THE CAY

Written by Theodore Taylor
Adapted For The Stage By Gayle Cornelison

A STUDY GUIDE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

A Synopsis of THE CAY
In the early years of World War II, eleven-year-old Phillip Enright lives with his mother and father on the island of Curacao, off the coast of Venezuela. When a neighboring island is attacked by German submarines, Phillip's mother, unable to cope with the surrounding dangers, arranges to travel back with her son to her home in Virginia. On their journey, a German U-boat torpedoes the freighter. Phillip is separated from his mother and thrown overboard; as he falls, he sustains a devastating blow to the head. When he wakes, he finds himself on a wooden raft with a West Indian man named Timothy, and a stowaway cat. Phillip's mother always told him that black people were "different." Phillip finds Timothy to be stubborn and feels very superior to him because Timothy lacks a formal education. While they are on the raft, looking for land, Phillip's head injury renders him blind. Although he dislikes Timothy, Phillip is forced to rely on him for survival when they land on an island called The Cay. When a violent hurricane hits the island, Timothy saves the young boy from death. Because Timothy is quite old and has exhausted his strength, he does not survive the raging tempest. Phillip knows he has survived because of Timothy's guidance and, vowing to live on, he buries his friend with a heavy heart. Phillip is soon rescued by an American destroyer, and after three operations on his eyes, regains his sight. However, the four months on the island have changed his life forever. Phillip hopes someday to return to the "outrageous cay" where Timothy taught him that nothing is gained from prejudice and true knowledge is based on love.

ART I. Create The Cay:
1. With clay, build a representation of the island on which Phillip and Timothy were marooned. Work together to create as realistic a replica as possible.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH I. The novel The Cay is dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King and his "dream" for a society without prejudice. The dedication states: "To Dr. King's dream, which can only come true if the very young know and understand."
1. Research Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches, particularly the "I Have a Dream Speech."
2. Discuss how the dedication relates to the play and Phillip's transformation.
3. Phillip has been taught by his mother to be prejudiced. What evidence is there in the play that Phillip feels racial prejudice? What causes racial prejudice? Write a paragraph and give reasons and examples for your opinions.

COMPUTERS I. Internet Projects.
1. Do research on the Internet. Possible topics include Martin Luther King Jr., World War Two, the West Indies, or Submarines.
2. Have the students come up with their own webquest based on a topic from the play. They can search for websites that apply and create a scavenger hunt on the Internet for information that they discover.

CREATIVE WRITING
I. Pretend you are Phillip's father and have received news of the shipwreck. You are willing to give a reward to anyone able to locate your son. Write an advertisement for the local newspaper asking for help and giving the information needed to carry out the rescue.
II. Cover the details of Phillip's rescue as a newspaper reporter. What kinds of questions would you ask Phillip? Create a picture and a heading to accompany your article.
III. A eulogy is a written tribute telling the qualities and accomplishments of someone who has died. Write a eulogy for Timothy.

GEOGRAPHY
I. There are many important Countries, Cities, and Islands mentioned in The Cay. Find the following on a map. Countries: The Netherlands, Venezuela, Panama, Germany. Cities: Amsterdam, Panama, Barbados, Willemstad. Islands : St. Thomas, Curacao, Maracaibo, Aruba.
II. Create a blank map for the students to label and fill in with the geographical locations where the story of The Cay takes place.
Trace the journey that Phillip and his mother intended to take from Curacao to Virginia.

HISTORY I. Lessons on World War II
1. What world events were happening during 1942, the year that Phillip and Timothy are shipwrecked?
2. What country is responsible for the submarine attack on Curacao?
3. Research the sea battles of World War II.

LITERATURE I. Read the book THE CAY by Theodore Taylor.
1. Compare and contrast the book with the play. The playwright adapted the play from the novel. How do you think the playwright selected the scenes to put in the play? Did the actors on stage look and sound like the characters you envisioned when you read the book?

LANGUAGE/ARTS DISCUSSION
I. Look up the word "cay" in the dictionary. Discuss the elements of survival necessary if one were stranded in such a place. Talk about the type of shelters which could be built, food that might be found and clothing which might be needed.
II. What is "superstitious?" In what way does Timothy reveal that he is superstitious?
III. Talk about how Phillip's blindness made it easier for Phillip to become close to Timothy and cast aside his former prejudice. How had Phillip's prejudice caused him to misjudge Timothy's character.

SCIENCE I. Storms.
1. Have students research different types of storms including tornadoes, typhoons, tsunamis, hurricanes, and tropical cyclones. Discuss the causes and effects, and differences between the types of storms.

THEATRE I. Trust Walk.
1. Divide students into groups of two. Blindfold one of the two, and have the sighted students lead their partners through a trust walk. Have them switch roles and repeat the activity. Ask the students to complete simple tasks while blind. Discuss how being blind made them feel and how Phillip's blindness affected him when he was on the Cay.

II. DIALECTS
1. To help understand Timothy's speech pattern, divide into groups of two. Practice reading The Cay aloud with a partner. Take turns so that each has a chance to play Timothy and read in his West Indian dialect. Discuss and practice other dialects you have heard.

VOCABULARY I. U-boats - shipwreck - submarine - Nazi - refinery - langosta - malaria - jumbi - schooner - outrageous - tempest - Cay

ADDITIONAL I. Write to CTC (Teacher's comments are appreciated).
1. After watching the play, write about it. Tell what you liked or disliked about the story, the characters, costumes, or set. Support your thoughts with examples and reasons. Mail to: P.O. Box 2007 Sunnyvale, CA 94087.