The Cay by Theodore Taylor
The Cay by Theodore Taylor
The Cay by Theodore Taylor
The Cay
By Theodore Taylor
Setting
The novel is set in the 1940’s
during WWII in the
Caribbean. Young Phillip has
to flee his home in
Willemstad, Curacao, a
Dutch colonized island,
because of the threat of
German attack. After U-
boats torpedo their ship, he
ends up stranded on an
isolated small island, or cay,
with an old Negro man and
the ship’s cat.
Willemstad, Curacao
Curacao is an island in the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela, part of the Dutch West
Indies, that is still connected with the Netherlands (Holland) today. People are of Dutch
citizenship. It is part of the Lesser Antilles chain, which includes Aruba and Bonaire, also
known as the ABC islands.
Oil in the Caribbean
Oil Refinery,
Willemstad,
Curacao,
Netherlands
Antilles, West
Indies, Caribbean,
Central America
The Caribbean region has been a major source of oil since before WWII and still
produces oil today. During the war, the area became a target for German U-boats that
wanted to cut off oil supplies to the allied forces.
U-Boats in the Caribbean
This was one of the most
important areas fought
over in the entire U-boat
war. In May 1942, the
German U-boats began to
sink merchants in these
waters at a shocking rate.
Here they saw the chance
to effectively choke the
allied war effort by
cutting the vital supply
line of oil. Attack on Aruba
16 Feb 1942
Characters
Phillip Enright- an
eleven-year-old
American; a lean boy
with dark brown hair.
He lives in Willemstad,
Curacao, just off the
coast of Venezuela.
Phillip is intrigued by
the war because he has
never experienced it
before.
Characters
Henrik- a little Dutch
boy who is one of
Phillip’s best friends. He
lives with his family on
the island, too. He’s a
boy who grew up
without the same
prejudices Phillip has
learned from his
mother.
Characters
Phillip’s mother- an
American woman who
lives with her husband
on the island of Curacao,
but she doesn’t like it
there and is distrustful of
its people. She does not
like the black people on
the island and fears
them. When war breaks
out, she wants to return
to the United States.
Characters
Philip’s father- a
responsible and
devoted husband and
father; an American
man who spends much
time working at an oil
refinery on Curacao,
supporting the war
effort. He feels it is
safe on the island.
Characters
Timothy - an old black
man with white hair.
He has a very thick
Caribbean accent. He is
not good with reading
or spelling, but he
knows a lot about
living and surviving.
Phillip thinks he is ugly,
but doesn’t really
understand that beauty
is only skin deep.
Plot
The Island of Curacao where Phillip
lives is attacked by U-boats. The year
is 1942. Phillip’s father sends the boy
and his mother on a ship to the
states. Their ship is torpedoed,
however, and sinks. He awakens on a
raft after a blow on the head. He is
alone with Timothy, an old black
man, and the ship’s cat. Phillip then
loses his sight from his head injury.
Phillip and Timothy arrive on a small
island or cay surrounded by coral
reefs, where they are stranded.
Phillip has to learn to trust Timothy.
Vocabulary
Mussels - edible shellfish Koenoekoe – countryside
Papaya – sweet tropical Divi Divi Tree – windblown
fruit tree that always points
Schottegat – a large natural west
harbor in Curacao Veer boots- boats similar to
U-boat – a German ferries
submarine used during Negro- a person of black
WWII appearance, whether of
Refinery – a place where oil African descent or not
is processed into gasoline Cay – a small, deserted
island in the Caribbean
Theme
• Flying fish –
• Coconuts –
Stranded, Blind, Isolated….
Dat Be
True…
Yikes! Will They Survive?
Read and Find Out!
And even if they do, will
they ever be rescued?