55 pages • 1 hour read
The Clan of the Cave Bear
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 7-13Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying, gender discrimination, ableism, pregnancy loss, child death, animal cruelty and death, graphic violence, illness, death, and physical abuse.
Chapter 7 Summary
The Clan settles into life in their new cave. The men hunt large game such as deer, bison, and aurochs, while the women preserve meat on the windy steppes and collect roots, fruits, and herbs for storage. Creb tries to teach Ayla the sign language the Clan uses. While she struggles at first, she eventually understands and learns to communicate.
Ayla gradually learns not only the language but also the customs of the Clan, including being required to submit to the men’s authority. However, she does cry when she’s sad, something the Clan doesn’t do, causing concern for Iza and Creb. Broud, however, comes to resent her.
Over time, Ayla grows closer to Iza, eventually learning the gesture for “mother” on her own and claiming Iza as such. Later in the autumn, Iza goes into labor and delivers her child.
