Captain Blood: His Odyssey

Sabatini’s depiction of enslaved Africans fits the story’s historical period, yet it also provides insight into racist stereotypes at the beginning of the 20th century. Identify and analyze three passages concerning enslaved Africans in the novel. In what ways do the passages reveal racist views from the novel’s cultural context?

Peter Blood’s Irish identity distinguishes him from every other character. What was happening politically between England and Ireland in 1685, the year of the Monmouth Rebellion? How (if at all) does this background and Blood’s Irish identity shape the events and themes of the novel?

There are explicit depictions of violence in Captain Blood, which is common in historical adventure novels. Identify one violent scene. Explain how the scene contributes to the progression of the plot and describe how the meaning of the novel would change if the scene didn’t exist.