And of Clay Are We Created
by Isabel Allende
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Focus: Fact Versus
Fiction
Literary Focus: Theme and
Purpose
Reading Skills: Determining an
Author's Purpose
And of Clay Are We Created
by Isabel Allende
And of Clay Are We Created
Introducing the Story
Isabel Allende’s story is based on a real-life
tragedy: a volcanic eruption and mudslides that
destroyed whole towns in Colombia in 1985.
• The main character, Rolf, is a
reporter who arrives to cover
the disaster for the TV news.
• The narrator, Rolf’s girlfriend,
tells us how Rolf abandons his
role as a reporter to help and
comfort a trapped girl named
Azucena.
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And of Clay Are We Created
Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction
The story you are about to read and the
newspaper article that follows are two versions of
the same event written in different genres:
• fiction (story)
• nonfiction (newspaper)
And of Clay Are We Created
Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction
Allende creates a realistic and moving story by
combing elements of
• fiction—character,
setting, and theme
• nonfiction—facts
about real events
Rescue workers were unable
to free thirteen-year-old
Omaira Sanchez, who was
trapped in the mudflow from
the Nevado del Ruiz eruption.
And of Clay Are We Created
Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction
As you read the two accounts, think about how
they differ and how they are alike.
• Compare and contrast
events
details
people
style
setting
tone
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And of Clay Are We Created
Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose
Theme is the central idea or insight about life in a
work of literature. Writers use theme to
• convey an important message
• reveal their purpose for writing
And of Clay Are We Created
Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose
To determine the theme of a work, consider how
• the main character changes
• the conflict is resolved
• the struggles of the main
character may reflect a larger,
more universal problem or
situation
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And of Clay Are We Created
Reading Skills: Determining an Author’s Purpose
The main purposes of writing are
to inform
to persuade
to entertain
Although a writer may have several purposes for
writing, one purpose usually becomes the focus.
newspaper
editorial
about upcoming
political election
informs readers about the issues
entertains readers with humor
persuades readers to vote for a
particular candidate
And of Clay Are We Created
Reading Skills: Determining an Author’s Purpose
As you read the story, consider Allende’s
purpose for writing a fictional story about a real
event.
• Ask yourself
WHY…
WHAT…
was this subject
important to her?
does she want us
to think about it?
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