The CayBy Theodore Taylor

Name _____________________________

The CayAnticipation Guide

The following statements will prepare you for the novel, The Cay, by Theodore Taylor. These statements are used to introduce ideas to you that you may think about during our reading.

1. I would be willing to save the life of a stranger, no matter who he or she was. True False

2. People are different according to their race, culture, or religion. True False

3. If you lose one sense (vision, hearing), other senses become strongerto make up for it. True False

4. I could never live with a total stranger. True False

5. I could survive on a deserted island with no fresh water, toilets, refrigeration, Ipods, computers, electricity, or phones. True False

6. I am independent and like to do things on my own. True False

7. Being able to swim is an important skill. True False

8. To be wise, you must be educated. True False

9. Once people are prejudiced, they cannot change. True False

10. I rely on my parents to provide for me. True False

11. Kids always act just like their parents. True False

12. Prejudice is learned. True False

13. Small islands were not attacked during World War II. True False

14. I am afraid of snakes and wild animals. True False

15. Young people tend to be more open-minded than older people. True False

16. The Caribbean is near Africa. True False

17. Difficult experiences make people stronger. True False

18. Prejudice comes from ignorance. True False

19. I can learn to live with anyone. True False

20. I am accepting of people who are different from me. True False

Chapter 1Vocabulary

a. blackout - pg. 6 – So later in the morning, when she was busy making sure that our blackout curtains were in place, and filling extra pots with fresh water, and checking our food supply, I stole away down to the fort with Henrik van Boven, my Dutch friend, who was also eleven. What is the reason for the blackout curtains? ___________________________________ Are they preparing for a positive or negative event?

______________________________b. refinery – pg. 9 - My father returned home from the refinery where he

was working on the program to increase production of aviation gas. Underline the word in the sentence that tells the reader the job of a refinery.

c. gravely – pg. 9 – I asked, “Will they shoot at us tonight?” He looked at me gravely and answered, “I don’t know, Phillip.”

Does gravely have a positive or negative connotation? __________________________________

1. In the first sentence, what is the effect of the simile, “Like hungry sharks that swim in the darkness of the sea, the German submarines arrived in the middle of the night”?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What details of setting are provided in the chapter?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What circumstances contribute to Phillip’s mother’s actions?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How did the war indirectly affect the relationship between Phillip and his father?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 2

Vocabulary

a. quivered – pg. 15 - I looked on as the thick hoses that were attached to her quivered when the gasoline was pumped into her tanks. The author used sensory language. What does quivered mean?

1. imagined 2. shook 3. froze

b. disheartened – pg. 16 - He was tired and disheartened over what had happened to the Empire Tern. Does he feel good or bad? ___________________ How do you know? ________________________________________________________________________

c. freighter – pgs. 17-18 – She was a small Dutch freighter with a high bow and stern… What is a freighter? ___________________ Underline a word or two that helped you draw your conclusion.

d. clenched – pg. 18 - Father was smiling and very gay, but when the Hato’s whistle blasted out three times, meaning it was time to go, he said goodbye to us between clenched teeth. What is the tone of this sentence? __________________________________________

Does clenched mean…? 1. closed tightly 2. open wide 3. flexible

Infer why Phillip’s father says goodbye through “clenched teeth”?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

Islands in the SeasThe story of The Cay takes place in different parts of the Caribbean. Use the map to answer the questions below.

1. Find Curacao. Near what continent is the island? __________________

2. Ships bring oil from Lake Maracaibo to Curacao. In what country is Lake

Maracaibo? ____________________________________

3. The sea surrounding Curacao is __________________________

4. Phillip’s ship, the S.S. Hato, is heading to Panama. In what direction is the Panama

Canal from Curacao? ________________________

5. What country is east of Curacao? ________________________

6. On the map below, circle the United States and Curacao. Curacao is not labeled, so

label it.

7. What direction

is the United

States from

Curacao?

________

Chapter 3Vocabulary

a. Wrenching - pg. 20 – We could hear the whistle blowing constantly, and there were sounds of metal wrenching and much shouting. What feeling is the author conveying in this sentence? 1. peace

2. contentment 3. Alarm

b. Murmured - pg. 23 – He murmured, “Dis be good, dis be good.” What is a synonym for murmured? 1. laughed 2. announced 3. whispered

c. Flimsy- pg. 24 – Reread the paragraph that starts, “I then watched…” What can you infer flimsy means? ____________________________________________

d. Timber – pg. 24 – The piece of timber must have struck a glancing blow on his left side. What is timber? 1. concrete 2. metal

3. wood

e. Lulled – pg. 24 - After a bit, lulled by the bobbing of the raft and the soft pleasant sounds of the sea against the oil barrels, I went to sleep. Lulled sounds like lullaby – what does lulled mean? ____________________________________________________

f. Barren – pg. 25 – He scanned the barren sea and then looked back at me, his old eyes growing remote. Which entry best represents the meaning of barren in this sentence?

1. Not producing offspring.2. Lacking vegetation, especially useful vegetation3. Devoid of something specified: empty

g. Calypso - pg. 25 - …humming something in calypso. What does calypso have to do with? 1. a language 2. music

3. folktale

h. Parched – pg. 26 – My lips were parched and my throat was dry. He was

1. hungry 2. tired 3. thirsty

Chapter 3 continued:

What details help you visualize the torpedo hit?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why did Timothy think that they “have rare good luck”?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did Timothy show his resourcefulness?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 4Vocabulary

a. groped – pg. 31 – His eyes groped through the darkness for mine. Which dictionary entry is the best definition in the context of the sentence? _____

1. to reach about uncertainly; feel one’s way2. to search blindly or uncertainly3. to make one’s way by reaching about uncertainly

b. swells – pg. 31 – The raft plunged on across the light swells throughout the night. Where are swells? 1. air 2. land

3. water Underline the key word

How is Timothy feeling in this chapter? What evidence is there to justify your thinking?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 5Vocabulary

a. drone – pg. 36 - The faint drone of the aircraft seemed closer now. .. But already the drone seemed to be fading. Which dictionary entry is the best definition in the context above?

1. A male bee that performs no work, and produces no honey2. An idle person who lives off others; a loafer.3. A pilotless aircraft operated by remote control4. Low and steady sound

b. doused – pg. 37 – I heard the sizzle of the water as Timothy doused the torch. What did Timothy do? (in your own words) ____________________________________________________________

What character traits can you identify about the characters? Give evidence.Character Trait Evidence

Timothy

Phillip

Chapter 6What factors does Phillip need to consider now that he never had to think about before?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Judge the fact that Timothy calls Phillip “young bahass”.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Comparing and contrasting characters (chapters 1-6)

The Cay has two main characters who are developed in far greater depth than any of the novel’s minor characters. How are Phillip and Timothy alike? How are they different? Use this chart to help you compare and contrast.

Phillip Timothy

Age

Attitudes About

Strangers

Family Background

Survival Skills

Major Concerns

Hopes

Chapter 7What details lead the reader to an understanding of why Timothy is uneasy about this island?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 8How does the fact that Timothy can’t read make Phillip feel? Give evidence.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 91. Cite evidence that shows how Phillip is becoming a dynamic character.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Phillip has been stereotyping Timothy since they met. Give evidence supporting this statement. (Stereotype: to believe unfairly that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 10Vocabulary

a. catchment - pg . 56 - Timothy yelled that his catchment was working. He had taken boards from the top of the raft and made a large trough that would catch the rain. What is a catchment? __________________________________________________

b. trough – pg. 56 - Which definition best defines trough in the sentence above?

1. A long, narrow, generally shallow receptacle for holding water or feed for animals

2. A gutter under the eaves of a roof3. A long, narrow depression, as between waves or ridges4. A low point in a business cycle or on a statistical graph

c. squall- pg. 56 – The squall wind was in the tops of the palms and I could imagine how they looked in the night sky, thrashing against each other high over our little cay. Circle the definition as it relates to the sentence.

1. a sudden violent wind often with rain or snow 2.  a short-lived commotion 3. a cry

d. tatters - pg. 59 - I tried to imagine how I looked. I knew my pants and shirt were in tatters. Define tatters - ______________________________________________________

Cite evidence that Timothy and Phillip’s relationship is growing into a friendship.__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 11Why is Timothy encouraging Phillip’s independence? Cite evidence.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 12Vocabulary

Clasped – Pg. 69 –Then I clasped my hands under his chin and began to pull him out. Does clasp mean…? 1. clapped 2. grasped

3. touchedWhat does the sentence, “He never really regained his strength.” indicate to the reader?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 13Vocabulary

a. lurking - pg. 71 – I knew that lurking in the tide pools were the treacherous sea urchins. – lurking means…… 1. available 2. hiding 3. around

b. treacherous – pg. 71 – I knew that lurking in the tide pools were the treacherous sea urchins. Which definition best explains the treacherous sea urchins?

1. not able to be trusted : showing that someone cannot be trusted

2. very dangerous and difficult to deal with

1. Why does Timothy teach Phillip to fish? How does the reader know?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why does Phillip ask Timothy if he is still black? What does that indicate about Phillip’s attitude?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Use the Venn diagram to compare Phillip when he first came to the island and now after spending time on the island.

Phillip Then Phillip Now

Chapter 14 1. What sacrifice did Timothy make on Phillip’s behalf during the hurricane?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Summarize the plot so far in the novel.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 15Vocabulary

a. receded – pg. 83 – When the water receded, it would tug at us, and Timothy’s strength would fight against it. What does receded mean?

1. moved away 2. went toward

b. pelted – pg. 83 – We sat down on the ground beside it, still being pelted with rain, to wait for the eye to pass. Is the rain falling gently or with intensity? _____________________

c . fury- pg. 84 – Almost within seconds, the full fury of the storm hit the cay at once. fury means 1. width 2. enjoyment 3. violence

d. limp- pg. 84 - He felt cold and limp. Does this sentence have a positive or negative connotation? __________________

e. flayed- pg. 85 – It had flayed his back and his legs until there were very few places that weren’t cut. What does flayed mean? ___________________________________________________

Upon realizing that Timothy has died, Phillip says, “There are times when you are beyond tears.” Interpret this quote.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 161. At this point in the novel, the reader sees evidence of Phillip’s dynamic character.

Locate quotes that show how he is changing.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Dialect -A variation of a language that is spoken by people of a certain region or cultural group.

Phillip found Timothy’s beautiful West Indies accent to be unclear at times. Rewrite Timothy’s quotes as you would say them.

1. “Timothy, my own self, long ago could climb d’palm veree easy.”________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. “D’mahn who feeshes follows d’feesh. Sartainly, d’feesh be ‘ere.”________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. “Dis be a western starm, I b’guessin’. Dey outrageous strong when dey come.”________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. “Phill-eep, ‘as it evah come into your own self that I might be poorly again some marnin’?”________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 17Why did Timothy tell Phillip not to go after scallops and langosta? Determine who was right, Timothy or Phillip? Explain.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 18Vocabulary

a. bleat – pg. 95 – Only the occasional bleat of the gull gave me a picture of that bird, for I had heard and seen them many times around the sea wall in Willemstad.

bleat : gull: ____________ : catb. rustle – pg. 95 – I knew the rustle of the lizards.

Which entry best defines the word rustle as used above?

1. to make a soft, light sound because parts of something are touching or rubbing against each other

2. to cause (something) to make a soft, light sound

3. to steal (animals) from a farm or ranch

Interpret Phillip’s quote, “Why didn’t you take us with you?” at Timothy’s grave?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 191. Infer why Phillip wants to go back to the cay?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Timothy and Phillip have taught one another many lessons in the novel. Review the time these two characters have spent together. Then, record the lessons they have taught each other on the chart below.

Timothy taught Phillip… Phillip taught Timothy…

3. Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces. In the chart below, give an example of each type of conflict from the story.

Type of conflict Example of the conflictMan vs Man

Man vs Nature

Man vs Society

Problem and Solution

Timothy and Phillip face many problems in The Cay. They are able to solve only some of them. For each problem below, write whether they solve the problem or not. If they don’t, explain why they aren’t able to solve it.

Problem Solved? How? Or Why Not

They need food on the raft. Yes They have some biscuits with them, and Timothy catches flying fish to eat.

Phillips goes blind.

There is no fresh water on the cay.

The coconuts are out of reach.

A hurricane hits the cay.

Phillip wants langosta to eat.

The pilot doesn’t see the white smoke.