Defining Moments in
The Cay
Open Minded Portraits of
Timothy and Phillip
In the following slide you will write
what you feel each character was
thinking during important moments
from the story.
Phillip
Timothy
Meeting
Phillip wakes up on a raft with an elder black man after their ship was hit
by a torpedo. Since Philip has been raised by a racist mother, how do you
think he feels being stuck in this situation? How do you think Timothy
feels being stuck with just a young boy to survive?
Chapter 3 (Timothy and Phillip are adrift on a raft at sea)
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. Finally the black
man said, looking at me from bloodshot eyes, “Now,
young bahss, I mos’ feel like dat my own self, Timothy,
but ‘twould be of no particular use to do dat, eh?’
Chapter 3 (Timothy and Phillip are adrift on a raft at sea)
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. Finally the black
man said, looking at me from bloodshot eyes, “Now,
young bahss, I mos’ feel like dat my own self, Timothy,
but ‘twould be of no particular use to do dat, eh?’
Survival
On the raft, Timothy begins ripping pieces off of the side along
with his and Phillip’s clothes to create a shelter for him an Phillip.
How do you think Philip feels being stuck in this situation? What
is going through Timothy’s mind as he makes shelter for them?
Chapter 3 (Timothy works to ensure their survival at sea)
I then watched as he used his powerful arms and hands
to rip up boards from the outside edges of the raft. He
pounded them back together on cleats, forming two
triangles; then he jammed the bases into slots between
the raft boards. He stripped off his shirt and his pants,
then demanded mine. Soon we had a flimsy shelter from
the burning sun.
Chapter 3 (Timothy works to ensure their survival at sea)
I then watched as he used his powerful arms and hands
to rip up boards from the outside edges of the raft. He
pounded them back together on cleats, forming two
triangles; then he jammed the bases into slots between
the raft boards. He stripped off his shirt and his pants,
then demanded mine. Soon we had a flimsy shelter from
the burning sun.
Blindness
After falling asleep looking in to the sun, Phillip wakes up thinking
it is night time only to find out that he is now blind. What do you
think is going through Philip’s mind based on his reaction? What
is Timothy thinking when he tells Philip his blindness is only
temporary?
Chapter 4 (Phillip has just realised he cannot see)
“I don’t feel any pain, Timothy. The pain has gone away.”
I guess he was trying to think it all out. In a few minutes,
he answered, “Once, ovah ‘round Barbados, a mahn ‘ad
an outrageous crack on d’ead when a sailin’ boom shift.
Dis mahn was blin’ too. Tree whole day ‘e saw d’night.
Den it true went away.”
Chapter 4 (Phillip has just realised he cannot see)
“I don’t feel any pain, Timothy. The pain has gone away.”
I guess he was trying to think it all out. In a few minutes,
he answered, “Once, ovah ‘round Barbados, a mahn ‘ad
an outrageous crack on d’ead when a sailin’ boom shift.
Dis mahn was blin’ too. Tree whole day ‘e saw d’night.
Den it true went away.”
The Island
Timothy spots a small island that appears to have nobody living
on it. Phillip has no interest in landing here, however Timothy
makes the final decision to stay. How do you think Phillip feels
about this choice? What is Timothy thinking by stopping on this
island?
Chapter 6 (Timothy has spotted a very small island)
I said, “Timothy, wouldn’t it better if we stayed on the raft
and found a big island with people on it?” I said, “I don’t
want to go on that island.” I don’t think there was anyone
on earth as stubborn as old Timothy. There was steel in
his voice when he answered, “We be goin’ on dat islan’,
young bahss. Dat be true.”
Chapter 6 (Timothy has spotted a very small island)
I said, “Timothy, wouldn’t it better if we stayed on the raft
and found a big island with people on it?” I said, “I don’t
want to go on that island.” I don’t think there was anyone
on earth as stubborn as old Timothy. There was steel in
his voice when he answered, “We be goin’ on dat islan’,
young bahss. Dat be true.”
Realizing Danger
Timothy admits to Phillip that they are stuck in a cay surrounded
by coral, which will make searching for them difficult for anyone
trying to rescue them. What do you think it going through Phillip’s
mind after hearing Timothy say this? What is going through
Timothy’s head that made him hide this from Phillip for so long?
Chapter 7 (Timothy has realised where their cay lies)
I said, “You are worried about something, Timothy.
Please tell me the truth. I’m old enough to know.”
Timothy waited a long time before answering, probably
trying to choose the right words. Finally he said, “Young
bahss, dere is, in dis part of d’sea, a few lil’ cays like dis
one, surround on bot’ sides by hombug banks. Dey are
cut off from d’res’ o’ d’sea by dese banks …”
Chapter 7 (Timothy has realised where their cay lies)
I said, “You are worried about something, Timothy.
Please tell me the truth. I’m old enough to know.”
Timothy waited a long time before answering, probably
trying to choose the right words. Finally he said, “Young
bahss, dere is, in dis part of d’sea, a few lil’ cays like dis
one, surround on bot’ sides by hombug banks. Dey are
cut off from d’res’ o’ d’sea by dese banks …”
Help
Timothy is trying to give Phillip a chance to help him in their effort
to survive on the island. How do you think Phillip feels about this
knowing that he is blind? What do you think is going through
Timothy’s mind by trying to teach Phillip how he can help?
Chapter 8 (Timothy asks Phillip for assistance)
I guess Timothy was standing there looking at me,
waiting for me to say something or do something. I heard
him say, “Well, young bahss.” “What do we do now?” I
asked. His voice now impatient, he said, “Say somethin’
wid d’rock, wid many rock; eeevery rock be sayin’
somethin’ …” I frowned at him. “I don’t think I can help
you, Timothy. I can’t see any rocks.”
Chapter 8 (Timothy asks Phillip for assistance)
I guess Timothy was standing there looking at me,
waiting for me to say something or do something. I heard
him say, “Well, young bahss.” “What do we do now?” I
asked. His voice now impatient, he said, “Say somethin’
wid d’rock, wid many rock; eeevery rock be sayin’
somethin’ …” I frowned at him. “I don’t think I can help
you, Timothy. I can’t see any rocks.”
Learning to Work
Timothy realizes he is becoming weaker and is going to need
Phillips help with the work on the island. Phillip feels helpless not
being able to see until Timothy tells him the hand is not blind.
What is on Timothy’s mind that makes him try this? How do you
feel Phillips thoughts have changed after hearing this?
Chapter 9 (Timothy puts pressure on Phillip to work)
After we’d torn the vines out, and he was weaving the
rope, he said, “Young bahss, you mus’ begin to help wid
d’udder wark.” My hands were tired from pulling the
vines, and I just wanted to sit and think. I didn’t want to
work. I said, “Timothy, I’m blind. I can’t see to work.” I
heard him cutting something with his sharp knife. He
replied softly, “D’han’ is not blin’.”
Chapter 9 (Timothy puts pressure on Phillip to work)
After we’d torn the vines out, and he was weaving the
rope, he said, “Young bahss, you mus’ begin to help wid
d’udder wark.” My hands were tired from pulling the
vines, and I just wanted to sit and think. I didn’t want to
work. I said, “Timothy, I’m blind. I can’t see to work.” I
heard him cutting something with his sharp knife. He
replied softly, “D’han’ is not blin’.”
Skin Color
Having grown closer to and more dependent on Timothy, Phillip
begins to wonder why some people of different races do not like
each other like his mother who do not like black people. What
thoughts do you think Phillip is having now? How do you think
Timothy feels after Phillip tells him about his mother?
Chapter 10 (Phillip begins to wonder why skin colour is
an issue)
I told him that my mother didn’t like black people and
asked him why. He answered slowly, “ I don’ like some
white people my own self, but ‘twould be outrageous if I
didn’ like any o’ dem.” Wanting to hear it from Timothy, I
asked him why there were different colours of skin, white
and black, brown and red, and he laughed back, “Why
b’feesh different colour, or flower b’different colour? I
true don’ know, Phill-eep, but I true tink beneath d’skin is
all d’same.”
Chapter 10 (Phillip begins to wonder why skin colour is
an issue)
I told him that my mother didn’t like black people and
asked him why. He answered slowly, “ I don’ like some
white people my own self, but ‘twould be outrageous if I
didn’ like any o’ dem.” Wanting to hear it from Timothy, I
asked him why there were different colours of skin, white
and black, brown and red, and he laughed back, “Why
b’feesh different colour, or flower b’different colour? I
true don’ know,
Phill-eep, but I true tink beneath d’skin
is all d’same.”
The Hurricane
Timothy and Phillip are forced to deal with a giant storm. Timothy
straps himself, Phillip and Stew Cat to a tree. Timothy covers the
others trying to take the full force of the storm for Stew Cat and
Phillip. What do you think is going through both character’s minds
as they brace for the impact of the hurricane? Why do you think
Timothy decided put himself in more danger?
Chapter 15 (Timothy takes the brunt of the storm to
protect Phillip)
Timothy had been cut to ribbons by the wind, which
drove the rain and tiny grains of sand before it. It had
flayed his back and his legs until there were very few
places that weren’t cut. He was bleeding, but there was
nothing I could do to stop it. I found his hard, horny hand
again, wrapped mine around it, and lay down beside him.
Chapter 15 (Timothy takes the brunt of the storm to
protect Phillip)
Timothy had been cut to ribbons by the wind, which
drove the rain and tiny grains of sand before it. It had
flayed his back and his legs until there were very few
places that weren’t cut. He was bleeding, but there was
nothing I could do to stop it. I found his hard, horny hand
again, wrapped mine around it, and lay down beside him.
Once You have completed the though bubbles for each
character during these defining moments in the story,
save this Power Point under your name for grading.