The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World Lesson Plan

What might be significant about the children first thinking that the drowned man is an "enemy ship"?

The children first thinking that the drowned man is an "enemy ship" suggests that this village has experienced conflict with other villages (or other groups of some kind), and, later, as the village is further described, it becomes clear that the villagers are quite concerned about contact with outsiders. The village is also marked by some recent deaths, and their distrust of outsiders, coupled with their transformation caused by Esteban's visit, suggest that they were quite isolated from the rest of the world.

Describe how the village comes to call the drowned...