Observations

1. My first observation is the way Ben Mikaelsen uses the circle. I observed that he uses the geometric circle to represent several things in "Touching Spirit Bear". Circle Justice is one way the author uses the circle, not only is circle in the name, but Circle Justice's process is like a circle. They give back to the community and the community helps them, like a circle. The circle is also used when Cole realizes that everyone and everything is part of a big circle, the circle of life. The final way Mikaelsen uses the circle is at the end of the book when Cole finishes the healing process and craves a circle at the bottom of his totem pole. This circle represents Cole's transformation and how he turned his life completely around. It shows that Cole is whole, like a circle.

2.The weather is my second observation. In "Touching Spirit Bear", the weather was always rainy, cold, and cloudy. I think the is weather is symbolic because it was never perfect, like Cole's like. Cole never had a free ride in life, he always struggled, he even struggled to get into Circle Justice. Cole's life will never be easy, even after the healing process, Cole will struggle to control his anger.

3.My last observation is the at.oow, because it shows that Cole still needs some type of security. When a child is small, most have a favorite toy/stuffed animal. Many have a blanket, to them their blanket is thier security. Cole's "blankie" was the at.oow, it was his security on the island. The at.oow also helped Cole heal. At the end he gave it to someone who needed the security more than him, Peter.

Questions

1. What is the significance of Garvey having Cole taste the ingredients separately before letting him taste the cake?

Reply: I think the significance of Garvey making Cole taste the ingredients separately was because Cole kept making excuses for his anger. Cole made up several excuses that blamed others, like his abuse from his parents, to try and rationalize what he did to Peter. By making Cole taste the separate ingredients ,Garvey was showing Cole that a lot of bad things (the ingredients separately), amount to a good thing (the cake).

Follow Up Qustion: What other kind of analogies did Edwin and Garvey use in an attempt to teach Cole life lessons?

2.Why did Cole choose not to show Garvey and Edwin the hair from the Spirit Bear?

Reply: Cole chose not to show anyone the hair because he wanted people to believe him. After his near death experience Cole had decided to be a truthful person, when he said he'd seen and touched a Spirit Bear he felt like people should believe him. Cole didn't think he needed proof, he wanted Edwin and Garvey to trust him.

Follow Up Question: In what other instances did Cole want to be seen as a trustworthy person?

3.What is the signifigance of the title "Touching Spirit Bear".

Reply: The signifigance of the title "Touching Spirit Bear" to me has a double meaning. One, Cole physically touched the Spirit Bear and afterwards his whole perception of life changed. When he touched the Spirit Bear he began to heal and became a better person. The second meaning is the Spirit Bear touched Cole's spirit and changed him. The Spirit Bear emotionally touched Cole and Cole physically touched the Sprit Bear.

Follow Up Question: What is the signifigance of the Spirit Bear appearing after Cole and Peter became friends?

Clarification

1.
"When he found the perfect sapling, he hacked it off with the knife blade and sharpened the end. Balancing the spear in his hand, he nodded with satisfaction, then returned to the fire and rested the spear against a tree. Again the Spirit Bear had vanished, but it didn't matter. If it showed its ugly face again now, it was dead!"

When Cole made the choice to kill the Spirit Bear, it affected his success because when he attacked the bear it prevented him from escaping the island. By preventing Cole from escaping the island, it kept him from running away from his issues, like his built up anger that he had from his dad abusing him. If Cole had not been attacked by the Spirit Bear, there's a big possibility that he would have escaped and never healed. In conclusion Cole's decision to kill the Spirit Bear made his escape unsuccessful but in the end made him successful in the healing process.

2.

"Cole grunted angrily-he didn't want to die yet. Yes, someday that would be part of his circle. Someday he would lie in his own waste and be eaten by maggots. But not now! Suddenly, in that moment, Cole made a simple decision.

He wanted to live."

On page 83, Cole made the choice that he wanted to live and not die.This choice greatly affected Cole's success. After Cole decided he wanted to live his whole outlook on life changed, he began eating bugs, grass, and even drinking rain, because he wanted to survive. If Cole hadn't made the choice to live, he would have died a lonely,bitter person and never would have resolved is issues. Also if Cole died he never would have been able to help Peter.

3.

"Cole took a deep breath. "I think Peter should come here to the island."

The last choice that Cole made, which I think was the most important, was the choice for Peter to come to the island. Before Peter came to the island Cole was having trouble finishing the healing process, there was something missing he just didn't know what. For example, Cole didn't know what to carve at the bottom of his totem pole, but after Peter's visit he completed it. Cole couldn't finish healing because he still had guilt for what he did to Peter.When Peter came to the island no matter what he did Cole was determined to help him. He did everything to make him happy, even sleeping in a tent when it was freezing cold outside. Even when Peter refused Cole's help and even tried physically hurting him, Cole still tried to help him. After Peter's epiphany, Cole's guilt vanished and he was able to finish his totem pole and the healing process. Without Peter coming to the island Cole would never have been complete.