ipl-logo

Touching Spirit Bear By Ben Mikaelsen

477 Words2 Pages

Every year, many books and novels are written and published by various authors and poets. These pieces of literature are a form of entertainment that provide various and numerous stories about a hero’s journey. Many novels today consist of the Monomyth, which is also known as the Hero’s Journey. The Hero’s Journey consists of “Twelve different Parts” that work as a clock and go in Chronological order. Three basic parts of the Hero’s Journey are the Mentor Help, Ordinary World, and Reward. The novel “Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen illustrates these three specific stages through Cole’s journey of learning to forgive and have patient interactions with the people around him. Cole encounters many tests, allies, and enemies throughout his …show more content…

While facing these challenges though, Cole comes across his mentors who guide him through the challenges and obstacles that are ahead of him. Cole’s mentors help him and guide him throughout his journey, making him realize the value of life and this is the part of the Hero’s Journey that is called Mentor Help. The Mentor Help stage of the Hero’s Journey is when the hero encounters a mentor (a person who can guide them) and the mentor helps them prepare for their upcoming journey and get rid of the fears and doubts they have. The Mentor Help stage of the Hero’s Journey occurs in the novel “Touching Spirit Bear” when Edwin takes Cole to the pond to soak and teaches him to be patient and calm and when Garvey makes Cole dance around the fire and explain what he learned about the dance and the values he learned about himself. This section of the novel “Touching Spirit Bear” is classified as being in the Mentor Help category in the Hero’s Journey. This is one of numerous ways Garvey and Edwin guide Cole and teach him the principles of being a kind person throughout the novel. Additionally, this specific part of the book fits with this part of the Hero’s Journey because this is a way of how Garvey and Edwin teach Cole anger management and how to become invisible and have patient interactions with others. The novel “Touching Spirit Bear” implies and emphasizes the

Show More
Related

Touching Spirit Bear Summary

827 Words | 4 Pages

Cole has what you call anger issues. Ever since the beginning of the book, the first thing you realize about Cole is his anger. In most things he does, it is all based on anger for everyone/everything around him

Read More

Journey Of Healing And Change In Cole's Touching Spirit Bear

124 Words | 1 Pages

When Cole attempted to release his anger he triggered an event that would change his life forever by healing and change. Cole then saw that everything has beauty including the grass and moss all around him. `This is an extraordinary and thrilling book that will change your perspective on how you see and think.

Read More

Touching Spirit Bear Book Analysis

1076 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More

Touching Spirit Bear Analysis

1085 Words | 5 Pages

Even though he doesn’t realize it but, every time Cole does something he’s affecting someone else's life more than he thinks and he’s not only affecting one person, he’s also affecting everyone else that’s involved with that person's life. Throughout the book “Touching Spirit Bear” Coles faces conflicts with Peter, his father, his mother, the Spirit Bear, the island, the Circle Justice system,

Read More

Compare And Contrast Touching Spirit Bear By Ben Mikaelsen

596 Words | 3 Pages

This semester, we read two novels, (Touching Spirit Bear and The Game)The novels had one thing in common - the characters discovered something about themselves and someway improved their lives. I will compare and contrast the two novels and the common theme, self-discovery that both books share. Touching Spirit Bear, by Ben Mikaelsen, shares the story of a juvenile delinquent, named Cole Matthews, only bound for trouble. Once he beats a classmate Peter Driscal, he is sent into a journey of self development, and forgiveness. Cole does this by getting help from the Justice Circle.

Read More

Sparknotes Touching Spirit Bear

1096 Words | 5 Pages

Later, when he returns to the island, he starts using dances and methods to heal with Garvey and Edwin's help. One by one, Edwin and Garvey taught Cole their ways. First, Edwin brought Cole to an ice-cold pond to clear his mind. The idea was that Cole would be affected not only mentally but also his injuries from the bear attack would be numbed. Cole starts hesitant, not wanting to wake up early in the morning just to freeze, but soon Cole becomes ¨afraid he might oversleep¨ (Mikaelsen 194).

Read More

Essay On Touching Spirit Bear

931 Words | 4 Pages

That’s what’s important’”(285). This shows the trust and close bong that has grown in their relationship. One of the steps to overcoming adversity is fixing a broken bond and Cole did that which had a big impact on him overcoming his adversity. Cole’s relationships have impacted him and helped him overcome his challenges, identical to his environment and how that helps

Read More

Touching Spirit Bear Character Analysis

1269 Words | 6 Pages

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).

Read More

Examples Of Monomyth In The Hobbit

2063 Words | 9 Pages

The Monomyth (mythological telling of a heroic journey) is a narrative structure which a work of Fantasy usually takes leading into the three main stages: Departure, Initiation and Return. Within those three main stages there are sub stages, which the heroic character follows more simply like a path. The Monomyth also known as the Hero’s Journey, which was created by Joseph Campbell. This essay explores on how The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien fits or how it may not fit the cliché points of The Hero’s Journey as explored in the paragraphs below: 1. Departure: This is the first stage of the Monomyth, which deals with the hero’s “adventure” prior to the quest/ journey.

Read More

Theme Of Touching Spirit Bear

434 Words | 2 Pages

The theory of life being a circle is expressed throughout grade school, but it was never really more than touched on, with the novel Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen it is truly a subject of discussion in American classes. Mikaelsen expresses this symbolism through the character Edwin, who is a Native American, from the island region where the main character Cole Matthews is sent. The whole idea of life being a circle starts off with the quote ‘“Is everything always a circle’ asked Cole ‘Why not’ Garvey said ‘Life’s a circle.” ’ This is one of the main themes throughout the novel. On page 22 the quote "Patience, gentleness, strength, honesty," Edwin said.

Read More

Monomyth In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

1412 Words | 6 Pages

The first right of passage the hero undergoes along the monomyth is classified as the departure or separation phase. The stage of departure is known as the hero’s doubts in taking his or her first steps into the adventure. This part of the cycle consists of the hero in their ordinary world of which they eventually

Read More

Turning Point Of Touching Spirit Bear

345 Words | 2 Pages

This quote from the attack shows that for the first time in his life, Cole was defeated and defied by something. This greatly affects Cole in that the bear leaves him in a situation where he has no power over anything that might happen to him, and his sense of pride is lost. The spirit bear does essentially to what Cole did to Peter. It beat him up and left him with

Read More

Reflection On Touching Spirit Bear

115 Words | 1 Pages

Touching Spirit Bear Reflection Paragraph The biggest affect of the book “Touching Spirit Bear” for me was when he actually cared for someone besides himself, or changed. One of the things that he did was cared for the baby sparrows when he saw them in the nest, and when he saw them dead, I think he changed then. Another thing that he did was when he wanted help Peter get better and not try to commit suicide. I loved that he changed and made everything better between Peter and him at the end. When he changed, it made me enjoy the book, because at first I disliked it.

Read More

The Role Of The Hero's Journey In Literature

606 Words | 3 Pages

The Hero’s Journey is one of the most used archetypes in literature today. The Hero’s Journey consists of three steps that all heroes must go through to become legendary. Those steps are The Departure, The Initiation, and The Return. It is believed that Joseph Campbell’s “monomyth” is the foundation for many of our favorite hero tales. Some of these amazing stories and movies include Forrest Gump, by Winston Groom, The Giver, by Lois Lowry, and my favorite, The Hobbit-

Read More

What Is The Hero's Journey In The Odyssey

1064 Words | 5 Pages

When creating a story, many great minds will use a pattern to enthrall readers and shape them into a hero. Established by Joseph Campbell, The Hero 's Journey is the iconic template many utilize to plan their imaginative tale. The Hero’s Journey is the cycle in which the protagonist ventures into an unknown world where he or she will go through a series of adventures and learn moral lessons. Heroes in ancient myths such as Homer 's epic poem, The Odyssey follows this formula since the protagonist, Odysseus, faces hardships throughout different regions that ultimately change his once arrogant character. Throughout Homer 's monomyth, Odysseus undergoes challenges that teach him the importance of humility.

Read More

More about Touching Spirit Bear By Ben Mikaelsen

Open Document