Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
by Elise Sison
Based on
Touching Spirt
Bear by Ben
Mikaelson
Story Map
Plot:
Cole Matthews, a fifteen year old from
Minneapolis, Minnesota chooses Circle
Justice, a healing program that involves
criminals a banishment to Southwestern
Alaska for a year, over prison after he
brutally beats his classmate, Peter Driscal
against a sidewalk. Supported by Edwin and
Garvey, Cole is challenged to no longer be
consumed by hate and anger as he not only
learns from the animals from the island, but
by the mysterious, white Spirit Bear as well.
You dont have to be Native American or
First Nation. Anybody can love, forgive, and
heal. Nobody has a corner on that market.
Conflict:
Cole:
Peter:
Setting:
Characters
Theme
Plot Diagram
Cole burned down his cabin and all
necessary supplies upon his arrival to
the isolated Southwestern Alaska
island of his banishment for the
Circle. After all, he already planned to
swim away only to fail due to the cold
water. Them, he saw the Spirit Bear
who he planned to kill as he set
himself back to land, but gets beaten
instead. He was nearly killed which
was apparently worth it because his
views in life made a remarkable turn
for the good.
Cole Matthews, a fifteen
year old juvenile
delinquent who chose
Circle Justice over
imprisonment for having
repeatedly smashed Peter
Driscals head against a
sidewalk.
Climax
The bear sensed that Cole was no longer
mobile to kill anything and left. But Coles
mind was active with thoughts of things that
couldve made his life better as he laid on
the ground seemingly motionless for days in
pain. He then saw the beauty of life, but
through his suffering, he already expected
to die on the spot.
Looks like:
A fifteen year old whos a bit muscular and always seems to have a
look of distaste.
Youre a dead man, he warned the skinny red-haired boy, giving him
a hard shove.
A fifteen year old boy who looks a bit lost and in desperate need of
emotional help.
It seemed a bizarre dream to be standing alone on this rocky hillside
in Alaska with a round stone at his feet, his mind filled with thoughts
so totally different from anything hed known running around on the
streets back on Minneapolis. He felt like a new and a different
person.
even slower.
Sounds like:
Acts like:
He thinks hes the toughest person out there and wont hesitate to
show off about it.
He liked watching his parents, especially his Dad squirm and get
frustrated. Some days his dad got so mad he turned beet red and
twitched but he couldnt lay a finger on him because the guards were
watching.
He now knows how to finally relax and unwind his troubles to others
without violence or any act of defiance.
Unlike the first night, Cole had no trouble falling asleep.
Simile
Simile(noun)- a part
of speech that
compares two things
of a different kind
by using like or as.
Metaphor
Metaphor(noun) - a
part of speech in
which a word of
phrase is resembled
to another thing of
a different kind
Life is a circle
pg. 52
Garvey was
trying to teach
Cole that
whatever goes
around comes
around.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole(noun) - an
exaggerated statement
He was spitting at
more than the
Spirit Bear, he was
spitting at his life.
pg. 92
Cole felt that for
every time he spits
or ridicules the
Spirit Bear,
fragments of his
life would be
tarnished.
Personification
Personification(noun)
- a part of speech
that represents an
inanimate object with
human characteristics
If death stares you
straight in the face,
believe me, son, youll
get scared. pg. 30
Edwin tried to explain
how frightening death
or maybe even a near
death experience can
be to Cole who
boasted about how
fearless he was
towards it.
Lightning flashed
closer, stabbing down
with long, probing
fingers. pg. 103
The lightning bolts
dangerously struck
through the clouds as
it flashed closer and
closer with in a
certain angle would
look like split ends
shaped like fingers.
Conflict
Person vs Self
Internal conflict with
the struggle between
the character and his
conscience.
Cole had a very deep
self hatred towards
himself. And when his
pent up anger felt like
it was too hard to
bare, he violently took
it out on others (ex.
Peter) or did reckless
things (ex. attempt to
kill the Spirit Bear).
He was so consumed
by his own conflict
that it affected his
views on life.
Person vs Person
External conflict with
struggle between two
characters.
Cole and Peter have shown
acts of defiance when the
time came for them to
come into terms with one
another. For example,
Cole tried to secretly
glare at Peter during the
Circle Justice meeting and
Peter had the audacity to
be spiteful towards Cole
immediately after he was
sent to the island to heal
as well.
Person vs Society
The external conflict with
struggle between the
character and the rules or
laws of a place in which
he/she lives in.
Cole had shown his hatred
towards authority when he
had to choose between
Circle Justice or his
imprisonment that was
highly recommended by
others. He had no
intention to heal at all but
still chose Circle Justice
because he expected it to
be the easy way out of his
predicament.
Person vs Nature
External conflict with
struggle between the
character and nature
beyond control.
The symbolism that lies
within the island was
something that Cole
desperately needed to
heal, yet he ignored it.
Even when he started to
change his way, he
struggled to see nature
in a new light at first.
New Vocabulary
Reverently(adj.)
- affectionately
Gusty(adj.) - a
remark given to
a sudden
outburst of
emotion
Moss(n) - a
small
flowerless
plant that
grows in shady
areas.
Trowel(n) - a
flat blade with
a handle used
commonly used
for gardening
Skiff(n) - a
small light
boat
Favorite Quote
Spirit Animal
My spirit animal is . the wolf
The teaches me that by maintaining a good relationship with those
dear to me as well as preserving my intelligence will make me a
much stronger individual. And if I were to ever become a leader or
be able to work in a team, communication and adaptability is the
key to succeed.
The movements of a wolf are quick and full of stealth. Their heads
would be held high in an authoritative mean as their claws pierce
the ground when ready to attack. But if their tails wag, you got
yourself a relaxed wolf.
I dance the wolf dance with my hands and toes outstretched onto
the ground as I seemingly trudge through my first few steps until I
break out into speed towards the light with a low growl.
Restorative Justice
the repairment of the behavior within a victim or a criminal without imprisonment.
The approach [Restorative Justice] is now taking root in 21 Oakland schools, and in
Chicago, Denver and Portland, Ore.,tries to nip violence and the bud by forging closer,
franker relationships among students, teachers and administrators. It encourages young
people to come up with meaningful reparations for their wrongdoing while challenging
them to develop empathy for one another through taking circles led by facilitators
like Mr. Butler.
This practice was a success and continued to spread amongst the schools in the area mentioned above.
I think this program could be useful for BMS because itll build a better understanding of what the victim is really going
through and how the offender could break the habit of what they did. This practice could also allow both parties to
express themselves to one another.
Leigh Brown, Patricia. Opening Up, Students Transform a Vicious Circle. The New York
Times 3 April 2013. Web.
Dear Dad
Dear Dad,
I really dont want to think that its too late for you, Mom, and me to have a better understanding for each
other. I still dont expect it to happen anytime soon and neither do I expect it to be as normal as any other
family, but Ive been wanting to say that I forgave you for every shout or hit youve done to me and that I
wish to have a better communication with you in the future.
Your son,
Cole
Conclusion
Since I was in elementary school, I developed the interest of
the behaviors of people whove gone through events that led
them to become self destructive or have risky behaviors. But
I really liked this story because it presented a different
approach of healing to someone who was a juvenile
delinquent and a victim of child abuse and was also around
my age. Therefore, I didnt dislike Cole as the main character
as much as I should have even when I knew that I wont
completely understand him either. It made me happy with
how he changed in the end especially when Peter came to
the island. Besides Coles character development, Garvey and
Edwins life lessons really intrigued me.
I recommend this book to pre-teens and teenagers
especially to those who are struggling to become happy with
themselves and their surroundings. The life lessons could
really help them and the way Cole spends his time on the
island can give them some creative ideas of how to relax.