By W I JAMES Jr Introduction Author W I James Jr Pen Name It is possible that W I James Jr is a pen name After several research attempts little was discovered about the author and no other works were listed under his name ID: 692427
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "SEA-DOG CHARLIE: OR, THE ADVENTURES OF A..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
SEA-DOG CHARLIE:
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY HERO
By, W. I. JAMES Jr.Slide2Slide3Slide4
Introduction
Author: W. I. James, Jr.
Pen Name: It is possible that W. I. James, Jr. is a pen name. After several research attempts, little was discovered about the author and no other works were listed under his name.
Series: This particular dime novel is part of the
Five Cent Wide Awake Library
collection, which issued roughly 1350 dime novels during the late 19
th
century.
Sea-Dog Charlie
was a series of adventure stories, but other volumes seem to be rare. This volume is 13 pages long and includes a 3-page list of previous issues.Slide5
Plot Summary
The dime novel begins with Charlie, a young boy of fourteen, alerting a household to the possibility of burglars. He rallies the servants, defeats the thieves, and proves his bravery.
Mrs. Chambers, the mistress of the house, invites Charlie to sail with her and her husband to an island near the tip of South America where he encounters a squid-like sea-monster and kills it, once again saving the lady.
The two then encounter cannibals and are eventually saved by Mr. Chambers and the ship’s crew.
When they set sail again, Charlie overhears talk of mutiny. Charlie and Mrs. Chambers hide in the ships yawl, but accidently disconnect from the main vessel and become adrift at sea. Charlie manages to find land.
Charlie defeats a giant snake on their new island only to be rediscovered by another foe, the mutineers. He escapes them and swims to the ship. He and Mr. Chambers defeat their enemies.Slide6
Close Reading
“It was a devil fish – that monstrous thing that encircles its victim with its slimy arms; which sucks his blood with its two hundred suckers and its horrible, toothless mouth, who’s grasp is death; which drains its victim of the last drop of blood, and leaves the body at the bottom of the sea, to be devoured by the crabs and fishes.
Such was the monster whose arms encircled Charlie” (James 4).
“Charlie had read much of these sea-monsters, and now that he recognized the fearful thing he knew what this change portended.
The monster was about to attack him” (James 4).Slide7
Close Reading
Both quotes are chosen from section five, specifically in reference to the squid monster. They relate well to the anxiety facing science, and the expanding knowledge about the sea.
The monster draining blood and dragging corpses to the bottom of the sea becomes a physical representation of the draining of humanity that people feared science would cause.Slide8
Role of the Theme Within the Story
The fear of science and its implications is one of the main themes associated with this particular dime novel.
In every predicament that Charlie and Mrs. Chambers encounter, the word “fear” is mentioned.
Dishonest men, uncivilized cultures, and monstrous creatures challenge Charlie and Mrs. Chambers, thus implying that the two main characters are rejecting uncivilized or primitive tendencies.Slide9
Character Relation to the Theme
Charlie is considered “perfect boy” and is able to fight off the consequences of scientific exploration.
Mrs. Chambers is who is at risk because of scientific advancements, and she must be protected from knowing too much about her situation.Slide10
Is the Theme Positive or Negative?
The theme is portrayed in a negative light.
The squid-like monster and giant snake are both examples of rare scientific phenomena that would not be encountered by civilized society, thus invoking fear.
The cannibals and mutineers are manifestations of the two creatures.
All four opponents represent the fear of cultural digression and de-evolution.Slide11
Illustrations and Theme
Both images depict the same scene, but this one shows the group of cannibals in the background.
Both the monster and the cannibals represent the fear of science in regards to the unknown.
Charlie is shown to be overcoming this fear through bravery and the desire to fight cultural digression.Slide12
Work Cited
James Jr., W. I. “Sea-Dog Charlie: or, The Adventures of a Boy Hero.”
The Five Cent Wide Awake Library
, vol. 2, no. 1182, Frank
Tousey
: Publisher, September 16, 1893, New York.