1. And of Clay Are We Created
Written by Isabel Allende, translated by Margaret Sayers Penden
An interactive PowerPoint presentation

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS “And of Clay Are We Created” Author information
Important concepts for this reading
Background on the real tragedy
*video and quiz
A view of the devastation created by the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia, South America.
Tales of passion: Isabel Allende on TED.com

3. “And of Clay Are We Created ”
Isabel Allende’s story is based on a real-life tragedy: a volcanic eruption and mudslides that destroyed whole towns in Colombia in 1985.
The main character, Rolf, is a reporter who arrives to cover the disaster for the TV news.
The narrator, Rolf’s girlfriend, tells us how Rolf abandons his role as a reporter to help and comfort a trapped girl named Azucena.

4. Author Information Short biography in her own words
(from her website at
Allende has often spoken about ‘‘And of Clay Are We Created’’ and its importance to her. The characters of the television reporter and his lover are both based on Allende’s own experiences in journalism. In an interview with Marilyn Berlin Snell, she explains that the plot of the story is also based on fact: ‘‘This story really occurred. In 1985, we saw her on every television screen in the world, the face of Omaira Sánchez, one of the thousands of victims of Colombia’s Nevado Ruiz volcanic eruption. The black eyes of that girl have haunted me She is telling me something. She is talking to me about patience, about endurance, about courage.’’ Reviewers of The Stories of Eva Luna have praised Allende’s ability to adapt historical events into fiction, as she does in ‘‘And of Clay Are We Created” (retrieved from

5. And of Clay Are We Created Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose
To determine the theme of a work, consider how
the struggles of the main character may reflect a larger, more universal problem or situation
What struggle does Rolf face that many others have faced? One struggle is the natural disaster (does it even matter that it is a volcano? Would he have faced similar issues with a different type of disaster?). Another struggle involves Rolf dealing with his troubled past (who doesn’t have regrets? Who hasn’t tried to avoid painful emotions?).
the main character changes
How does Rolf change by the end of the story?
the conflict is resolved
What happens to Azucena? How is Rolf’s conflict (how to save her) resolved? What about Rolf’s internal conflict of not dealing with his past?
And of Clay Are We Created Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose

6. newspaper editorial about upcoming political election
And of Clay Are We Created Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose
The main purposes of writing are
Although a writer may have several purposes for writing, one purpose usually becomes the focus.
newspaper editorial about upcoming political election
to inform
to persuade
to entertain
persuades readers to vote for a particular candidate
entertains readers with humor
informs readers about the issues

7. Background on the real tragedy
For more information on this tragedy, click HERE.
Rescue workers were unable to free thirteen-year-old Omaira Sanchez, who was trapped in the mudflow from the Nevado del Ruiz eruption.

8. Background on the real tragedy: View From Above…
A view of the destruction caused by the volcano and resulting mud slide.
Map that shows the damaged areas.

9. Background on the real tragedy: video of the disaster
To see actual video of the tragedy, click on the icon above. This video includes real victims and is not easy to watch. Only view if you think you can handle it.
TEST YOUR
KNOWLEDGE HERE AFTER WATCHING THE VIDEO.

10. How traumatic was this natural disaster? Test your knowledge.
The volcano erupted _____ miles east of Armero, covering the town in mud.
100 30 10
300

11. OOPS. You are incorrect. Try again!

12. WEEEEEE-WHOOOOO! You are correct!

13. How traumatic was this natural disaster? Test your knowledge.
_____ percent of the town of Armero vanished after the eruption and mudslide.
a)100
b) 20
c) 55
d) 85

14. OOPS. You are incorrect. Try again!

15. WEEEEEE-WHOOOOO! You are correct!

16. How traumatic was this natural disaster? Test your knowledge.
Which of the following was NOT a complication for rescue efforts?
It happened at night, so rescue was delayed.
There were no local doctors or medical centers.
It rained the first day of rescue efforts.
There was a shortage of helicopters, and by the time they arrived, it was too late.

17. OOPS. You are incorrect. Try again!

18. WEEEEEE-WHOOOOO! You are correct!

19. How traumatic was this natural disaster? Test your knowledge.
Beyond the fact that an estimated 10,000 people were left homeless by the disaster and that dead bodies kept appearing as the mud dried, what was the most serious problem the victims faced after the disaster?
A lack of a clean water supply
A lack of clean clothing
Too many volunteers
All the animals died

20. OOPS. You are incorrect. Try again!

21. WEEEEEE-WHOOOOO! You are correct!

22. How does this TED Talk relate to “And Of Clay Are We Created”?
Want more? TED Talks are really amazing…so why not watch Isabelle Allende speak?
How does this TED Talk relate to “And Of Clay Are We Created”?
Do you agree with Ms. Allende?
Has she made you think???
In one of the most beloved talks from TED2007, novelist Isabel Allende talks about writing, women, passion, feminism. She tells the stories of powerful women she has known, some larger-than-life (listen for a beauty tip from Sophia Loren), and some simply living with grace, dignity and ingenuity in a world that, in too many ways, still treats women unjustly. (Recorded March 2007 in Monterey, California. Duration: 18:02.)

23. References Used to Create this PowerPoint
“And of Clay Are We Created by Isabel Allende.” (2013). eNotes.com. “Retrieved from
Allende, I. (2013). “About: Biography.” Isabel Allende. Retrieved at
Allende, I. (2005). “And Of Clay Are We Created.” Elements of Literature: Fourth Course, Pages Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Retrieved at
Huff, L. (2008, June 19). “Nonlinear PowerPoint with Hyperlinks” [Video file]. Retrieved at
Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2011). Teaching and Learning with Technology. Boston, MA: Perarson Education, Inc.
Pahopin. (2008, December 23)“The Eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano - Colombia 1985” [Video file]. Retrieved from
Poole, B. & Jackson. (2010). “Essential Microsoft Office 2010: Tutorials for Teachers.” Retrieved at
TEDtalksDirector. (2008, January 3). Isabel Allende: Tales of passion [Video file]. Retrieved from
Trusty, A. (2011, November 10). “Non-Linear PowerPoint Tutorial” [Video file]. Retrieved at
(2013, September 27). Armero tragedy [Video file]. Retrieved at