Heading:
THE CAY
Mini-lesson: Similes and Metaphors.
What is a simile? A simile is: _______________________________________________
Examples of similes:
1. Tommy was as tall as a giant, towering over his teammates on the basketball court.
2.
What is a metaphor? A metaphor is: _________________________________________
Examples of metaphors:
1. Tommy was a tall giant, towering over his teammates on the basketball court.
2.
From The Cay Chapter 1:
“Like silent, hungry sharks that swim in the darkness of the sea, the German submarines arrived
in the middle of the night.” (Taylor 9)
1. Identify the figurative language used in the above quote: __________________________
2. Describe the setting of the novel, The Cay:
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3. Why do you think Phillip says that he was “not frightened, just terribly excited” about war?
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4. Who is Phillip’s best friend? _____________________________
5. What is Phillip’s nationality? _______________________________
6. What is Henrik’s nationality? ______________________________
7. Describe Phillip’s parents:
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8. Where does Phillip’s mother want to go? Why does she want to go there?
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Vocabulary:
1. “It was blue and peaceful, and a good breeze churned it up, making lines of whitecaps.”
(Taylor 13)
What is the definition of “churned” as it is used in the passage above?
a. To wave
b. To move or shake
c. To slow down
d. To stop
2. “There was no use in asking Amsterdam. I listened to the sorrowful sound of his voice until
my mother’s hand switched it off.”
What is a synonym for the word “sorrowful” as it is used in the passage above?
a. happy
b. indifferent
c. sad
d. excited
3. “He looked at me gravely and answered, “I don’t know, Phillip. they might.”
What is an antonym for the word “gravely” as it is used above:
a. seriously
b. lightly
c. deeply
d. roughly
CHAPTER 2:
Mini-lesson: Point of view
1st Person:
Definition:
Example:
2nd Person:
Definition:
Example:
3rd Person limited:
Definition:
Example:
3rd Person omniscient:
Definition:
Example:
Chapter 2 Questions:
1. This story is written from which point of view:
a. Third Person
b. Second Person
c. First person limited
d. First person omniscient
2. Provide evidence (key words/phrases) from the novel to support your answer for question #1:
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3. Where is Phillip going in chapter 2? Who else is going with him?
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4. Based on what you know so far, do you think moving was the right thing to do? Why or why
not?
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5. How does Phillip feel about moving? Why?
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6. Should Phillip’s parents have taken his opinion into account? Why or why not?
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Vocabulary:
1.
“He said the refinery would have to close down within a day, and that meant precious
gas and oil could not go to England, or to General Montgomery in the African desert.”
(Taylor 21)
What is a synonym for the word precious as it is used in the passage above?
a. valuable
b. adored
c. unrefined
d. problematic
2.
“For seven days, not a ship moved by the Queen Emma bridge, and there was gloom
over Willemstad” (Taylor 21)
What is the correct dictionary definition of the word gloom as it is used in the passage above?
a. noun - a partial or total state of darkness
b. noun - a state of depression
c. noun - to become overcast
3.
“The big tankers from the United states or England always carried fresh water to us in
ballast, and then it was distilled again so that we could drink it.” (Taylor 22)
What is the meaning of the word distilled as it is used in the passage above?
a. to extract the essential meaning from
b. to add chemicals
c. to purify
d. to grow and enhance
NON-FICTION ARTICLE:
20th Century Developments
The discovery of major oil fields in Venezuela at the beginning of the 20th century
completely transformed Curacao in relatively few years from an “ailing colony,” as the Dutch had
taken to referring to it, into a bustling cosmopolitan center.
The rich Venezuelan oil fields were located on a bay that was too shallow to
accommodate major Trans-Atlantic tankers; however, they were close to curacao’s natural
deepwater harbor. Royal Dutch shell began constructing a major oil refinery in 1915; when the
refinery opened its doors in 1918 it completely changed Curacao.
Almost overnight the island became a major international hub; the lower class was
transformed from a group of self-employed artisans into a bona fide working class. Thousands
of immigrants poured in from around the Caribbean and as far away as Portugal to work at the
refinery. The population increase was dramatic and sudden, as was the relative prosperity of
the refinery workers. This stimulated almost every aspect of the economy, from commerce to
construction.
An important role was played by Curacao during WWII for a couple of reasons.
Primarily, it was a vital conduit for Allied oil from Venezuela, and there was a large oil refinery
here (as well as one on Aruba), which became a target of German U-boats and bombers. At
various times during the war, 43-11 percent of the oil required by Allied forces came from the
refinery on Curacao. For this reason, troops from England and France were stationed in
Curacao to protect it. Several Curacao citizens fought valiantly in the Dutch armed forces. The
United States also contributed to protecting Curacao by establishing gun emplacements at Fort
Amsterdam in the Curacao city of Willemstad.
1.
2.
Identify the discovery made in Venezuela at the beginning of the 20th century and
explain how it transformed the economy in Curacao:
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Identify whether curacao was part of the Allied or Axis powers during WWII and provide
a detail from the passage that supports your answer:
3.
4.
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Why was Curacao so important in WWII? Give a detail from the passage that supports
your answer:
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How does this passage connect to The Cay? Be specific!
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Chapter 3 The Cay
1.
After leaving Panama, what happened to the S. S. Hato?
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2.
Describe the explosion:
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3.
What happened to Phillip as he was being lowered into the lifeboat?
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Phillip is on a raft with two others - who is he with? Describe them:
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Why do you think Timothy refers to Phillip as “young bahss”?
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4.
5.
6.
Phillip’s actions/thoughts/quotes
“I saw a huge, very old negro sitting on
the raft near me. he was ugly. His nose
was flat and his face was broad; his head
was a mass of wiry gray hair.” (Taylor 31)
“That lonely sea, and the sharp pains in
my head, and the knowledge that I was
here alone with a black man instead of my
mother made me break into tears.”
(Taylor 32)
“I was thinking that our luck wasn’t so
good. I was thinking about my mother on
another boat or raft, not knowing I was all
right. I was thinking about my father back
in Willemstad. It was terrible not to be
able to tell him where I was. he’d have
boats and planes out within hours.”
(Taylor 34)
“‘That isn’t enough,” I complained.”....
“I must have more water, Timothy. I’m
very hot.” ….
I said defiantly, “A schooner will find us.
And my father has ships out looking for
us.” (Taylor 36-37)
What these actions say about Phillip