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Theme Of Touching Spirit Bear

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Emma smith
6th hour
5/1/23

Touching spirit bear The novel Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is about a 15-year-old boy named Cole who almost beat a kid named Peter to death and then got sent to an island. On this island, Cole was mauled by a bear that he tried to attack out of anger. After Being mauled, Cole finally learned. After being rescued he went back on trial and ended up going back to the island where he and Peter both made up and became friends. Cole has learned how to control his anger. The three main symbols are fire, the spirit bear, and the baby sparrows; these all have a representation of his anger.
I believe that the fire represents his anger through the dances. Because at first, he didn't want to dance because he would look stupid after a while he started doing it and he began to take his anger out in his dances for instance the anger dance where he was trying to get it to the back of hand punching a tree and saying things like I'm sorry and I forgive you. I believe that …show more content…

When Cole was mauled by the bear he spotted a nest full of baby sparrows and he saw their mom. You might be thinking about how baby sparrows affect his anger. Well, let's see when he found the birds. I believed it was the day before the big thunderstorm. In the big thunderstorm, the tree with the babies got struck down and Cole realized how jealous he was of the sparrows because they had a mom to feed and clean them and he never had that type of mother. His mother I believe was somewhat distant with Cole and never really helped Vole as often as she should, especially since the father was beating him and she only tried to stop him once. I'm glad that Cole and his mother got freed from the toxic and abusive relationship she was in and can finally be herself. I feel Cole has also benefited from it and can see that they can break the

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Cole saw the world as that it was going to try to get him and he was trying to defend himself. Cole broke into the store and grabbed some items from the store for himself and he didn't want anybody to know about it. When he bragged about it to one of his classmates, Peter Driscal, Peter turned him in. In revenge, Cole beats Peter up very badly. Causing Peter head trauma and a permanent speech problem.

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Cole has changed how he feels about nature from the beginning of the book, exactly like how the first and final haikus differ from each other. The following statement shows how he has changed and realized he is a small part of a big circle, and is what inspired the “realizing life’s a circle” part of the haiku: “Standing beside the totems, explained to Peter that being invisible was being a part of life’s circle and accepting it. ‘This morning, when we forgave each other, we also forgave ourselves,’ he said. ‘We allowed ourselves to become a part of the big circle. . . .’” (Mikaelsen 239), whereas in the beginning Cole hated the idea of the circle and only thought of

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Of course, Cole did not take this seriously, so he let his anger in control and burned down his only shelter with food, and everything he needed to supply him on the island. His wild laughter had mocked the world, and everyone he had ever known. He thought of every time his dad has beaten him, and every time his mom never cared. But now Cole was on his own, and he was in control, no one was stopping him. But after he felt a slight mood of loneliness, Cole started to feel emotional.

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He shows an unrelenting and uncompromising determination. For example, to stay afloat Cole begins to swim aggressively and passionately against the tide in hopes of getting to the neighbouring island.[5] Although, he perseveres and continues regardless, "Every minute counted now, and he needed to swim hard", these words that were stated relate to how he suffers severe physical and emotional pain as he swims across the water.[3] Surprisingly, despite his efforts, Cole eventually realizes he lacks the necessary power to reach the mainland because he is indirectly forced to return. [2]To conclude, Cole has incredible bravery in the face of emotional and physical suffering, proving his ability to endure pain and come out the other side stronger. He is also observant, and knowledgeable, and has a unique awareness of what causes others to react.

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Additionally, it is evident that Cole does not own up to his actions and refuses to take responsibility. However as the story progresses, he faces a near death experience when he is mauled by the Spirit Bear. Due to this particular event he becomes significantly more empathetic than depicted previously. When it is brought to Cole’s attention that Peter has attempted to commit suicide he is rather discomposed and even proves to have had astounding growth within his ability to feel empathetic. Moreover, Cole even offers to do what it takes in order to help his wounded peer, Mikaelsen writes, “‘Would you be willing to stay here longer if it meant helping Peter?’

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I already infer that he is definitely heading back though the proof of this is right after page 112 it states PART TWO RETURN TO SPIRIT BEAR in big bold letters. This has to mean Cole is going to return to the island and try to face spirit bear with a new attitude and hopefully this time he can succeed. “But the Spirit Bear was also a memory that would never disappear from his mind or heart,” (Page 112). This could mean that Cole wants to return to the island, what I mean by this is when you get connected to someone or something you tend to want to go to it or attract to it like a couple they always want to see each other so if they have the chance they go to each other. In this case Cole wants to return to the island because he had a connection to it, he is determined to see the spirit bear again.

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Cole was beaten by him throughout his childhood. This pain and anger gave him the personality and characteristic to inflict pain on other people. The two final themes have a very strong connection. In order to heal, mentally and physically, you have to learn to forgive and receive forgiveness. This was a lesson the reader and the main character, Cole, experience throughout the book.

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The relationships in Cole’s life all had a different impact on him but specifically his relationship with Peter affected him a lot. Especially the part of the book when Cole found out that Peter told on him. “‘You’re a dead man,’ he warned... He laughed when he saw fear in Peter’s eyes”(7-8). This shows the relationship at the beginning of the book and clearly it wasn’t good.

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At the beginning of the novel, Cole Matthews is a vicious teenager who thinks he is superior to everyone, but is, in fact, hiding behind a shield of anger, the result of being brutally abused by his drunken father. Cole’s father, Mr. Matthews, drinks non stop until he becomes a monster, and then ruthlessly beats Cole up. When talking to Garvey, a proud, Tlingit indian, who is also his parole officer, Cole opens up about his father’s abuse saying, “‘You don’t know what it’s like being hit over and over until you’re so numb you don’t feel anything!” (Mikaelsen 28).

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(6)     Coles had a rough life and not getting consequences for his mistakes this is the reason why Cole is a bully and very mean. During the Circle Justice meeting Cole tells his dad, “you’re usually too drunk to know your own name.” (48)  Cole's mom looks pretty and perfect like a barbie doll but is too scared and won't stand up for Cole. (9) Like everyone, Cole still has his

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Now imagine having to make a decision that determines who lives and who dies. Imagine being at school where you are to feel safe and having a tragic fire take place. This is just one of the many challenges Cole faces. In chapter seven, he goes over the traumatic event with a flashback. He goes over how he sees the children he dead, crushed or burned alive.

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Everything will turn out right in the end, and Cole exhibits this. The whole reason that Cole ended up o the island in the first place is because he made bad choices. These choices led to more bad choices and then Cole had a traumatic experience. This changes Cole’s life forever.

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For example, when Cole purposy bothered the Spirt Bear and later on ended up getting mauld by the animal. It is obvious that Cole’s decisions and actions against banishment lead him to fail the act. Cole’s consistent negative attitude made him dislike the idea of meaning humane. Since the beginning of the book, Cole has satisfied himself with anger. Cole believes that he can concor anything with his anger.

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Has anyone ever called you an animal? Have you been compared to a sloth because you were lazy, or a mouse because you were quiet? In my Language Arts class, we read the book “Touching Spirit Bear” by Ben Mikaelsen. In this novel, a troubled teenage boy named Cole is banished to an island to find and heal his soul after he severely beats a kid. During his stay on the island, Cole realizes that he is similar to several different animals.

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