Staples says, "I chose, perhaps unconsciously, to remain shadow - timid, but a survivor" (par. 7). What are the usual connotations of the word survivor? Is "timid" one of them? How can you explain this apparent?

The usual connotations of the word survivor would be words similar to it or the definition / words similar to the definition. Example: Leftover, Remaining, Still living. Timid would not be a connotation of the word survivor. The reason that Timid is apparent to be a connotation for survivor, is because you would think that someone being out all alone doing hard work and heavy labor would be very skittish and easy to frighten.