“The sea is hungry here. [...] Why, it’s eating at Slabhenge itself! See it there, chewing on them walls! Eating away at ’em, wave after wave! [...] And she’ll have it all ’fore she’s through.”

This is one of several passages where metaphoric imagery is used to describe the sea as a hungry creature that is slowly devouring the island and the school. This quote from the old boat pilot foreshadows what happens at the end of the novel when the sea takes center stage in the story.

“He looked up at the grim, crumbling walls of his new home. It looked bad. Just as bad as he deserved.”

From the beginning of the story, 12-year-old Jonathan feels intense guilt and shame over something he did. Jonathan keeps his secret until near the end of the novel, which adds an element of mystery to the story and surprise when the truth is finally revealed.

“The Admiral’s office smelled of waxy candles, sweat, chocolate, and a vague whiff of alcohol.”

The Admiral practices draconian discipline on the boys, rants about society’s softness, and extols the value of a strict work ethic. Yet he sits in his office indulging in sweets and drinking brandy during work hours. This description of his office reveals him to be a hypocrite.