Theme of the book the cay

Theme questions for the cay classroom in the middle. Teaching theme through timothy in the cay donorschoose. A brief summary and the main theme of the cay by theodore taylor. The cay asks us to put aside our preconceived notions about people, places, and things in order to see the world in a new way. This novel is set in the 1940s on a small island, called a cay, in the caribbean sea. Symbols representing ideas taylors message, mlks dream what. Having spent his entire life fishing along the cays, timothy recognizes both the assets nature provides and the dangers it poses. In the novel the cay, a young white boy and an old black man are stranded on a small sandy cay in the caribbean sea following a shipwreck. The theme of the cay is nobodys helpless, you just have to adapt to a change, race doesnt matter, and dont judge a book by its cover.

He is now married with three children and lives in california. Friendship is conveyed between the two characters philipthe young boy and timothythe adult black man. In this case timothy is the book, and the cover is his skin. Accepting differences the hundred dresses and the cay essential questions from each book for journal, writing prompts. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and start the. The theme of this book is a survival book becuase it is a thing you had to like make a fire, be ready, and have food. Were on the caribbean island of curacao, and world war ii is under way. Phillip thinks that timothy is ugly, stupid, and different, all because he is black. Write a sentence stating what you feel is the theme of the story. Timothy also teaches philip to catch food and he builds a shelter for philip and teaches him how to build his own. The book the cay by theodore taylor has a theme of friendship. In literature, theme is the purpose of telling a story. The cay would be a stronger book if timothy went through some transformations along with phillip.

Timothy and the boy are on the island for quite some time and they dont do much but try to provide for themselves. However, they havent met timothy and phillip from the cay yet. The natural world is like a diamond it has many sides. A brief summary and the main theme of the cay by theodore taylor pages 2. To escape danger, 11yearold phillip and his mother board a freighter which is torpedoed by a german submarine.

When german uboats surround the island of curacao, his mother who is frightened wants to go back to the netherlands and take her son with her. This prequelsequel tells the rest of their tale in alternating chaptersthe compelling story of two very different people. Phillip enright, the 11 yearold main character, is excited when the germans invade the small island of curacao. Friendship is conveyed throughout the story and the author gives clues to convey the mood and theme of friendship. The cay themes race friendship violence transformation man and the natural world appearances sacrifice contrasting regions.

The plot of the novel is driven by the senseless human hatred which causes both world war ii and phillips minor themes. The most important lesson timothy teaches phillip is that he can change himself for the better. Background exposition concerning the enrights life on curacao and the wartime conditions there. Abandon ship two days after leaving port, at three oclock in the morning on april 6, 1942, the s. As a novel written for a young adult audience, the cay has both been taught in and banned from public schools. Theodore taylors novel, the cay, is a great one for working on the concept of theme. Phillip sees negroes in the same way as his mother despises them. Respect phillip isnt the nicest person in the beginning, sure some reason for his disrespect of timothy is from racism, but he was also disregarding his mothers will for him to be safe. The cay by theodore taylor is a thrilling survival tale with a dash of historical fiction.

Asked in the cay what is the climax of the story the cay. As the cay opens, the threat of world war ii has reached the caribbean island on which phillip enrights american family lives. He is a naive character, and since war has always been a game to him, and hes eager to glimpse it firsthand p. Planet book club novels the cay small planet communications. In the book phillip gets tired of eating sea grape leaves and fish, so he gained the courage to go fishing for langosta, which is a type of lobster.

Within walking distance to the orlando orange county convention center, the second largest in the country and a publix grocery store. See all 51 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Taylor has provided an exciting storythe idea that all humanity would benefit from this special form of color blindness permeates the whole bookthe result is a story with a high ethical purpose but no sermon. Nov 14, 2012 ive been doing a lot of projects lately for the book the cay by theodore taylor, and ive done all of them and gotten an a, but this one has gotten me stumped. What is the main theme in the book the cay answers. See more ideas about southern caribbean and teaching reading.

Symbolism in the cay symbolism art stew cat could symbolize phillips connection with his home because phillip likes to hold stew cat for comfort when he is scared or sad, like it reminds him of his normal life. My themes essay the cay by theodore taylor michelle. Based on what we read on page 117 it says, i went back to sleep, and this time when i awakened, i heard a meow. At the end of the movie, after timothy died, timothy narrated the last couple scenes in phillips mind, which didnt happen in the book. A discussion of important themes running throughout the cay. This study guide consists of approximately 52 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the cay. I have to find a song that goes along with the theme of the book and then write a paragraph or two about it. Once phillip goes blind, he is forced to depend upon a black west indian man named timothy to navigate the world around him. Arrange a stunningly elegant venue where the atmosphere and service create lasting memories for forever. The theme of the cay is you are not helpless if you believe in yourself. The cay, written by theodore taylor, is a story set in 1942 during world war ii. My students need 25 copies of the cay to teach themes of survival, acceptance, and overcoming challenges through an accessible text for all sixth graders. Theodore taylor 19212006, an awardwinning author of many books for young people, was particularly known for fastpaced, exciting adventure novels. Taylor is the author of a dozen books for young readers, among them the.

The cay is a teen novel written by theodore taylor. Recently, i have been reading a book called the cay. My themes essay the cay by theodore taylor michelle flude. I didnt really enjoy this book because it didnt have enough cliff hangers or action to keep me interested. The island is being stalked by german submarines that arrived during the nighttime and are targeting the areas oil refineries and tankers. A brief summary and the main theme of the cay by theodore. His books include the bestseller the cay, timothy of the cay, the bomb, air raidpearl harbor. And there were just little differences in the movie compared to the book.

In this essay, you will see the similarities and differences between the book and the movie. Chapter summaries for theodore taylors novel, the cay. The cay is a book about a boy named phillip enright living in the time of a world war ii 1942. Taylor based the character of the boy in his book on a child who was aboard the hato, when it was torpedoed, who drifts out to sea on a lifeboat. Much of the emotional impact of the cay comes from the richly developed character of timothy and his paternal relationship with philip, a basically goodhearted boy who must unlearn what he has been taught. In this lesson, you will read about the themes of theodore taylors novel the cay. The novel was published in 1969 and dedicated to martin luther king, jr. It can be scary storms and earthquakes, welcoming a cozy forest bower, inspiring jawdropping mountain view, or isolating a lonely empty beach. This is what happens to phillip in chapter three of the cay. Through the metaphor of phillips blindness, the novel calls our attention to the idea that we must change how we see the world. Timothy edit according to timothy of the cay, timothy had been abandoned as a baby at the residence in back o all where hannah gumbs, a former coal carrier turned washerwoman who reared him, was a squatter. Elevenyearold phillip was blinded by flying debris when a torpedo struck the ss hato, and old timothy has taught him how to survive.

You can talk about themes in a variety of categories man against nature. Include two or three sentences supporting your reasoning. A nasty hurricane formed on the cay, and it was caused by timothy making the wooden cat. The book club novel guide outlines a complete themebased unit with book club lesson plans focusing on the cay. The theme of a story is the thesis or a life lesson learned example hope, courage, bravery, loyalty ect. The cay has been both celebrated and attacked for its treatment of racism, although recent interpretations of the novel agree that the books overall message is one of tolerance and embracing people of all races. This home is located in the gated community of vista cay resort and is just minutes away from disney world, universal studios, sea world and aquatica. The cay would be a stronger book if timothy went through some. Themes in the novel the cay written by theodore taylor prezi. It is about a boy named phillip, who was traveling to the united states during the war, when the ship got torpedoed. In this paragraph, i will be stating the similarities. Phillip wakes up and finds himself on a raft with a west indian called timothy.

According to timothy of the cay, timothy had been abandoned as a baby at the residence in back o all where hannah gumbs, a former coal carrier turned washerwoman who reared him, was a squatter. Theodore taylor was born in north carolina and began writing at the age of thirteen as a cub reporter for the portsmouth, virginia evening star. If you must write a book report on the adventure book the cay by theodore taylor but you dont want to actually read the book or you dont have time, there are ways to get around reading the book and you can still write a great report. For fans of hatchet and island of the blue dolphins comes theodore taylors classic bestseller and lewis carroll shelf award winner, the cay. Theodore taylor explores a similar dream in the cay. The themes of the cay include a friendship between very different people, overcoming obstacles to accomplish a goal, and. The cay 1974 theme song cover keyboard flute duration. Phillip is a young boy who has been conditioned to believe that colored people are somehow beneath them because of their color and in his. Now you can stay in the heart of orlando as vista cay brings the most exclusive property and rental opportunity near walt disney world, universal. This breathtaking and moving story is one of the great classics of childrens literature. The principal character in the cay is phillip enright jr. Mainly, the focus is on racism between blacks and whites.

Mar 20, 20 this is a quick book summary and analysis of the cay by theodore taylor. Ive tried everywhere, and i just cant seem to find anything that goes with the book. Between both the book and the movie, the major problems are both included. He begins with a main character an 11yearold white boy named phillip who has bigoted views on race. Themes in the novel the cay written by theodore taylor by natasha babcock selfrealization. Unlike the common literary theme of man against nature, the survival story told in the cay is about living in harmony with nature. Taylor tells the story of elevenyearold phillip enright, an american living on the caribbean island of curacao during world war ii. As a boy, he formed a dream of one day being captain of his own schooner, which he meant. Mar 21, 20 in the novel the cay by theodore taylor, an important theme for this novel is survival. Leaving home at seventeen to join the washington daily news as a copy boy, he worked his way toward new york city and became an nbc network sportswriter at the age of nineteen.

The theme to this story is making dreams a reality. His inspiration to write the cay came from his research into german submarines that fought in the second world war. It is important because timothy cares for philip because he is blind. Sixth grade students who struggle with reading are torn because books that are accessible to them seem childish or below them. Author theodore taylor is an american writer who also makes documentary films. It deals with the social injustice of the world war 2 era.

This is a quick book summary and analysis of the cay by theodore taylor. What do you think is the theme of nikolai popovs book why. The cay by theodore taylor is a story about a boy who survives a shipwreck. The theme is best represented by phillips blindness.