Touching Spirit Bear Analysis

In the novel Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, the main character Cole Matthews demonstrates he is reckless on several occasions. Cole exhibits this trait on page 65 when he throws a wood spear at the spirit bear. He does not think things through and does not realize the fact that a bear could could kill him with ease. On pg 50 “Peter's lawyer said “we don't know all the reasons for clues anger,but we do know he is out of control , any solution found by this circle justice must protect society and make Cole fully responsible for his actions”. This statement by someone else reveals that Cole is reckless and does not think things though because he beat up a kid and thought he would get away with it with our any consequences.

Do you know Cole Matthews? [1] Cole Matthews is the main focus of the young adult book "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen. [3]Specifically, Cole is a 15-year-old boy with a rough past and a record for violence stated at the start of the book.[4] Showing distinctly, his baby features, harsh attitude, as well as his shaggy and brownish-blonde hair. Cole has experienced a lot of neglect, as well as physical and emotional abuse in the past, which led him to be frustrated with and resentful toward others.[2]

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.

But maybe we can change things.’ ... Cole clung to his mother even after she let go, then turned away to hide his misty eyes,” (Mikaelsen 122). When Cole tells his mother that it’s okay and hugs her voluntarily, it truly illustrates the contrast between Cole at the beginning of the book versus his character towards the end. Before, he had always blamed his actions on the trauma brought from his mother and father instead of forgiving anyone and moving on.

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.

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.

Cullen couldn’t control his anger, and lacked a conscience which he demonstrated when he tried to fight against bullying by spiking drinks at a party with rat poison (Jennifer Hash, 2006, p.1). Charles believed that being victim of bullying justifies killing people. He justified killing people because he thought of himself as a victim. He was the target of bullying in school and in the Navy. Then, both his mother and brother died young.

In the novel touching spirit bear we learn all about a young boy named Cole Mathews learns how to control himself. He learns that anger is not the answer. He realizes that this is his,last chance. He learns that he was a juvenile delinquent that has no respect for others. He has three main traits that make him this way.

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).

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.

Cole notices how bad his Point-of-view is with his parents and how it changes with his mom but not his dad, and how it changes on the island and with Peter. In the first place, Coles

When Cole finally forgave, he allowed himself to move on and allows us to find happiness

To such an extent that he boy seems to be using dangerous methods of retaliation. For example, in addition to Dana rescuing him from the fire he set to the draperies in his house in retaliation against his father, he also describes previously having set the stable on fire because his father sold a horse he liked (25). Based on his irrational impulses taken when things don’t go his way, it is evident that Rufus is growing up with an entitled and vindictive attitude. Dana is alarmed by Rufus’s actions and logic and analyzes, “The boy already knew more about revenge than I did. What kind of man was he going to grow up into?

Cole emphasizes in his lyrics that “life can’t be no fairytale, no once upon a time; but [he’ll] be God damned if a n***a don’t be tryin’”. Despite all the shortcomings of his city, that won’t stop Cole from trying to make something out of himself. In comparison, I always had to learn things the hard way, and I always failed at what I tried to achieve. However my mistakes never stopped from moving forward and I continue to overcome any obstacles that stand in my way. Living through the hard times motivates me to continuously work hard, and never settle for

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time can be seen as a Bildungsroman, which is also known as a coming of age novel. Christopher the main character undergoes many challenges, steps outside of his comfort zone, and adapts to the “adult” world. Christopher has a mental illness known as Aspergers which affects his ability to effectively socialize and communicate with others. In the novel he begins to learn about the real world and grows throughout finding out who killed a dog named Wellington.