Copper Sunrise

Chapter One:

Why could Davie not find Mathieu?
Davie could not find Mathieu because Mathieu was below decks seriously ill. He was suspected to have caught the plague in Glasgow, Scotland.

Why did the captain not turn back to Scotland to obtain assistance? The captain did not turn back to Scotland to obtain assistance because they would be refused entry to the port as their ship was suspected to contain the plague.

Chapter Two:

What had happened to Mathieu and two other sailors?
Mathieu and two other sailors had died and had been buried at sea. Mathieu had been below decks and seriously ill at first.

Describe some of the beliefs held by the villagers regarding the native peoples. Some of the beliefs held by the villagers regarding the native peoples (a.k.a. savages) were that they were strange and hideous giants that lived in the dark forests of the interior and who painted themselves red (this was said by the fishermen and their wives). Others said that the rocks they made the paint from turned their skin red and could never be washed off. Still others say that there was cannibalism and murder among them, though this was only half believed by the villagers. There were also the few who believed that the native peoples did not dare to approach the villagers because they feared the guns and dogs.

Chapter Three:

What gift did Jamie receive when the supply ship docked?
When the supply ship docked, the gift Jamie received was a copper flute which he immediately began playing.

Explain how the seal hunt illustrates Jamie’s feelings towards wildlife. The seal hunt illustrates Jamie’s feelings towards wildlife because when he saw the seal die, he was enraged immediately and spontaneously decided to tell Robert of his (Robert’s) mistake. Jamie hurried to do this even with a bleeding knee. Jamie believed that the seal had been a friend and that no one had wanted the seal to be killed as when the seal was alive, he had been a good, playful creature. This shows that Jamie respected wildlife and believed that no living thing deserved to die.

Chapter Four:

What feelings were shared by the boys when they first met at the pond? The feelings that were shared by the boys when they first met at the pond include both being started/surprised and afraid of what might happen. They were frightened because both probably heard negative rumours about the other. They were both also curious because the other probably doesn’t remember the wild tales they had been told.

Why were the items exchanged at this initial meeting significant? The items exchanged (Tethani offered the copper necklace and a salmon for Jamie’s copper flute) at this initial meeting were significant because it marked the beginning of a relationship that is discouraged by the people they grew up with. It foreshadowed a relationship between Tethani’s people and Jamie’s people. The items exchanged also shows that change starts with one person taking the initiative, in this case Jamie and Tethani.

Chapter Five:

Describe Jamie’s first impression of Tethani.
Jamie’s first impression of Tethani was that he was a mysterious boy who caught big fish with his hands and played skillfully with the copper flute. Jamie realized Tethani wasn’t like the savages in the village stories and he was no murdering cannibal; instead, he saw a tall, black-haired boy that had coppery skin and a smile that showed space between his teeth. Jamie began thinking of Tethani as a friend, not a savage/enemy.

If you were Jamie, how would you feel when you found the gift hanging from the tree? Why? If I were Jamie and found the gift (a fragile-looking string of beads) hanging from the tree, I would feel surprised, uncertain, wary, pleased, relieved, and many other emotions. At first I would probably be surprised because I wouldn’t expect Tethani to leave a gift then just leave. I’d be uncertain since I wouldn’t be sure whether it was meant for me to have, if the beads got caught on the branch, or if Tethani was the one to leave it. Wary would be one of the primary things I’d feel since this could be a trap. If I take it the natives may decide that it is a valid reason to declare war on the premises that I stole their possessions. I would also be suspicious to see if they would do anything if I take the beads. Finally, I’d be pleased and relieved because I would probably assume Tethani left the beads so I’d be grateful he still remembered and thought of my highly enough that he’d leave a gift for me.

Chapter Six:

What better excuse could Jamie have used to go and visit Tethani again? A better excuse Jamie could have used to go and visit Tethani again was that he would like to have some time to relax and ponder over what had happened with the “filthy scum.” His mother would have understood and encouraged this she probably would have taken it as a sign of Jamie ‘growing up.’ Also, she would hope Jamie would understand the dangers of the “filthy scum” if he thought about it and as a mother she would understood boys Jamie’s age need time to relax.

How did the boys communicate with each other?
The boys (Jamie and Tethani) communicated with each other by demonstrating the meaning of a word by miming or pointing then saying the word in their language that corresponded with the object/action. In this manner they began learning each other’s language.

Chapter Seven:

What secret did Robert tell Jamie?
The secret Robert told Jamie was that when he saw savages during a geese hunt, he let them go instead of killing them. Robert had been looking for geese to hunt with Andrew when he saw a savage, a woman, with a boy. Robert couldn’t bring himself to shoot the savages as other people in his village would have done, comparing them to Mama and Davie.

When Robert told Jamie the secret, what was Jamie’s immediate concern? When Robert told Jamie the secret, Jamie’s immediate concern was whether Jamie had shot the boy and whether it was Tethani.

Chapter Eight:

Where was Tethani taking Jamie?
Tethani was taking Jamie to his (Tethani’s) village through the forest.

What did Jamie learn along the way?
Along the way, Jamie learned various skills including which animals made which tracks (he did this by pointing at a track then imitating the animal it belonged to), showed Jamie what the wall was for (using the same method of pointing and pantomiming its use, which was for protect the hunters while shooting arrows at the caribou) and how Tethani’s people hunt caribou.

Chapter Nine:

What was Jamie’s initial fear upon meeting Tethani’s people? Jamie’s initial fear upon meeting Tethani’s people was that he might be murdered by the “cannibal giants” his village described. Jamie was afraid he would be attacked by Tethani’s people and he knew he had no choice but to trust Tethani.

How was the stolen sailcloth used?
The stolen sailcloth was used to construct the huts of Tethani’s people by covering them with the sail canvas/sailcloth.

Chapter Ten:

Why did Jamie lie to his parents?
Jamie lied to his parents because Jamie had been with Tethani when he had been hurt. If Jamie told his parents/villagers, they would assume the “savages” had been the ones to injure Jamie and would set out to kill them. Also, Jamie did not know exactly what had happened as he had not talked with Tethani yet. Jamie did not was to harm the savages and knew if he hadn’t lied, his parents would “jump to conclusions.”

Why was Robert so concerned about Jamie’s whereabouts?
Robert was so concerned about Jamie’s whereabouts because he wasn’t sure whether his decision to keep the savages alive was a “good” one. Robert immediately blamed himself for Jamie’s absence and concluded that if he had shot the savages, Jamie wouldn’t be missing. Robert was probably also concerned as Jamie was his brother but his immediate reaction was blaming himself, as is human nature.

Chapter Eleven:

Why did Tethani’s family have a second hut? Why was it empty? Tethani’s family had a second hut because his grandfather, grandmother, and aunt had lived there before a great sickness had killed them all, covering their bodies with tiny sores that left their skin pitted and rough (the hut was empty as the people who had resided in it were no longer alive).

After Tethani’s sister’s death, what message did he and his family await? After Tethani’s sister’s death, the message he and his family awaited was the first messenger, the copper sunrise, and the second messenger, a bird or sea animal. Tethani’s people believed that these two messages show that a new spirit had successfully reached the West. They believed the sun would only rise and have the copper glow when a new spirit was safely at rest. The sun would journey daily to the West to shine on the souls who resided there then return to the land Tethani lived in every morning to tell of any new spirits. The second messenger told of the arrival of the death into the West.

Chapter Twelve:

What had Tethani hidden along the path? How did Jamie describe it? Along the path Tethani had hidden a canoe with carved wooden paddles. Jamie described it as a light-weighing fragile-looking craft with each side shaped like a flattened crescent moon. It was made of bark, sewn with roots over a wooden frame, and waterproofed with spruce of balsam resin.

Why was this trip to “the tiny rocky islands” necessary? The trip to “the tiny rock islands” was necessary because his family had no meat and his mother and brother were very hungry. There were many birds on “thy tiny rocky islands” including gannets, puffins, auks, cormorants, and gulls and Tethani hoped to get some meat for his family. Jamie had promised Tethani to go and thus was obligated to go as a friend of Tethani.

Chapter Thirteen:

Why did Robert question the events of Jamie’s “sleepwalking episode”? Robert questioned the events of Jamie’s “sleepwalking episode” Robert had multiple facts that had assisted him in forming his conclusion that Jamie was lying and not “sleepwalking.” Robert had helped Jamie get back to bed and when a voice cried out, Robert knew it was not Jamie’s voice. Also, he had heard a banging sound that was unexplained, especially not by Jamie’s excuse of “falling on the rocks.” Additionally, Robert noticed that Jamie’s head scrapes weren’t fresh as the blood was dried and there were feathers on Jamie’s clothes. Finally, Robert observed that there were no bloodstains on where Jamie “banged his head on the rocks” and Jamie’s shoes and ends of his trousers were wet. Robert suspected there was something not right and hoped he could help Jamie.

Explain, in your own words, the real events of the accident. The real events of the accident were that while Tethani and Jamie were heading back to the canoe, they had to climb down the cliff. The rocks were slippery because of the dew and Jamie had slipped and fell on the beach about ten feet below. Tethani thought Jamie was dead and spontaneously checked to make sure Jamie was alive. When Tethani found out Jamie was alive, Tethani laid Jamie in the canoe then returned to the cliff to collect his paddle and the three birds he had killed for his family. Tethani paddled the canoe to Jamie’s village and dragged Jamie’s unconscious body ashore. Tethani brought Jamie to his house, which he recognized because of a shirt pinned to a clothes rope, and laid Jamie down on the rocks near the steps of Jamie’s house. However, a dog had smelt Tethani and began barking. Tethani yelled loudly in an attempt to awake Jamie’s family then hid beneath the jetty. He had then escaped back to his canoe when he saw Jamie had been safely taken into his house.

Chapter Fourteen:

What visible sign of Tethani’s friendship was noticed by a black raven? The visible sign of Tethani’s friendship that was noticed by a black raven the copper necklace Tethani had given Jamie when they had first met in return for Jamie’s copper flute.

Who arrived in the village and explain the purpose of his presence. George Wilfred Craven arrived in the village. The purpose of his presence is to persuade the village to obliterate the savages. George came to speak to the villagers about “the safety and security of our North Coast.” He stated that the savages were dangerous and advocated an attack on the savages.

Chapter Fifteen:

Explain Mr. Craven’s plan.
Mr. Craven’s plan was to hang arsenic-poisoned meat and metal tools from trees. He also planned that snares, made from fine wire, were to be strung over any trails the savages used. Part of his militia and some fishermen would search the forest while another group would seal off the interior so the savages would be unable to escape. If a savage was seen, he/she was to be immediately shot.

How did Jamie and Tethani foil this diabolical plan?
Jamie and Tethani foiled this diabolical plan by undoing the work of the party of men who set out the snares, poisoned meat, and poisoned tools. Jamie first told Tethani and his (Tethani’s) family of Craven’s plan and what was happening, hoping they would escape before it was too late. However, they refused so Jamie and Tethani decided to bury the poisoned meat and tools and trip the snares.

Chapter Sixteen:

Explain Tethani’s comment, “It is almost over, Tamie.” Tethani’s comment, “It is almost over, Tamie,” meant that Tethani knew the life the natives built was soon going to be over and destroyed by the hunt. Tethani knew what would happen would happen and knew it would be almost over. He thought that the hunt would end in the destruction of his family, especially Shadothai, and also all of the natives.

Why did Robert wish Jamie good luck?
Robert wished Jamie good luck because Robert guessed what Jamie was up to and knew Jamie would need the support from his brother and also luck. Jamie went out to watch the hunt as it happened and he was joined by Tethani and Shadothai. Of course, Jamie wasn’t supposed to be out with the company of the “savages” and if he was caught, there would be consequences. Robert knew Jamie’s risk but intended to show Jamie he understood and supported him.

Chapter Seventeen:

Describe the scene at the end of the chapter.
At the end of the chapter the hunters, followed by Jamie and Robert, travelled through the forest and reached a cliff filled with about eighty of Tethani’s people (mothers, fathers, children, young babies, old men). These people were prepared and did not attempt to run. The hunters at first hesitated as they say the group but then Andrew Craven had already decided the fate of Tethani’s people: death. He ordered everyone to fire at Tethani’s people.

Why did Robert have “the same sick look”?
Robert had “the same sick look” because he did not feel “right” watching others shoot the “savages” as he thought they were people just like him. Nor did he feel right holding a weapon that was to be used to kill humans.

Chapter Eighteen:

When Jamie found Tethani what was he doing?
When Jamie found Tethani, he (Tethani) was using a small bunch of crumpled fern as a sponge to wipe the blood from Shadothai’s face. Tethani was with his dead family, washing away their blood. Tethani was preparing his family for the spirit journey to the West.

What parting gift did Jamie leave for Shadothai?
The parting gift that Jamie left for Shadothai was the copper necklace that Tethani had given to Jamie in return for the copper flute when they had first met.

Chapter Nineteen:

Describe Robert’s condition after the hunt.
After the hunt, Robert just stayed in the chair that Jamie’s mom had put him in. It seemed that his mind was gone as he did not speak, move, and seemed not to hear. Additionally, his eyes were open in a blank stare. His facial expression failed to change until Jamie attempted to talk to him and touched his arm. Finally though, he began talking to Jamie and explained what had befallen him.

What do you think Tethani meant when he said that he knew now what more his people needed for their spirit journey to the Western Land? When Tethani said that he knew now that more his people needed for their spirit journey to the Western Land, I think he meant that he now realized that for his people to complete their spirit journey to the Western Land, they needed him, Tethani, to journey with them to the West.

Chapter Twenty:

Answer Jamie’s question: Why was Tethani smiling when he fell? Tethani was smiling when he fell because he had seen Andrew with the musket aimed at him and knew he would be journeying with his family to the West. Tethani was ready to sacrifice himself and was glad to be able to because of Andrew.

What two signs were apparent which indicated to Jamie that Tethani and his family had successfully made the journey west? The two signs that were apparent which indicated to Jamie that Tethani and his family had successfully made the journey west was the copper sunrise and the animal messenger, a seal.