Characters
Who is the main character and narrator of the story?
Who is Samuel Collier
What city does Samuel live in at the beginning of the book?
London.
What does “apprentice” mean?
Someone who is learning a trade or skill from a master.
What year does the story begin?
1606.
What emotion does Samuel struggle with the most at the beginning?
Anger.
Who is Samuel apprenticed to on the journey?
Who is Captain John Smith?
What is Samuel accused of in Chapter 1?
Stealing.
What is a “gentleman,” according to the social class of the time?
A man of wealth or status who doesn't work with his hands.
What is the name of the ship Samuel sails on?
The Susan Constant.
What does Reverend Hunt want Samuel to learn about people?
That there’s good in everyone, and people can change.
Who is the kind man that tries to help Samuel learn about God and control his anger?
Who is Reverend Hunt?
What does Samuel learn about Captain Smith on the ship?
That he's brave, smart, and not afraid to speak his mind—even to the gentlemen.
What does "voyage" mean?
A long journey by sea.
Who sends the settlers to the New World?
The Virginia Company of London.
Why is trust an important theme in the early chapters?
The settlers must learn who to trust, especially with leadership and survival.
What’s the name of the boy who becomes a friend to Samuel on the journey?
Who is Richard?
What causes tension between the gentlemen and Captain Smith during the voyage?
Smith speaks out and challenges their authority, so they imprison him.
What does it mean when someone is “imprisoned”?
They are locked up or put in jail.
Why do the settlers make the journey to Virginia?
To find gold and riches and start a colony.
What lesson does Samuel begin to learn about violence?
That it doesn’t solve problems and often makes things worse.
Who is Master Wingfield, and how does Samuel feel about him early on?
He’s one of the leaders of the Virginia Company; Samuel is suspicious of his selfishness.
What does Samuel do that shows he’s learning to control his anger?
He walks away from fights instead of starting them (like when Richard annoys him).
Define “civilized” and explain how it is used differently by different characters.
It means having a developed society—colonists think they are civilized, but Native Americans have their own kind of civilization.
Name three challenges that the settlers have faced by Chapter 16?
Some examples: Storms at sea, disagreements, lack of food, and fear of Native tribes.
What does Samuel learn about leadership from watching Captain Smith?
That good leaders listen, take action, and care about fairness.