1. Life and literary activity of Charles Kingsley. Historical fiction genre in Literature

Chapter 15. How Mr John Brimblecombe Understood the Nature of an Oath

Words to look up: premonitory, posse comitatus, augury, plebiscitum, brimstone, gainsay. A plate-fleet is a fleet of ships (usually Spanish) bringing treasure back from the New World.
Moresco Castle on Lundy Island: Kingsley's spelling for Marisco Castle. Photos here.
Copywork: Will knew no answer. To laugh at the poor fellow was easy enough; to deny that he was right, that he was a hero and cavalier, outdoing romance itself in faithfulness, not so easy; and Cary, in the first impulse, wished him at the bottom of the bay for shaming him. Of course, his own plan of letting ill alone was the rational, prudent, irreproachable plan, and just what any gentleman in his senses would have done; but here was a vulgar, fat curate, out of his senses, determined not to let ill alone, but to do something, as Cary felt in his heart, of a far diviner stamp.
Narration and Discussion: How does Jack Brimblecombe demonstrate both faith and love in this chapter?

Chapter 16. The Most Chivalrous Adventure of the Good Ship Rose

Words to look up: declamation, Elysium, degradation
Note: Drake's ship The Pelican was renamed The Golden Hind.
Copywork: "Why, then? Is not the West the land of peace, and the land of dreams? Do not our hearts tell us so each time we look upon the setting sun, and long to float away with him upon the golden-cushioned clouds? They bury men with their faces to the East. I should rather have mine turned to the West, Amyas, when I die; for I cannot but think it some divine instinct which made the ancient poets guess that Elysium lay beneath the setting sun. It is bound up in the heart of man, that longing for the West."
Narration and Discussion: What were some of the preparations that the Brotherhood made in order to go and rescue Rose? Do you think they will be successful?

Chapter 17. How They Came to Barbados, and Found No Men Therein

Words to look up: colibri. Crowned ananas means pineapples.
Copywork: Land! land! land! Yes, there it was, far away to the south and west, beside the setting sun, a long blue bar between the crimson sea and golden sky. Land at last, with fresh streams, and cooling fruits, and free room for cramped and scurvy-weakened limbs. And there, too, might be gold, and gems, and all the wealth of Ind. Who knew? Why not? The old world of fact and prose lay thousands of miles behind them, and before them and around them was the realm of wonder and fable, of boundless hope and possibility. Sick men crawled up out of their stifling hammocks; strong men fell on their knees and gave God thanks; and all eyes and hands were stretched eagerly toward the far blue cloud, fading as the sun sank down, yet rising higher and broader as the ship rushed on before the rich trade-wind, which whispered lovingly round brow and sail, "I am the faithful friend of those who dare!"
Narration and Discussion: Draw your impression of Barbados, as it might have appeared in the sixteenth century.