The Cay
The Cay
The Cay
By Theodore Taylor
Essential Questions
1. How do the beliefs and values of your parents shape your own beliefs and values?
2. Write about a time when you met a new person, formed an opinion about him/her
and then realized your opinion was wrong. What was your first reaction to this
person? Why did you react the way you did? How did your opinion of the person
change? What did you learn from this experience?
Chapters 1-2 Group Discussion
1. Compare WWII to wars that are currently being fought. For example,
WWII vs. the war in Afghanistan. Is war ever justified? Explain your
reasoning. How can war be prevented? What can be done to promote
world peace?
3. Timothy and Phillip have a serious disagreement in this chapter. Describe a time
when you and another person experienced a conflict. How was your situation similar
to Timothy’s and Phillip’s? How did it differ?
Chapters 10-11 Group Discussion
As a result of his experiences with Timothy on the cay, Phillip begins growing and
changing mentally and physically. Consider how Phillip changes, particularly in his
attitude toward Timothy.
On a piece of paper draw two silhouettes of Phillip. Label one, “Before” and the
other “After.” After
Before
Around the “Before” silhouette, write words that show what Phillip was like before
he began to change (before Timothy slapped him). Around the “After” silhouette
write words that demonstrate how Phillip is changing.
Think about how you’ve changed and grown within the last year. What similarities
and differences do you see between your growth and Phillip’s
Literature Response Journal Ch. 10-11
A. Write about one of these topics in your journal
1. Theodore Taylor end this section of the book with the following words:
“Where is the raft Timothy?’ ‘T’was off d’shore, Phill-eep. ‘Tis back now. An our
luck is change.’ But it didn’t change. It got worse.
What do you think will happen to Timothy and Phillip? Why do you
think Theodore end the chapter this way?
2. Timothy is superstitious and believes that a jumbi or evil spirit causes his bad luck.
Make a list of common superstitions. Why do you think people create
superstitions? In what way are you superstitious?
3. In Chapter 11, why does Phillip think he can no longer trust Timothy? Describe a
situation in which you questioned your trust in someone. How o people build trust
in each other?
Chapters 12-14 Group Discussion
Imagine that your class has survived the explosion of the S.S. Hato and has safely
landed on a cay. Before developing a survival plan, you make a list of all the items you
possess. Your job now is to rank these items in terms of their importance to your
survival. On a separate piece of paper, list the item below in their order of
importance. Place a number 1 by the most important item and number 16 by the
least important.
Water keg Biscuits Rusty bolts Hunting knife
Dry matches Lifeline Tin box Nails
Hinges Rope Wood Leather
Cork Chocolate Palm fronds Clothing
Literature Response Journal Ch. 12-14
A . Write about one of these topics in your journal
1. To which characters or situations do you connect in The Cay? Have you read other
books or watched movies that remind you of people or events in the story?
Reflect on your personal connections, and record them in your journal. Describe
how they are similar to and different from the characters and events in the novel.
2. As Phillip struggles to help Timothy during the malaria attack, what do the boy’s
actions reveal about his character? Would Phillip’s reaction have been the same
earlier in the novel? Explain your decision.
3. Because of his feelings for Timothy, Phillip conquers his fear and climbs up the
coconut tree. What obstacles have you overcome in your life? How did you
overcome them?
Chapter 15-16 Group Discussion
Various emotions stir and swirl through this part of The Cay. Review passages from
the book that vividly portray the following:
The initial violence of the hurricane
The clam of the eye of the storm
The full fury of the hurricane
Timothy’s death
Phillip’s reaction to Timothy’s death
How does the author create the various moods and images in each passage? What
words or phrases are particularly powerful? How do the passages help you visualize
the storm?
Literature Response Journal Ch. 15-16
A . Write about one of these topics in your journal
1. Visualize the hurricane and its aftermath and then draw a detailed picture of the
storm. Beneath the illustration write a brief description of your interpretation of
the hurricane.
2. When Timothy dies, Phillip does not cry. He says, “There are times when you are
beyond tears.” What does Phillip mean?
3. An epitaph is a written record or memory of a loved one. Write and epitaph for
Timothy in the form of a poem, song, speech, or letter.
Chapter 17-19 Group Discussion
Discuss Phillip’s rescue. What were your reactions to it?
Re-read the end of the story. Why do you think Theodore Taylor ends the book this
way? Is the ending effective? Why or why not?
Phillip refers to the island as “our own cay.” He imagines returning to the island and
saying the following words by Timothy’s grave: “Dis b’dat outrageous cay, eh,
Timothy?” Why does Phillip use these words?
Why is the story titled, “The Cay?” Explain whether you think this is a good title for
the book. What other suggestions do you have for a title?
Some critics of The Cay think the book promotes racism because of the way
Theodore Taylor portrays Timothy. Others believe the novel attacks racism because
Phillip’s racist attitude changes dramatically. Which view do you support, and why?
Literature Response Journal Ch. 17-19
A . Write about one of these topics in your journal
1. Timothy told Phillip not to dive to the bottom of the fishing hole, but
Phillip disobeys. Have you ever been given good advice that you did
not follow? What consequences did you face? What did you learn
from your experience?
2. Instead of giving up when the first plane fails to see him, Phillip uses
his problem solving skills to determine why the plane did not see him.
Think about the problem you have encountered. Show the steps you
took to solve it.