The Bottle Imp

What role do superstition and religion play in the story? How does the story still resonate with readers who do not believe in hell or damnation?

Both Keawe and Kokua make sacrifices for love throughout “The Bottle Imp.” What sorts of sacrifice does each make? Are their motivations for doing so similar? What does the story suggest about the roles of husband and wife, respectively?

Is there an antagonist in “The Bottle Imp”? Why or why not?

In his brief prologue, Stevenson acknowledges that the “root idea” of the story (the bottle and the bargain with the devil) is a universal one that is found in many cultures. Why do you think Stevenson chose to set his version in Hawaii and the South Pacific? How does the geographical and cultural context influence the story?

Stevenson uses very little physical description of characters in the story, preferring to rely on other forms of characterization. Choose one of the characters and discuss his techniques for describing them. Use references from the text to support your answer.

Authors often use titles to express symbols, themes, and other important parts of the story. “The Bottle Imp” is a brief descriptive title. Choose another title for the story that reveals an important symbol, theme, motif, or other element. Explain your choice by using specific textual references.

On the surface, it seems illogical that anyone would want to possess the bottle if the owner is damned to hell. However, many characters throughout the story willingly buy the bottle. What might the story be implying about the relationship between desire and reason?

After his death, Stevenson’s work was often criticized as being shallow and entertaining, suitable for children but not containing any real artistic merit. What artistic merit is present in this story? Are these two concepts mutually exclusive? Provide specific textual references to support your answer.