Touching Spirit Bear Cole Matthews Character Traits

In this book Touching Spirit Bear, By Ben Mikaelsen, Cole Matthews was always angry, taking no responsibility for his actions, then Cole got sent to an island, became friends with someone he thought he would never talk to, and had to deal with an abusive father. After beating up a classmate Cole Matthews got sent to an island in Alaska with nothing but himself and the habitat. Relationships the changed Cole the most were Garvey, his father, and Peter.

To begin our journey, Cole changes when he meets Gravey because he always saw cole being better and always trusted cole. “ ‘I’ll help you, but don’t waste my time. You understand? I don't have time for losers.’”(23). I picked this quote because it shows that gravey is

One of his strengths is that he is strong and he just loves to get in trouble. He hates to be called champ. Cole has a very strong will. He has had some experience with fighting, he fought a lot of kids in school, he recently just beat up a kid named Petter. Cole hates his parents and is afraid of his father. Apparently his father beats him when he does something wrong, or gets in trouble. So far we don't know all Coles weaknesses but he hates being touched, called names, and hates getting told on. On page 15 of Spirit Bear it says why cole doesn't want to be called champ, it says, “”quit calling me champ,” cole mumbled “that's not my

In the novel, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben MiIkaelsen, Cole Matthews develops humility and trust worthiness through his experiences during his circle justice banishment. Cole Matthews picks on a ninth grader, Peter Driscal and one day, very harshly in the parking lot on the sidewalk (7). Although, Cole Matthews has got beaten up by his father his whole life (257).Cole beat up anyone or anything that got in his way. He had so much anger that he couldn’t control himself. His father got beaten up by his father so that is all he knows. Cole doesn’t care about anyone else but himself. He also thinks that he knows everything and he always has the right answer. Later on in the book he starts to change his personality.

His dad is a bull-headed drinker. ,according to the text on page 9. (”Cole has been sent to multiple anger therapy sessions,a psychologist,detention centers, and two residential treatment center.”)

I believe that at the end of chapter 1 in the book we are meant to feel that Cole is a very mean person. Also that he thinks he is better than everyone and he is superior, the evidence to show this is on page 4 when it states “Still standing on the dock in front of everyone, Cole smirked as he undressed.” This piece of evidence shows that cole thinks he is better than the people because he is smirking as he undresses in front of them. Another piece of evidence to show that cole thinks he is better than everyone is on page 5 and it says “Nothing could be farther from the truth. To cole this was another big game.” This clearly is showing that cole thinks he is better than everyone he takes everything as a game he doesn’t really realize what is

Cole did many bad things throughout the story, they all led to consequences. He always found some way to blame it on someone or something other than himself. After being mauled by a bear, who was provoked. Cole blames it for attacking him even though he attacked first. In the text it says, “What luck, Cole thought. To end up on an island with a stupid bear that didn’t have the brains enough to run away.” I think this ridiculous; I am very glad that later in the book while talking about the bear situation he admitted that it was his fault. “He shook his head. ‘My fault!’ he whispered.” This shows he changed because he realized that the assault was his own

In the meeting, each person in the circle gets a chance to openly express their feelings about Cole and his violent crime. When it’s Cole’s turn to speak, he falsely announces that he is sorry for everything that he had done. He says, “‘Uh, I’m Cole Matthews, and I’m here because I really screwed up”’ then, “‘I know what I did was wrong, and I want Peter to know I’m sorry for everything.”’ Later, the text says “it wasn’t like he had meant to hurt anyone. Besides, this wouldn't have happened if Peter had kept his mouth shut.” This reveals that Cole does not take accountability for his actions, and instead blames Peter for getting in trouble after Cole robbed a hardware store. This is harming Cole because it is slowing down his healing process. By blaming his fate on others, he grows deeper and deeper into the dark, when he really needs to get back into the light. It will take Cole a lot of grit to realize he is to blame for all that happens to

In conclusion, “Touching Spirit Bear” was not one of my favorite books, but I think you should read

Not just a normal average Jewish kid, but also someone much more complex. He denies his insecurities, enjoys status, likes being the centre of attention, and a boy who lacks moral in himself. From the novel so far (chapters 1-10) we can

In Ghost Of Spirit Bear, the conflict is Cole vs. Society. “‘ A two thirds majority vote is needed for the passage of this proposal,’ the chairman announced. ‘Tonight’s vote is seven in favor and two opposed’” (Mikaelson 146). Cole is needing to change the mind of the society which is the school, the circle, and the school district to allow the mascot to change to the spirit bear. Second, in Touching Spirit Bear, the conflict is Cole vs. Himself. “Rage controlled his tight grip on the match. It controlled the defiant flare of his nostrils and the striking of the match against the box. . . . The gas ignited, and flames spread quickly into a steady blaze that crept over the boxes” (Mikaelson 25). In the beginning of Touching Spirit Bear, Cole lets his rage get to him, he didn’t know how to control himself. “In death there was no control, no anger, no one to blame, no choices, no nothing. To be alive was to have choice, the power to choose was real power, not the fake power of making others afraid. Cole knew he had used that fake power many times. All of his life he had squandered his choices, wallowing in revenge and self-pity, keeping himself down. Now, as he lay near death, those he had hated were safe and warm. Those he had blamed were still alive and well. He had hurt himself most. Life was empty and meaningless unless he found some meaning” (Mikaelson 83-84). Cole is realizing that when he thought he was hurting someone

Charlie isn't exactly the strong, sporty or adventurous kid. He is in shock to see Jasper Jones, a scandalous kid known for being a troublemaker. " Jasper jones has a terrible reputation in Corrigan. He's a thief, a liar, a thug, a truant. He's lazy and unreliable.

So far in the book, Cole has changed in many ways. First of all, Cole has changed because he has begun to have empathy for other living beings. Cole continuously refers back to the baby sparrows that died. After he is rescued from the island, at the Circle Justice meeting, he feels that each living being is important because he understands how horrible it is to be slowly waiting for your death. Nextly, Cole has changed because he has begun to realize that he cannot control everything and there are always going to be forces that are bigger and more powerful than him. Furthermore, Cole has also started to be honest and learned that since, “his life had become filled with lies, and the more he lied the more he always tried to prove he was right,”(111)

In Ben Mikealsen’s novel – Touching Spirit Bear, Cole is a 14 year old juvenile delinquent from Minneapolis. He is a very angry, furious, fierce and violent boy who does not seem to have any control over his anger. Although he might be a very angry and impatient, he is also honest, strong, reflective and hardworking person by the end of the book. What is the cause of Cole’s anger? What helped Cole changed into a better person? What role does the Spirit Bear play?

I had the same feelings when I read the back of the book. I truly enjoyed the novel. The description and detail of the bear mauling was intense. This story shows that children are a product of their environment. Cole's parents were alcoholics and his mother wouldn't / couldn't defend him against the constant beatings from his father. I felt so sorry for Cole but at the same time got so angry with his behavior. I believe everyone can change regardless of what environment they were brought up in and Cole proved that in the story. It is weird how the circle of