Call It Courage

by Armstrong Sperry

 

| Chapter One: Flight |

Word Wizard

 p. 8 indifference

sentence: "So the people drove him forth. Not by violence, but by indifference."

meaning:

 

p. 8 impending

sentence: "... with an almost animal awareness of impending storm.

meaning:

p. 10 jibes

sentence: "The boy learned to turn these jibes aside, but his father's silence shamed him."

meaning:

p. 11 pursuits

sentence: "He became very skillful at these pursuits, but he hated them."

meaning:

 

p. 13 inseparable

sentence: "A nondescript yellow dog named Uri was Mafatu's inseparable companion...."

meaning:

p. 13 serenely

sentence: "In the air it achieved perfection, floating serenely against the sky while Mafatu followed its effortless flight with envious eyes.

meaning:

 

p. 14 faltered

sentence: His fingers faltered as they flew among the sennit fibers of the net he was making.

meaning:

 

p. 17 resentment

sentence: Suddenly a fierce resentment stormed through him.

meaning:

 

Discussion Director

Why did the early Polynesians worship courage? (p. 7)

 

What dreams did Mafatu's father have for his baby son when henamed his son Mafatu (Stout Heart)? (p. 10)

 

Perhaps because it was different from its kind, the older birdswere heckling and pestering the fledgling." (p. 13) This passage isabout Kivi, but it also is about Mafatu. Explain why.

 

 

Why is it important for the boys to learn how to catch thebonitos? (p. 14 and 16)

 

 

Literary Luminary

Armstrong Sperry uses a lot of descriptive language. Complete thetable below with passages from chapter one.

Passage (circle the descriptive words)

Meaning/Feeling Conveyed

p. 8: The thunder of it filled his ears; the crash of it upon the reef; the mutter of it at sunset; the threat and fury of its storms -- on every hand, wherever he turned -- the sea.

p. 9 Waves lifted and struck at one another, their crests hissing with spray.

 

p. 10 ... with scarcely enough strength left to pull her child beyond reach of the sea's hungry fingers.

 

p. 17 Kana laughed again and the scorn of his voice was like a spear thrust through Mafatu's heart.

 

p. 18 The outrigger canoes lay drawn up on the beach like long slim fish.

 

p. 18 Silent as a shadow, the boy crossed the sand.

 

p. 19 The lagoon was as untroubled as a mirror.

 

p. 19 It caught up the small craft in its churn, swept it forward like a chip on a millrace.

Creative Connector

When have you felt that you had to prove yourself to someone.

 

When have you had to be courageous?

 

Artful Artist

Sketch a scene that shows Mafatu working on shore while the othermen and boys are out fishing. Include details (objects, locations,people) from the first chapter. Tell what pages your ideas camefrom.

 

Related Research

Is Hikueru a real place? Go to http://www.com.univ-mrs.fr/IRD/atollpol/irdpoly/ukhikuer.htmand find out.