Mindmap

survival

When a tribe of islanders leaves their home in search of a safer place to live, they accidentally leave behind a twelve-year old girl and her young brother. The boy is soon killed by wild dogs, and Karana swears to devote the rest of her life to destroying the wild dogs who killed her little brother. After a failed attempt to leave the island in a leaky canoe, Karana decides to build a house and learn to hunt while waiting to be rescued. Her isolation from humans teaches her how to co-exist peacefully with the local wildlife, even the wild dog she considers her worst enemy. After many years, missionaries come to the island. She is not lonely; eventually she befriends and tames various wild animals, including the leader of the wild dogs. After years of hating the dogs, she slowly comes to realize that it is easier to live in peace than to be constantly at war.
She has to go through the stages of learning to do everything for herself with no one to protect her. In learning to provide herself with everything she needs, she not only overcomes her fears, she finds she is quite capable of performing every necessary task and more. She learns who her enemies are and when to trust them, how much food and water to store and how to protect it and numerous other tasks that in her past were always performed by the men. The environment surrounding her tests her courage and yet also allows her to find inspiration to keep going from one day to the next. She never loses hope, but she does eventually let go of the need for a provider. This gritty story was ahead of its time in its depiction of a strong, self-sufficient heroine.

taken from:
http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/dolphins/guide.cfm http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Island-Blue-Dolphins.html http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-island-of-the-blue-dolphins/themes.html

COURAGE

When Karana reaches the beach, all of the men except Nanko and Matasaip have already boarded the ship. Karana has lost track of Ramo, but Nanko tells her the he was on the first canoe to the ship. Upon reaching the ship, Karana looks around for Ramo, but he is nowhere to be found. Nanko offers her his assurance that he is on the ship, but then Karana notices him back on the island, running along the cliff with his spear in his hand.
Chief Matasaip explains to Karana that they cannot wait for Ramo, because if they do, the ship will be wrecked against the rocks. Then, though many people try to restrain her, Karana jumps off the boat into the water and swims back to shore.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dolphins/section4.rhtml

Based on real events, this is the story of Karana, a young Indian girl who lives on the Island of the Blue Dolphins, which is actually San Nicolas. She and her brother are left marooned on this island when all the villagers leave to live on another island. Time passes as Karana struggles to survive on her own. When her brother dies, she realizes she must build a home and find food and store it for each winter. She makes weapons and clothing. The years pass in isolation. Although faced with loneliness and physical danger every day, Karana finds courage and serenity.

http://home.earthlink.net/~eduscapes/units/island/

After Ramo is killed and Karana is left alone on Ghalas-at, she has many enemies and no friends. She is harassed constantly by the wild dogs of her island, and lives with the vague fear in the back of her mind that one day the Aleuts that killed her people will return to the island. Eventually, Karana is forced into confrontation both with the wild dogs and with the Aleuts.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dolphins/themes.html

SUMMARY

The villagers scramble to pack for their journey. They had brought only the bare necessities when they thought they were fleeing the Aleuts, and so choose a few possessions to bring with them.As they head toward the beach, Ramo realizes he has left his fishing spear at the village, but Karana knows there is not enough time to go back tells him he must leave it behind.Chief Matasaip explains to Karana that they cannot wait for Ramo, because if they do, the ship will be wrecked against the rocks. Then, though many people try to restrain her, Karana jumps off the boat into the water and swims back to shore to find Ramo. Time passes as Karana struggles to survive on her own. After Ramo is killed and Karana is left alone on Ghalas-at, she has many enemies and no friends. She is harassed constantly by the wild dogs of her island, and lives with the vague fear in the back of her mind that one day the Aleuts that killed her people will return to the island. Karana makes weapons and clothing for herself. The years pass in isolation. Although faced with loneliness and physical danger every day, Karana finds courage and serenity.

Taken from:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dolphins/section4.rhtml
http://home.earthlink.net/~eduscapes/units/island/
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dolphins/themes.html

Resilience-Si Yi

http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521807018
http://www.enfants-des-rues.com/pages/uk/thematiques_resilience.asp
http://www.enfants-des-rues.com/pages/uk/etudes_resilience.asp
http://greenermagazine.blogspot.com/2007/05/wwii-survivors-lessons-in-resilience.html

Moral Development

When Karana is first left alone on the island, her moral ideology is more or less identical to that of her people. However, Karana develops her own moral code. The laws of Karana's tribe forbid women from making weapons, a fact that Karana struggles with constantly as she pits superstition against necessity. But she still made weapons for her survival need despite the facts. Indeed, she makes that spear almost as a hobby, for catching devilfish is not a necessity. Another way in which Karana departs from her tribe's rituals is through her friendship with Tutok. After the incident with Captain Orlov, the people of Ghalas-at become the sworn enemies of the Aleuts. Karana, however, gives Tutok a chance, even though she is an Aleut and potentially very dangerous. Eventually, Karana eve learns to trust someone she had formerly considered an enemy. A final way in which Karana divulges from the ideology of her people is. Hunting and killing animals was a necessary part of her tribe's economy, but Karana no longer wishes to kill animals because she sees them as very much like people. Karana admits that her friends and family would likely find her decision that animals are like people amusing, but she has come to it through her own experience sticks by it.

ideology-
1)The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, group, class, or culture.
2)A set of doctrines or beliefs that form the basis of a political, economic, or other system.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dolphins/themes.html

All created things have their degree or stage of maturity. The period of maturity in the life of a tree is the time of its fruit-bearing... The animal attains a state of full growth and completeness, and in the human kingdom man reaches his maturity when the light of his intelligence attains its greatest power and development... Similarly there are periods and stages in the collective life of humanity. At one time it was passing through its stage of childhood, at another its period of youth, but now it has entered its long-predicted phase of maturity, the evidences of which are everywhere apparent... That which was applicable to human needs during the early history of the race can neither meet nor satisfy the demands of this day, this period of newness and consummation. Humanity has emerged from its former state of limitation and preliminary training. Man must now become imbued with new virtues and powers, new moral standards, new capacities. New bounties, perfect bestowals, are awaiting and already descending upon him. The gifts and blessings of the period of youth, although timely and sufficient during the adolescence of mankind, are now incapable of meeting the requirements of its maturity.
http://info.bahai.org/article-1-8-0-2.html

Traditionally, psychology has avoided studying anything that is loaded with value judgements. There is a degree of difficulty involved in trying to be unbiased about things that involve terms like "good" and "bad!" So, one of the most significant aspects of human life -- morality -- has had to wait quite a while before anyone in psychology dared to touch it! But Lawrence Kohlberg wanted to study morality, and did so using some of the most interesting (if controversial) techniques. Basically, he would ask children and adults to try to solve moral dilemmas contained in little stories, and to do so outloud so he could follow their reasoning. It wasn't the specific answers to the dilemmas that interested him, but rather how the person got to his or her answer.
One of the most famous of these stories concerned a man named Heinz. His wife was dying of a disease that could be cured if he could get a certain medicine. When he asked the pharmacist, he was told that he could get the medicine, but only at a very high price -- one that Heinz could not possibly afford. So the next evening, Heinz broke into the pharmacy and stole the drug to save his wife's life. Was Heinz right or wrong to steal the drug?
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/genpsymoraldev.html

summary
Even though Karana is left in the island alone, not knowing if she has to make weapons for her protection needs and survival, it's the superstition against necessity. But she till made it. Hunting and killing animals was a necessary part of her tribe's economy but she did not kill them anymore though she need them for food. That which was applicable to human needs during the early history of the race can neither meet nor satisfy the demands of this day, this period of newness and consummation. Karana even gave the Aluet her real name even though the Ghalas has become the sworn enemies of the Aleuts. This shows that she has shown trust in the Aluet even though they were sworn enemies. The gifts and blessings of the period of youth, although timely and sufficient during the adolescence of mankind, are now incapable of meeting the requirements of its maturity.
a man named Heinz whose wife was dying of a disease that could be cured if he could get a certain medicine. When he asked the pharmacist, he was told that he could get the medicine, but only at a very high price -- one that Heinz could not possibly afford. So the next evening, Heinz broke into the pharmacy and stole the drug to save his wife's life. Was Heinz right or wrong to steal the drug?
This shows how much love he has for his wife.
Karana too has much love for the animals, her brother and has also decieded to give the Aluet another chance.

(Character Analyzer) Group 7

Role:Character Analyzer

Island of the blue dolphins(Chapter four)


Character:Captain Orlov

His personality:He is not honest.
Why:He did not want to give the author's father the chests as he want the author's
father to hand over the pelts first.
Age:Not mention in the story.
Race:Russian
Strength:The Aleuts whom were his men fought with the author's father and had injured or had
killed their warriors and the author's father was seriously injured.
Weakness:Captain Orlov did not have fairness during his arguement.

Character:Author

His personailty:She is a very obedient daughter.
Why:He always takes care of his brother and cares about his father.
Age:Not mention in the story.
Race:Russian
Strength:Not mention in chapter four.
Weakness:Not mention in chapter four.

Connector-Dayana

In chapter 4, paragraph 3, we can see that the tribe are united as one. Nowadays, the spirit is lost among youths. Everyone should stay with their family(tribes) through good or bad times. As everyone says united we stand divided we fall.

In chapter 7,the whole chapter was on Karana boarding the ship to start a new beginning but instead, sacrificed her personal belongings just to save Ramo, who was left at the shore just to take his spear. Again, such love cannot be find right now. Siblings would rather fight amongst each other than to spend time and talk, to settle the problem by talking not by fighting.

Plot Analyzer ( Chapter 4 )

From the start of the first paragraph, we can tell that the weather is going to be nasty. " when the news came that the hunter had packed their tents, all of our tribe left the village", this shows how united this people are, unlike some of us who does not even bother to care and thinks that it is just a waste of time. if we could have that spirit within us, it would be great! karana seems to know her dad very well. As she can tell that when her dad is really angry, he pulls his ears. We can tell that Captain Orlow is not a man of his word as he agreed to give karana's father a few more chest but failed to do so in the end. Karana's father was injured later on as the hunter or him started the fight ( it all happened so fast no one knew what happened). Blood was all over his face but he still got up and continue fighting, for the right of his people. When his man saw this, they quickly went to help, they fought till the end without giving out. karana and her sister helped too by throwing rocks at the hunters but stopped after their people and the hunters were fighting together to prevent their people from getting hurt. They were like a big family who sticks togther through thick and thin. We should learn from them as you do not see this among us which is kind of sad

Vocabulary Finder(chapter 4)

Vocabulary finder- Chloe

word: kelp
meaning: a bed or mass of such seaweeds
example:The wide kelp that encloses our island and between the two rocks that guard coral cove.

word:pelts
meaning:the skin of an animal with the fur or hair on it.
example:This man who stepped forward with a bale of pelts on his back and shoved my father aside.

word:reef
meaning:a ridge of rocks or sand,often of cobra debris,at or near the surface of the water
example:But i had been watching the reef and waiting for the right time to harvest.

discussion directer (Chapter four)

1) why did Karana's father stand up to fight again?
2) what were the villagers reaction when Ulape threw a rock at Captain Orlov's direction?
3) why didn't Karana's father accept the chests of beads from Captain Orlov?

our roles

1: Disscusion Director - eleanor
2: Plot Analyzer - dayana
3: Vocabulary Finder - Chloe
4: Connecter - elizabeth
5: Character Analyzer - siyi