And of Clay Are We Created by Isabel Allende Feature Menu Introducing the Story Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose Reading Skills: Determining an Author's Purpose

And of Clay Are We Created by Isabel Allende

And of Clay Are We Created Introducing the Story 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. [End of Section]

And of Clay Are We Created Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction The story you are about to read and the newspaper article that follows are two versions of the same event written in different genres: fiction (story) nonfiction (newspaper)

And of Clay Are We Created Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction Allende creates a realistic and moving story by combing elements of Rescue workers were unable to free thirteen-year-old Omaira Sanchez, who was trapped in the mudflow from the Nevado del Ruiz eruption. fiction—character, setting, and theme nonfiction—facts about real events

And of Clay Are We Created Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction As you read the two accounts, think about how they differ and how they are alike. Compare and contrast events details people style setting tone [End of Section]

And of Clay Are We Created Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose Theme is the central idea or insight about life in a work of literature. Writers use theme to convey an important message reveal their purpose for writing

And of Clay Are We Created Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose To determine the theme of a work, consider how the main character changes the conflict is resolved the struggles of the main character may reflect a larger, more universal problem or situation [End of Section]

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

And of Clay Are We Created Reading Skills: Determining an Author’s Purpose As you read the story, consider Allende’s purpose for writing a fictional story about a real event. Ask yourself WHY… WHAT… was this subject important to her? does she want us to think about it? [End of Section]

And of Clay Are We Created Background On November 13, 1985, the long-dormant Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted in Colombia, South America. Molten rock and hot gases melted the volcano’s thick ice cap and sent deadly mudslides down its slopes. More than 23,000 died in the disaster—most of them in a village called Armero. [End of Section]

Quickwrite

And of Clay Are We Created Quickwrite Make the Connection Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Explain why, and give an example. Save your notes. People are helpless when a natural disaster hits. Most people would risk their lives to try and save a stranger. [End of Section]

Vocabulary

And of Clay Are We Created Vocabulary Previewing the Vocabulary subterranean adj.: underground. magnitude n.: greatness or size. presentiments n. forebodings; feelings that something bad is about to happen. tenacity n.: stubborn persistence and determination. equanimity n.: calmness; composure.

And of Clay Are We Created Vocabulary Previewing the Vocabulary fortitude n.: firm courage; strength to endure pain or danger. ingenuity n.: cleverness; originality; skill. resignation n.: passive acceptance; submission. pandemonium n.: wildly noisy, chaotic scene. commiserate v.: show or express sympathy.

And of Clay Are We Created Vocabulary Vocabulary Activity: Word Origins A word’s etymology, or origin, may provide clues to its meaning. from Latin sub, “under” + Latin terra, “earth” subterranean “underground”

And of Clay Are We Created Vocabulary Vocabulary Activity Match each word with its Latin origin. presentiment fortis, “strong” equanimity tenere, “to hold” fortitude sentire, “to feel, sense” tenacity aequus, “even” + animus, “mind” [End of Section]

Meet the Writer

And of Clay Are We Created Meet the Writer Isabel Allende grew up in Santiago, Chile. In 1973, her uncle, Salvador Allende, president of Chile, was killed during a military takeover of the government. Allende fled to Venezuela, where she spent thirteen years in exile. She eventually moved to the United States and now lives in California. More About the Writer [End of Section]