Touching Spirit Bear

By Ben Mikaelsen

Plot Outline

As you read the novel, Touching Spirit Bear complete the plot outline sections below:

1) Setting/ Mood:Time-Place-Mood-

3) Conflict or problem.

setting/mood characters

5) denoument (day-new-ma) unraun

6) Resolution

4) Climax

2) Characters:

Characters Characterizations

Main Characters Looks Acts Speaks Feels Mirror Image

1.

2.

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4.

5.

Other Characters:

(3) Conflicts in Literature

Throughout the plot of a book the main characters face some or all of the conflicts in literature we learned about (see your journal notes). Describe a reading from the book that demonstrates each of the conflicts listed below:

Man Vs. Self -

Man Vs. Man -

Man vs. Nature -

Man Vs. Society -

What do you feel is the main or central conflict of Touching Spirit Bear? Use complete sentences and text details in your response.

Complete an attribute web for Cole as introduced at the beginning of the book :

Looks (physical) Speech ((verbal)

Acts (behavioral) Feels (emotional)

Cole: as introduced in the beginning of the book.

Mirror Image - how others see you

- their perception of the character

Complete an attribute web for Cole as characterized at the end of the book:

Looks (physical) Speech ((verbal)

Acts (behavioral) Feels (emotional)

Cole: at the

end of the book.

Mirror Image - how others see character

- their perception of you

Contrast in Character

Write about a situation from the book in which a character shows strength, courage, or confidence on the outside. But, he or she may actually feel anxiety(nervousness) or fear on the inside.

+ Strength Confidence

Nervous Unsure

+

-

Literary Techniques

Metaphor

A metaphor is a literary technique in which two unlike items are compared. They are shown to be equal.The two items or nouns are talked about as though they are equal. This is a direct connection.

Eg. The bare treetops were golden broom bristles sweeping the clouds from the sky.

Find and explain the extended metaphor contained within chapter 14 of Touching Spirit Bear.

Identify the three metaphors comparing ‘life’ to three different items…(Hint: two of the situations involve Garvey and one involves Edwin.)1)

2)

3)

Simile

A simile is literary technique in which two unlike items are compared using “like” or “as.” The two items are talked about as if they are only similar, not equal. This is less direct of a comparison.

Eg.. “Tonight, raw feelings have been exposed like plowed up ground,” she said.

Raw feelings are like plowed up ground

Find eight more similes in this book and identify the two items being compared. Pp 3, 9,17,24,42, and 71 will help.

Symbolism

Symbolism is literary technique in which an author uses a concrete object to represent an abstract concept or noun. This technique helps the author to send the meaning, the message, or the theme of the novel to the reader.

Eg. the at.óow (the blanket Garvey gave Cole) The concrete object at.óow represents the abstract concept trust.

List three more symbols from the book and explain their meanings. Make sure you CLEARLY identify the concrete noun and the abstract idea it represents.

Personification

Personification is a literary technique in which an animal or a non living(inanimate) object is given human characteristics.

The author may use all, several, or only one of the following word strategies to create personification.

*human verbs - dancing, skipping, preaching*human emotions- joy, anger*gender (he or she)*dialogue (the object or animal speaks

Eg. The willow tree gently opened her arms over the meadow and whispered, “Spring is here.”

Eg. Curtains of the northern lights over the bay danced wildly under the Big Dipper.

Sometimes abstract nouns are personified too. How would you personify one of Cole’s dreams?

Sensory detailsUse of sensory details is a literary technique in which the author uses the five senses to show the reader the scene or setting. Words that create an image, a sound, a sense of feeling, a taste, and a smell are used to “put the reader there” in the plot with the characters.

Ex. Vapor from the Spirit Bear’s breath puffed in tiny clouds from its wet, black nose.

List four more sentences from the book which would be GREAT examples of sensory details. Underline the sensory words with in the sentences.

After reading the section of the book in which Cole is facing death after being mauled by the Spirit Bear in chapter 8 on pages 71 to 73 complete the sensory detail chart below:

Five senses

Sight *Smell Taste Feel Sounds

Exact/Specific Nouns

Use of exact nouns is literary technique in which specific nouns are used to add detail to the image the writer is trying to convey.

List some exact nouns taken from chapters 9, 10, 11

Graphic Verbs

Use of graphic verbs is literary technique in which strong verbs are used to help the reader “see” or “hear” plot actions more clearly.

List some graphic verbs taken from chapters 9, 10, 11

Increasing your word base

During the course of this book write down words or terms unfamiliar to you. If you cannot derive or figure out the meaning within the context of the sentences surrounding the word, look the word up in the dictionary or online at dictionary.com.

1)

2)

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Grammar & Mechanics Practice

1) Identify the two parts of a complete sentence. What type of sentence is this? a. declarative c. interrogative b. exclamatory d. imperative

2) What is the simple subject in sentence #1?

3) What is the simple predicate in sentence #1 ?

4) What is the prepositional phrase in sentence #1?

5) What is the direct object in sentence #1?

6) Rewrite the following dialogue passages with correct punctuation.

a)Cole must go to jail and get anger counseling somebody said he’s proved he can’t be trusted

b) Indians don’t own the trees Edwin chuckled or the right to carve

c) Cole asked could you teach me how to carve like that

Journal entries:

Reflection Question # 1 Cole learns a great deal from nature and animals in this book. Discuss at least two animals and two nature situations that help him learn how to live and appreciate his life. Explain clearly what lessons he learns.

Think of your life and nature or animals. Discuss a time when Nature or an animal helped you learn a lesson about life.

Reflection Question #2 Cole works hard toward the end of the book to become “invisible.” How does he try and how does he achieve this? What is the lesson about life he learns?

Reflection Question # 3 Explain the meaning of the verb to “forgive.” Identify three characters in the plot who forgive, and explain SPECIFICALLY who they forgive and why.How does this theme of forgiveness connect to the original purpose of the Circle Justice program?

Name someone in your life who you forgave or plan to forgive. Explain the situation clearly and tell why.

Reflection Question #4 How is the circle the two boys carve into the totem pole a symbol?

Reflection Question #5 The word ‘crisis’ in the Chinese language means danger and opportunity. How could you explain that meaning and apply it to Cole’s life in Touching Spirit Bear?