Characters
Who is the main character in The Cay?
Phillip Enright is the main character.
Where does the story of The Cay take place?
The story takes place on the island of Curacao.
What event leads to Phillip and Timothy being stranded?
A German submarine attack leads to the shipwreck.
What is the main conflict that Phillip faces in the beginning?
He doesn't want to leave the island with his mother.
Identify the subject in this sentence: "Phillip was scared."
"Phillip" is the subject.
What is the name of the person who is stranded with Phillip?
Timothy is stranded with Phillip.
What is the time period during which the story occurs?
The story takes place during WWII from 1939-1945.
How does Phillip's mother react to the war at the beginning of the story?
She is frightened and wants to leave the island.
How does Phillip feel about being stranded with Timothy?
He feels lonely and scared and doesn't like Timothy.
What is the correct verb form for: "He (to be) on the island for weeks."
"He is on the island for weeks."
Who is the boy who is Phillip's friend on Curacao?
Henrik Van Boven is Phillip's friend.
Describe what is on the raft that will help them survive.
They have supplies such as water, biscuits, and chocolate plus matches.
What happens at the beginning of the book that makes Phillip anxious to explore around town?
What external conflict does Phillip experience while living on Curacao?
It is World War II and it is dangerous for him to be running around town with Henrik.
Choose the correct pronoun: "Timothy and (I/me) worked together."
"Timothy and I worked together."
What does Phillip's mother think of the Curacao?
She is worried and protective, showing concern about the danger.
What is a challenge presented by going home to Virginia?
It is dangerous to be at sea with German submarines in the area.
What event caused Phillip's mother to finally decide to go home?
The S.S. Tern was blown up after leaving the port.
What is the relationship between Phillip's parents in the first two chapters?
They show tension with each other due to their different ideas of the war and safety.
What is the past tense of the verb "to swim"?
The past tense is "swam".
What kind of attitude does Phillip have toward Timothy?
He is prejudiced against him.
How does the setting affect Phillip's feelings and thoughts?
The setting creates feelings of fear and isolation for Phillip.
How does Phillip's father treat him when he asks a lot of questions?
Phillip's father is kind and answers all of his questions.
What external conflict does Phillip face while on the raft with Timothy.
He has been hit in the head and has a terrible headache.
Read the sentence:
'Like silent, hungry sharks that swim in the darkness of the sea, the German submarines arrived in the middle of the night.'
What kind of figurative language is this?
The figurative language is a simile. German submarines are compared to hungry sharks, using the word like to show the comparison.