Key Idea and Details:
Summary
The story opens with a fact: the Polynesians worshipped courage and isolated anyone who didn’t have any. Then, we are taken to a flashback of where Mafatu’s mother dies being taken out to sea. This moment is the driving factor of the main character’s fear of the ocean. We are then taken out of the flashback and see that Mafatu is now persecuted for his fear. His only “friends” are Uri - his dog, Kivi - his albatross, and Kana - his only human companion. However, Mafatu later eavesdrops on Kana ranting to other boys how much of a coward his “friend” is. Losing his only human friend, Mafatu is compelled to go on a journey out to sea by himself to prove that he is indeed a bold Polynesian. Accompanied by his dog …show more content…
As the story progresses, Mafatu’s courage gradually increases with every act of bravery. From this, it can be deduced that the theme of this book is that if you work hard enough, you can do anything. Even though Mafatu started out as a guy who hyperventilated when he was in the ocean, through hard work and determination, he ended being hailed as one of the most courageous Polynesians. The definition of courage is doing something difficult even though you are afraid. This is just what Mafatu did. Nobody can disagree with the fact that it took much courage to take the spear of a cannibal god with skulls surrounding his fear, or facing a shark. When facing the shark, it took enormously hard work to kill it in the end. It can be noted that Mafatu doubts that he should kill it out of fear. Even when he did, tiger sharks are fast, and really, would you face a shark underwater and try to kill it? If you look at his journey in whole, you will realize, that it was extremely hard to get through. Could you imagine a weak, and cowardly teen coming out of an encounter with cannibals on an isolated island by himself? The main character’s courageous acts, from killing a shark, to gaining courage, all prove that the theme of Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry is that if you work hard enough, you can do
Summary
The story opens with a fact: the Polynesians worshipped courage and isolated anyone who didn’t have any. Then, we are taken to a flashback of where Mafatu’s mother dies being taken out to sea. This moment is the driving factor of the main character’s fear of the ocean. We are then taken out of the flashback and see that Mafatu is now persecuted for his fear. His only “friends” are Uri - his dog, Kivi - his albatross, and Kana - his only human companion. However, Mafatu later eavesdrops on Kana ranting to other boys how much of a coward his “friend” is. Losing his only human friend, Mafatu is compelled to go on a journey out to sea by himself to prove that he is indeed a bold Polynesian. Accompanied by his dog …show more content…
As the story progresses, Mafatu’s courage gradually increases with every act of bravery. From this, it can be deduced that the theme of this book is that if you work hard enough, you can do anything. Even though Mafatu started out as a guy who hyperventilated when he was in the ocean, through hard work and determination, he ended being hailed as one of the most courageous Polynesians. The definition of courage is doing something difficult even though you are afraid. This is just what Mafatu did. Nobody can disagree with the fact that it took much courage to take the spear of a cannibal god with skulls surrounding his fear, or facing a shark. When facing the shark, it took enormously hard work to kill it in the end. It can be noted that Mafatu doubts that he should kill it out of fear. Even when he did, tiger sharks are fast, and really, would you face a shark underwater and try to kill it? If you look at his journey in whole, you will realize, that it was extremely hard to get through. Could you imagine a weak, and cowardly teen coming out of an encounter with cannibals on an isolated island by himself? The main character’s courageous acts, from killing a shark, to gaining courage, all prove that the theme of Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry is that if you work hard enough, you can do