1. “Children of the Sea“ by Edwidge Danticat ” Think-Write-Pair-Share

2. Summarize Summarize the events described so far by the male and female characters in the story and what we know about their relationship and their lives.

3. p. 11-12 Underline two examples of the male character describing water and the sea. What do you think it symbolizes?

4. p. 12 female character Re-read the beginning passage that begins with “they have this thing now that they do.” What is the female character’s tone and why do you think the author chose to give her this tone?

5. p. 13 female character Underline the passages that show how her mother feels about the male character in contrast to how her father feels and describe it in the margin.

6. p. 15 male character What do you think the author’s purpose is for including the details in the section that begins “Do you want to know…”

7. p. 16-17 female character Throughout this section as the female character shares the fate of their neighbor and ends with what her father says about the macoutes in the last two sentences, the author’s purpose is to show….

8. p. 18 male character Underline and label the simile he uses to describe his fear of what might happen on the boat if they had to choose who would stay and explain what it means.

9. p. 18-19 female character Underline the metaphor she uses to describe hope and explain what she means.

10. p. 19 female character Underline the imagery she uses to in the second half of the section and what it shows.

11. p. 20 male character What do we learn about the situation on the boat and the male character in this section?

12. p. 20-21 male character Underline his description of Celianne’s baby at the beginning and end of this section; what does it symbolize?

13. p. 22 female character Underline what she learns about her mother and father’s relationship that parallels her own. Why do you think her mother chooses to share this with her?

14. p. 23 male character In this section, we learn how Celianne became pregnant. What is ironic about the behavior of the soldiers who attacked her family and what they accused her brother of?

15. p. 24 female character What do we learn about the father’s anger in this section? Why can she not bring herself to thank him?

16. P. 25 male character Underline the description of Celianne’s baby. What does her baby symbolize?

17. p. 25-26 In the beginning in the sentence that begins “there are butterflies here.” What do the butterflies symbolize and/or foreshadow?

18. p. 26 female character Underline her description of the banyan tree. What might it symbolize?

19. p. 26 male character Underline the section describing the fate of Celianne and her baby. What does it symbolize?

20. p. 27 male character In the section that begins “I go to them now...” Describe what he does and what it symbolizes.

21. p. 28-29 female character How does she come to understand the fate of the male character? What does the black butterfly symbolize?

22. Reflection 1. Why is Celianne’s character significant to the story? 2. What do you think the author’s purpose is for killing off the male character? 3. What is Danticat’s purpose for having the female character’s letters written without proper punctuation? 4. What insight does the reader gain from this story?