Touching Spirit Bear 
by Ben Mikaelsen

Characterization of COLE MATTHEWS

   Cole Matthews character goes through a transformation in the story Touching Spirit Bear.  As you read through the story use the following graphic to help keep track of those changes.
   We will stop periodically and discuss how he has changed.  Remember when you are describing a character from a story you can STEAL the information from the story by describing the character's
                         S - Speech
                         T- Thoughts
                         E-  Effect on others
                         A- Attitude
                         L- Looks


Look on the INFERENCE tab in the Lit Section for help with GOOD characterization words.


Writing Activities:

Writing Activity #1:  
Pretend that you are Cole. You have just been left on the island and you have burned down your shelter, attempted an escape and you realize you have nothing now but your burned atow.  Write about how you are feeling and what you are thinking. What are you going to do now? Do you think you will survive? Do you have any regrets?

Writing Activity #2
Pretend that you are COLE and write a letter to your Mother, or pretend you are COLE'S MOTHER and write a letter to COLE. Tell the person how you are doing now, what changes have taken place, and any other kind of things you think they might tell each other. Be sure and use correct letter format and get inside the character's head and THINK what might be some things they would write to each other.


Writing Activity #3
On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate this book? Why?


Writing Activity #4
A hero is a person who can be admired. A hero, or heroine, can be the main character of a story. An anti-hero is a person or character who does not conform to society's ideas of what is correct and moral. Now that you have read the novel, try to decide whether Cole  Matthew's is a hero or anti-hero. Which other characters in the novel show aspects of heroism?  Be sure and support your answers with evidence from the text.


Make Your Own Totem Pole

In Touching Spirit Bear, Garvey tells Cole that he should create his own totem pole that tells his own story.

Click on the link below to create your own totem pole.  After you create your totem pole you will be writing about the meaning behind your creation.

Chapter Discussion Questions:

When answering questions be sure to address the questions fully, be thorough in your answers, and write in complete sentences.  Use evidence from the text to support all of your answers.

Chapters 1-5

1.  Why do you think that Circle Justice was offered to Cole as an alternative to a prison term?  Do you think it will be successful alternative for Cole? Why?

2.  Why do you think Garvey agreed to be Cole's sponsor?  

Chapters 6-9

1. Why did Cole's Mother quickly pass the feather to Garvey when Cole insisted she admit the truth about his father's violence? What does this show us about Cole? About his mother?

2.  Why do you think Cole is determined to kill the Spirit Bear?

3.  What helped him survive the long night after the bear's attack?

4.  What event revealed Cole's developing concern and compassion for other living things in his world?

Chapters 10-15


 1. Why did Cole spit at the Spirit Bear when it returned?

2.  What made Cole come to face death with contentment?

3.  Why did Edwin tell Cole that " A person is never done being mad." What was he trying to tell Cole?

 Chapters 16-20

1.  What did Garvey mean when he told Cole, "You're going to have to prove your committment."?

2.  What was Cole supposed to learn from carrying a rock up a hill?

3.  What gave Edwin and Garvey a deep understanding of Cole's problems?

4.  What do you think the one thing that Garvey wanted Cole to discover for himself once he was alone on the island?

Chapter 21-24

1.  How did Cole's behavior show that he took pride in his shelter on the island?

2.  Why do you suppose Cole was able to resist the temptation to build a canoe?  What did his choice reveal about his state of mind?

3.  Who do you think Cole was forgiving as he completed his anger dance?

 
Chapter 25-28


1.  Why did Cole suggest that Peter come to the island?

2.  Why did Edwin want Cole to tell Peter and his parents about everything that had happened to him since he arrived on the island?

3.  Why do you think Peter had to physically assault Cole before he could begin to forgive him?

4.  Why might the Spirit Bear have come to the pond on the day Peter attacked Cole? What did the appearance of the bear mean to the two boys?


End of Book Discussion -- INSIDE/OUTSIDE CIRCLE

During our INSIDE/OUTSIDE circle discussion we will be discussing the following questions.

1.  How do you think Peter and Cole might relate to each other in the future?  How Might their story continue?

2.  Do you think Cole would have profoundly changed his character if he had not been attacked by the Spirit Bear? Would his mother had changed if he had not been attacked?  Why?

3. What makes forgiving someone that really hurts you so difficult?  How does it help you to forgive someone who has really hurt you?


Remember INSIDE/OUTSIDE rules:
   1.  Listen; make eye contact and show you are attentive.
   2.  Repeat back to your partner what you heard them say. "What I heard you say was...." "So what you said was...."  "I think what you said was..."


Determining the THEME of Touching Spirit Bear

THEME HANDOUT
Click on the link above to learn more about the theme of a story.

The story, Touching Spirit Bear, has different possible themes. Choose a theme that you think Touching Spirit Bear  has and explain why you think this theme can be found in the story.  We will be sharing and comparing our themes in small discussion groups.