 Was Charlotte correct about the reason why the crew did not defend her?

No, because Zachariah didn't kill Hollybrass.

Ch 22 The Doyle family lived on Benevolent Street in Providence, Rhode Island. Were these good names for the Doyles' home? Why?

No. Benevolent means expressing goodwill or kind feelings; helping others or being charitable. Providence means the foresight or care exercised by a person in the management of his affairs or resources. Charlotte's father does not seem to portray these characteristics. He is very strict and set in his ways. He does not show signs of kindness towards what happened to Charlotte on the ship. He keeps her from talking about it and even punishes her.

Ch 16-18 In what other ways could Charlotte have defended herself at her trial?

She could have said who she thought had done it.

Ch 6-8 Why did Charlotte keep the dirk?

She decided to keep the dirk because both the Captain and Zachariah had urged her to keep it. She was concerned that they my ask her about it.

Ch 9-12 Although Charlotte had been spying on the crew, how did she feel in Chapter Nine when they began to spy on her?

She didn't like it. She was unnerved and afraid.

Ch 6-8 Why didn't Charlotte tell the captain about her adventure in the hold? What might have happened if she had told him?

She didn't want him to think that she was a troublesome child. If she told, someone might have gotten in to a lot of trouble.

Ch 13-15 What did Charlotte mean in Chapter 13 when she said, "And yet I had to climb. This was my restitution."?

She felt that it was her punishment for the trouble that she had caused.

Ch 9-12 What did volunteering to go for Ewing's needle indicate about the change in Charlotte's character?

She has realized that the men are tired, and she wanted to help. She is willing to help by getting the needle. This shows that she is thinking of others and isn't afraid of the men.

Ch 3-5 Why did Charlotte lie to the captain about the person who gave her the dirk?

She lied because she was afraid of what the captain would do to Zachariah.

Ch 22 When and why did Charlotte lie to her parents and to the servants?

She lied to her parents when she told them the reason that she cut her hair was because of lice and that her hands were hard because she had to do her own washing. She also lied to her parents when she asked to be excused from the table so that she could continue reading when she was really getting ready to run away. She lied to the servants when she told them that she wanted to show the sailor's clothes to her parents instead of throwing them away.

Ch 6-8 What did Charlotte's response to Zachariah's gift of sailor's clothing indicate about the development of her character?

She thanked him and took the garments even though she didn't think it was proper for her to wear them. She didn't want to offend Zachariah by not taking them. This shows that she is considering their feelings.

Ch 3-5 Why did Charlotte trust the captain? Who else had she trusted unwisely?

She trusted the captain because she thought that he was a gentleman. She had trusted Mr. Grummage.

Ch 1-2 Why was Charlotte distressed to discover that she would be the only passenger aboard the ship?

She was a girl and all the rest on board were men. It would be wrong.

Ch 3-5 What did Captain Jaggery mean when he said, "we shall have no democracy here:?

That he was totally in charge. What he said was the law on the ship.

Ch 16-18 What did the captain's disheveled physical state indicate about his state of mind?

That he wasn't in his right mind. He was acting a bit crazy.

Ch 19-21 What evidence supported Charlotte's assertion that the captain was mad?

The captain had set up his quarters to look like everything was in order by using everyday objects to take place of the things that had been broken during the storm, such as the salt & pepper shakers, broken cups & bent candlesticks for the chess pieces. You couldn't tell the difference in the dimmed light.

Ch 13-15 What was the prison that Charlotte referred to as her proper place?

The expectations that society put on girls in that time. She was doing something that a girl would not be allowed to do.

Ch 9-12 Why was Charlotte the only one to defend Zachariah against the captain?

The others were afraid of what he would do. Charlotte thought that he was being unfair.

Ch 6-8 Why did Captain Jaggery have the crew set all the sails?

The ship was moving very slowly, so he had them set sail because he felt that a big blow (wind) was coming.

Ch 22 What did sitting down to a meal before her mother, offering to get the butter, and asking the servants to call her by her first name indicate about Charlotte?

They indicate that she has changed greatly since she boarded the ship. She treats people as her equals.

Ch 22 Why did the crew insist that Captain Jaggery and Mr. Hollybrass be described as heroes in the ship's log?

To keep from having to answer too many questions about what really happened on board the Seahawk.

Ch 1-2 Why did Zachariah think he and Charlotte could be friends, and why did Charlotte disagree with him?

Zachariah thought that they had something in common. He is so old & she is so young. He is the only black man & Charlotte is the only girl. Charlotte said that she didn't need a friend.