Island of the Blue Dolphins

by

Scott O’Dell

Tutok is an Aleut girl who comes to the Island of the Blue Dolphins with the Aleut hunters during the Aleuts’ second visit. She’s a few years older than Karana. At first, Karana is afraid of Tutok, hating her like she hates all the Aleuts. But when Tutok eventually stumbles upon Karana’s cave and the girls meet, Karana and Tutok become friends. Tutok compliments Karana’s cormorant skirt and shares a number of words in her language. The girls spend several days together, talking and laughing—and they exchange gifts of jewelry. Though Tutok leaves suddenly and without saying goodbye, Karana thinks of her often after her departure and often hears Tutok’s voice on the wind or in the waves.

Tutok/The Girl Quotes in Island of the Blue Dolphins

The Island of the Blue Dolphins quotes below are all either spoken by Tutok/The Girl or refer to Tutok/The Girl. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Natural World Theme Icon
).
Chapter 22 Quotes

I watched her go through the brush. I stood for a long time listening to her footsteps, until I could hear them no more, and then I went to the headland and brought the baskets back to the cave.

Tutok came again the next day. We sat on the rock in the bright sun, trading words and laughing. The sun went fast in the sky. The time came soon when she had to leave, but she returned on the day that followed. It was on this day, when she was leaving, that I told her my secret name.

“Karana,” I said, pointing to myself.

Related Characters: Karana (speaker), Tutok/The Girl
Page Number: 137
Explanation and Analysis:

At first, knowing that I could now leave the cave and move back into my house on the headland, I was happy. But as I stood there on the high rock looking down at the deserted harbor and the empty sea, I began to think of Tutok. I thought of all the times we had sat in the sun together. I could hear her voice and see her black eyes squinting closed when she laughed.

Below me, Rontu was running along the cliff, barking at the screaming gulls. Pelicans were chattering as they fished the blue water. Far off I could hear the bellow of a sea elephant. But suddenly, as I thought of Tutok, the island seemed very quiet.

Related Characters: Karana (speaker), Rontu/The Leader, Tutok/The Girl
Page Number: 139-40
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

On sunny days I would wear them with my cormorant dress and the necklace, and walk along the cliff with Rontu.

I often thought of Tutok, but on these days especially I would look off into the north and wish that she were here to see me. I could hear her talking in her strange language and I would make up things to say to her and things for her to say to me.

Related Characters: Karana (speaker), Rontu/The Leader, Tutok/The Girl
Related Symbols: The Cormorant Skirt
Page Number: 144
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 26 Quotes

We had many happy times that summer, fishing and going to Tall Rock in our canoe, but more and more now I thought of Tutok and my sister Ulape. Sometimes I would hear their voices in the wind and often, when I was on the sea, in the waves that lapped softly against the canoe.

Related Characters: Karana (speaker), Ulape, Tutok/The Girl, Rontu-Aru
Related Symbols: Karana’s Canoe
Page Number: 157
Explanation and Analysis:
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Tutok/The Girl Quotes in Island of the Blue Dolphins

The Island of the Blue Dolphins quotes below are all either spoken by Tutok/The Girl or refer to Tutok/The Girl. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Natural World Theme Icon
).
Chapter 22 Quotes

I watched her go through the brush. I stood for a long time listening to her footsteps, until I could hear them no more, and then I went to the headland and brought the baskets back to the cave.

Tutok came again the next day. We sat on the rock in the bright sun, trading words and laughing. The sun went fast in the sky. The time came soon when she had to leave, but she returned on the day that followed. It was on this day, when she was leaving, that I told her my secret name.

“Karana,” I said, pointing to myself.

Related Characters: Karana (speaker), Tutok/The Girl
Page Number: 137
Explanation and Analysis:

At first, knowing that I could now leave the cave and move back into my house on the headland, I was happy. But as I stood there on the high rock looking down at the deserted harbor and the empty sea, I began to think of Tutok. I thought of all the times we had sat in the sun together. I could hear her voice and see her black eyes squinting closed when she laughed.

Below me, Rontu was running along the cliff, barking at the screaming gulls. Pelicans were chattering as they fished the blue water. Far off I could hear the bellow of a sea elephant. But suddenly, as I thought of Tutok, the island seemed very quiet.

Related Characters: Karana (speaker), Rontu/The Leader, Tutok/The Girl
Page Number: 139-40
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

On sunny days I would wear them with my cormorant dress and the necklace, and walk along the cliff with Rontu.

I often thought of Tutok, but on these days especially I would look off into the north and wish that she were here to see me. I could hear her talking in her strange language and I would make up things to say to her and things for her to say to me.

Related Characters: Karana (speaker), Rontu/The Leader, Tutok/The Girl
Related Symbols: The Cormorant Skirt
Page Number: 144
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 26 Quotes

We had many happy times that summer, fishing and going to Tall Rock in our canoe, but more and more now I thought of Tutok and my sister Ulape. Sometimes I would hear their voices in the wind and often, when I was on the sea, in the waves that lapped softly against the canoe.

Related Characters: Karana (speaker), Ulape, Tutok/The Girl, Rontu-Aru
Related Symbols: Karana’s Canoe
Page Number: 157
Explanation and Analysis: