Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Touching Spirit Bear

Throughout the story, Cole has made many bad choices leading up to and during his banishment on the island. What do you think is Cole's greatest character flaw; a fault in his personality which has led him to make these decisions?

172 comments:

Josh said...

Cole's biggest character flaw is that he thinks he's better than everyone else and he also doesn't trust anyone that isn't afraid of him.


Wilson

Anonymous said...

Spolier Alert
His greatest weakness is that he is a jerk because his dad use to hit him so all he knew was how to hit.

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Please make sure you are specific when you explain what his character flaw is. Do not just tell me that Cole is a jerk.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sergey said...

Cole thinks that he is so awesome that he can do anything he wants, and thinks that he can get away with it. This is probably his biggest character flaw, and that's how he got into this whole thing.

Anonymous said...

i think cole has a anger promblem
and he get mad at things that ARE HIS FAULT becouse he is uneducated And he has promblems like when he broke in the store then the kid tried sniching on him so he beat him up
GIO

Kaio said...

Spolier Alert
His greatest weakness is that he is a jerk because his dad use to hit him so all he knew was how to hit.

pat said...

hes personality flaw is that he thinks nothing can kill him.he thinks that he is the toughest strongest thing on the island until the spirit bear showed up. when he first saw the spirit bear he thought he could kill it with a spear. the next time the spirit bear showed up he through a spear at it and it ttacked cole and almost killed him. so i think that cole has changed his point of view that he is the strongest living thing on that island.

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Josh, can you give me an example of how he thinks he's better than everyone else? How does that affect his decisions?

KAio said...

I agree Josh123

Anonymous said...

cole is a mean boy and his always hating the world.His familly gets him stressed out because his dad is alwasys drunk and he hits cole. his mother drinks to and always gets drunk and she is afraid of her own husbands. and she does nothing about it.

vanessa

Cassie said...

I think Cole's flaw is that he doesn't want any help. He thinks he is strong and can take on the world, but he can't.He was almost killed by the Spirit bear because he attacked it.If he keeps living like this, he will eventually be killed.If he doesn't accept help,he will never be able to complete Circle Justice. This is suppose to help him.If he doesn't, this will be a big waste of time.Cassie

Anonymous said...

Who wrote the last one

gio said...

to sergay
i dont think thats how he got into this i think he got into it by thinking that when someone snitches on him he has to beat him up so he got in trouble by beating someone up when he could of easly got away with it

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Sergey, what trait would you say he has? What word can you use to explain his feeling that he's awesome?

KAiotheman said...

Cole is Awsome he took on a bear that is awsome

Sergey said...

False pride.

Justin said...

Cole's greatest character flaw is a jerk because he's rude

Kaio said...

yOU GO GEO tell sergey the truth

pat said...

cassie i think that he will not be able to complete circle justice beacuse he does not like it so he wont set his mind on completing it

gio said...

kaio you stink you ruend the whole book you spoiler

Anonymous said...

He doesn't listen or take into consideration what other people say.

Josh

Sergey said...

Gio, you wrote my name wrong.

Chris said...

All throughout his life, cole has always thought he was invisable. When he's thinking that he is invisable, He thinks that nothing can kill him. When hes on the island, he thinks that the spirit bear is nothing and thinks he can kill him. After the bear nearly kiils him. He finely relizes that something eles is bigger and stronger than him. After the lighting hits the tree and knocked it down, he is cold and he is desprite for food. And finely he wants to live and just before Gravey and Edwin save him. He sees that the world is so beautful, he starts to cry because he thinks that he has missed out on the beautiful things inside this world. So now i think that Cole is starting to come around, and starting to look at the world in a different view.

pat said...

gio cole did not have to beat up peter driscal beacuse he snitched on him he could have taken alot of other actions then beating him up

Anonymous said...

kaio
not really kaio he dosent only know tht

Anonymous said...

I think that Cole's greatest character fault is that he always thinks that he will always have another last chance. Cole broke into the hardware store, and beat up Peter, because he thought he would have another last chance.He broke his contract with the Circle, because he thought he would have another last chance. He doesn't realize that one day he really will have just one last chance.

Cassie said...

Mrs. Sullivan,I think that Cole thinks he is better than everyone else when he burns his shelter and supplies.He thinks that weak people will need that stuff. But he thinks he isn't weak. He thinks he is stronger and better then them.He thinks he is better beacuse he was going to try to escape and be succesful at that.Somebody has to tell him that he is just like everyone else!

-Cassie

Chris said...

Yeah but kio, He was nearly killed how is that awesome ?

Justin said...

i agree with chris

Kaio said...

You whana take this to the hood Geo and i said it was a spoiler if you didnt want a spoiler you sholdnt have read it!

=Dgio said...

to pat
ya he acts like hes super man and invincable and stuff he thinks just becouse hes strong every one is affraid of him aint going to hurt him

Anni said...

Cole's biggest character flaw is that he doesn't trust anyone that isn't afraid of him


Anni

pat said...

cassie if someone needs to tell him that he is like everyone else alot of people are trying to tell him that but he doesnt listen to that. he doesnt listen to those people beacuse he thinks that he is stronger than everyone so he gets mad at everyone who tries to tell him that he is like everyone else.

Kristie said...

Cole is a boy who has anger problems. I think his mom and dad should stop and see the world and care for their son one way or another the will see that there is more to the world then just drunking. Cole's mom is a bad drunker because she is afraid of her own husband. That is sad. I think cole should just try to help himself and his parents to stop the abuse.

Kristie

Cassie said...

Pat, you are right.Cole could have done other things than smaching Peter's head into the sidewalk. Cole could have bullied him verbally instead of physically.But that is Cole's way of showing people that he is strong and not weak.

-Cassie

gio said...

i think cole would be a better person if his parrents put down the alchol and spent some time with him and tought him how to be so its his parents faault for not being there

Chris said...

pat, Cole has alot of anger. He was really mad. I bet you might have done the same if someone told on you.

pat said...

cassie true

Anonymous said...

8th graders disappoint me

Anonymous said...

8th graders disappoint me

Anonymous said...

to kristie
i think your right kristie but he dosent have to be so rude about it why cant his mom be on his side?

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Justin, you think that his worst fault is that he's rude? That's why he continues to make bad choices such as burning down his shelter?

Cassie said...

Pat, ok.Let's talk about Cole's anger problem.He gets mad at anyone that tries to tell him what to do.I think he should get anger counciling. But I have a feeling that because of the attack, he will change. He had a near death expierience and that changes people.

-Cassie

Se said...

Cole should just accept the fact that he need this help, but he's to tough to admit it.

Justin said...

im behind in reading

Anonymous said...

I think that Cole's greatest character flaw is that he doesn't like anyone who isn't afraid of him. He tries to kill the Spirit Bear, because it wasn't afraid of him. He doesn't trust Garvey, since he's not afraid of him.
Andrea

Kristie said...

to vanessa

i think you are right cole's mom does need to be on his side i think she should one day realize that her son is being beatin up. Not good!

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Many of you have talked about Cole's anger problems because of his upbringing. Does that give him the right to act the way he does? Whose fault is it that he ended up on the island with no shelter?

Cassie said...

Chris, Cole does have alot of anger.If someone made fun of you, would you smash their head into a sidewalk?

Anonymous said...

to kristie yup i wonder why his mom is on his dad's side does he make her? if i was his mom i would stay on coles side

-vanessa ;)

Justin said...

yea i would

pat said...

cassie yeah true beacuse when he got attacked by the spirit bear he could not move he was so hurt. i think how he got attacked by the bear that it did change his life. beacuse i think he was feeling hoiw he made peter driscal feel when coles head was getting slammed into the ground i think thats how peter felt when cole smashed his head. so beacuse of the attack i think once cole gets off the island he will not fight or beat up anymore people beacuse he probly doesnt wanna go back to the island and does not wanna be attacked like that and almost dieing

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Pat, it seems like you are saying Cole is a bad listener? Why do you think he won't listen to what people tell him?

Chris said...

to se ?

When cole is laying on the ground, and fighting to stay alive. That shows that he dose want to live. And touching the spirit bear fur, made the bear shocked and think twice about him.

Kristie said...

his mom does not pick a side because she is a scary person who only thinks of looks

To Vanessa:]

gio said...

to krisit and vannesa
ya his mom is such a scardy cat i mean if coles dad did hit her becouse she admited to coles beatings from his dad coles dad cant do anything becouse he would be in even more trouble the coole if he hit her

Cassie said...

Mrs.Sullivan,You're right.It's COle's fault that he burned down the shelter. Maybe if he hadn't,he wouldn't have got attcked by the Spirit bear. It's just a thought.

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Sergey and Josh, haven't heard from you in a while...make sure you're reading and responding to others' posts.

vanessa =] said...

to cassie
your right cassie he thinks his better than evryone els

pat said...

mrs sullivan it does not really give cole the right to act the way he does just beacuse he as anger problems. and it was coles fault for ending up on the island he blames it on all other people but it was really his fault for being on the island for beating peter up.

gio said...

i think cole should of never stood up to the spirit bare

Just In said...

his mom doesn't fight back

Cassie said...

Pat,alright.I really want Cole to change his ways.Beating up someone never solves anything.So you think that karma came back around and bit Cole?

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Kristie and Vanessa,
You've talked a lot about Cole's family, and your're right - they do share in the responsibility for what Cole has done; but the ultimate responsibility lies with Cole. What are some ways he could have done things differently?

Chris said...

to cassie

Cole gets made at everything. After the bear attack, i remenber him saying " I wish i had someone to blame" But who was there to blame? No was on the island but him? He just tries to blame othe people for his bad actions.

pat said...

mrs sullivan i think cole is a bad listener beacuse he doesnt wanna really listen to anybody but himself. i think he doesnt listen to what people tell him beacuse he thinks he can do everything by himself and he thinks he is always right on what he does.

Kristie said...

To Gio

I agree cole's mom is a scary cat i think she should toughen up and if she hites her go tell the police

Sergey said...

To Chris

Yes, I agree, Cole realizes that there is something to live for, and that it is worth changing for, when he is on the verge of death.

Anonymous said...

Vanessa
I agree that Cole is mean, because his father hits him.
Andrea

pat said...

cassie yeah it came back to bite cole beacuse sence he beat up peter the bear attacked cole just as much

Chris said...

Gio your right, i would dare go challenge a bear to a fight. Because i know i would be killed.

vanessa said...

ms sullivan
cole could of stoped fighting with people and respect his mom and dad he could of talked to his parrents about there drinking

gio 8D said...

to pat
i agree with you he should just learn how to take responability even if it was someone eleses fault hes still to blame becouse he didnt have to listen to the person who made hime do he shouldof just admitted to braking in and sit in jail for a year insted of beining charged assult and battery

Cassie said...

Vanessa, I don't know how someone can live with beating up people.Because of Cole's anger,he ended up having dinner with the angel of death.I hope his near death expierence will help him let go of his anger.I think he is a nice kid, but his Father's abuse sent him down the wrong path.

Justin said...

nothing t o talk about

Josh said...

I don't think it's all Cole's moms fault that Cole turned into what he is. Cole's mom could have spoken up, but then she would have gotten beaten just like Cole. She should have called the police instead of just drinking to avoid her problems.

Anni said...

your right kristie

Kristie said...

To Mrs.Sullivan

What he could of done diffently? I don't know because he has done alot of bad stuff. so how to change will be circle justice

gio said...

to chris
ya i know like if you see a bare dont fight it especialy if the bare is a legendary bare

Chris said...

yes, sergey

Later in the book i think he will want to go back to the island, and finish his sentence there. But we don't know what he'll do there.

pat said...

to gio he didnt go to the island for breaking into a hardwear store he coulda went to jail or the island for beating up peter really bad but when he was on the island he wished he had gone to jail so the places you are in really makes you change your mind of another option

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Cassie, I love your metaphor "Because of Cole's anger,he ended up having dinner with the angel of death." Great way to describe what he did to himself.

Cassie said...

Pat,I think a bear attack very serious.If Garvy didn't come and find Cole, he would've died. Peter was rushed straight to the hospital. Cole was there for a while, dying!

vanessa said...

to cassie
your right if his dad didin't abuse him he could atleast get along with him or get drunk to

Chris said...

gio

Plus Edwin Said that it was twice the size of a normal Black Bear

gio said...

to everyone its all coles fault but its also his parents fault

Kristie said...

To cassie

Ya great qoute I think thaty was a good saying

Cassie said...

Chris, ok, you are right!

Anonymous said...

last post hehehehe

pat o_O said...

cassie yeah true cole was basically almost dead until he came.

Chris said...

gio

Your right

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Kristie, he had a lot of other choices he could have made. He could have chosen not to beat up Peter, he could have ended the beating before he did irreparable harm instead of just saying that Peter should have fought back harder. He could have not burned down his shelter. He could have accepted his sentence instead of trying to escape in freezing cold water. He could have not assumed he could kill a 750 lb bear. There were many points in his life that he could have stopped himself, but he didn't because of some serious flaws in his character.

Athena said...

I think Cole's biggest flaw is that he thinks he is always in control no matter what and that he can do bad things and get away with them. This thinking has brought him to where he is now.

Mekedes said...

i think Cole's biggest flaw is that he thinks everything is always his fault and that his parents dont care about him. he needs love from his parents to show him that he is important to them and that he is special.

Eileen said...

I think that Cole's biggest flaw is that his parents don't love him. Meaning that he does not know how to love others and how to respect others too.His parents treart his as if he is nobody. His anger takes over his body and he gets violent.

spencer said...

one of coles flaw is that he doesnt trust anyone who isnt afraid of him.

Eileen said...

Mekedes..
You need to learn how to use capitols

brittany said...

cole doesnt want any help , he thinks he is justt finee . what i think hass led cole too make these decisionss is from being hitt & his mom nott payingg attentionn to himm . attacking the spirit bear was probly nott the smartest thing to do & cole thinking everyone is going to fall into his thought of getting better is nott goingg too work .

Athena said...

Eileen,

I agree. I think the biggest reason why he beats up people and all is because he may not know what's right since all his parents do are beat him up or drink. They don't show love to him or show they care.
-athena (:

Emily said...

Cole's greatest character flaw is that he thinks everyone should be afraid of him and if there not he will most likely beat on them. I think Cole acts like this because of his home life. His mom drinks all the time and doesnt pay attention to anything positive in his life. His dad abuses him and thats why i think cole beats up other people.

mekedes said...

to spencer..
i think you are right. he needs people to be afraid of him and obey him.

Anonymous said...

you are right eileen

Anonymous said...

you are right eileen

Athena said...

Eileen,

I agree. I think the biggest reason why he beats up people and all is because he may not know what's right since his parents don't teach him right from wrong. All they do is beat him up or drink. They don't show love to him or show they care.
-athena (:

Eileen said...

Britt

This is so true he need love. Love makes you a better person.

sheniell said...

cole is acting like that because he was never loved by anyone:(

spencer said...

another flaw is that he thinks he is the best at everything

Eileen said...

Anonymous


Who is ANINYMOUS? Well whoever you are im with you.!!!!

Anonymous said...

he treats people how hes treated

spencer said...

its me i forgot to put my name

Anonymous said...

Brittany, I also agree.

By the way, the last letter in each word, you type it twice like "justt" or "hass" haha

mekedes said...

to athena,
Your right.Cole does think he is in control.

Eileen said...

The only reson he is acting like this is because if his parents. ITS HIS PARENTS FAULT. His parents dont know from right and wrong.

Emily said...

I agree with Brittany about the part where he went to attack the spirit bear. The only reason why cole attacked the spirit bear was because it was staring at him cole thinks hes bigger and tougher than anything else. i think it was a good consequence that the bear attacked him cause it showed him to think before his actions.

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Everyone, Cole may not be loved, but that's his parents' character flaw, not his. He is still responsible for his actions, whether or not he's loved.

mekedes said...

to spencer,
well remember next time.

Eileen said...

I do that to Spencer... but not now because i dont want to get in trouble.

sR said...

he seen abuse his whole life so thats why he acts like that

brittany said...

spencer i think yourr rightt , cole doesntt think he needs help from anyone . & whenn he said no one lovess him i think he just sayss thatt for the attention .

spencer said...

cole needs to want to change to be able to change

Eileen said...

I think that Cole has anger issuses and to take it out he takes it out on people and that might make him feel better.

Athena said...

Sheniell, I agree.

Love from his parents would make him a better person! (:

-athena

sR said...

he thinks hes always in control hes a JERK

Eileen said...

To Spencer.

You dont make any sence can you please explain to me!!!

brittany said...

butt mrs. sullivan doesntt being lovedd makee youu a better person kind of ? like if no one was to care for youu then you wouldnt have like hope in yourself ?

mekedes said...

to britt
i like your comment. That is exactly why cole's behaving like this. i totally agree.

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Athena and Brittany, you are both right when you say he thinks he is always in control and doesn't need help. He won't recognize that he isn't in control of the world around him. That's what Edwin was trying to tell him when he told Cole he was part of a much bigger circle.

Eileen said...

I think that love make you a better person

Athena said...

Eileen,

ya he does have anger issues. Beating up or hurting people makes him feel better, like he's the biggerrr perssonn !

spencer said...

i make total sence

Mekedes said...

i agree.

Mekedes said...

i agree.

Eileen said...

When he ixs out of control he thiks he is normal... but he really doesnt... he needs to change to make his life better!!!!!!

Someone please comment on my thingg

mekedes said...

to spencer,
That doesn't make ssnse. Please give more details!

brittany said...

cole is justt all around crazy , who would really think of attacking a bear ?

Emily said...

Eillen i agrre in as way but i think hes blaming it on his parents too much. when he has a bigger part in his actions

Athena said...

I wonder if Circle Justice will actually change Cole..

spencer said...

you will never understand

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Brittany, you're right that Cole doesn't have any good examples of what love is, and how to be a better person. But think about the choices that He made before getting to the island, and once he was left there. What were some other decisions he could have made instead of the ones he did make? Those were still His bad choices.

Emily said...

I think it will.

Eileen said...

To Spencer

You think you make sense but me and Mekedes dont really know what you are trying to say!!

Athena said...

Britt,

i was thinking the same thiing! Like why would he go and try to beat up A BEAR !? like - it probably weighs like triple or more the size of Cole .. he's crazy!!

brittany said...

ya i agree withh youu eileen , butt likee hess not helping himself & if he keeps thinking everyone hates him whenn all there trying to do is get himm better , thenn hes really not goingg to be better .

Eileen said...

Spencer it will take me time to understand sometimes.. please explain in detaill

Eileen said...

Everone doesnt hate him.. thats what he think but when people showq him love he doesnt like itt!!!!!!

Mekedes said...

!!!

me said...

its funny how he thinks hes all tough and he was almost killed by a teddy bear

mekedes said...

to vanessa,
Ok. I get what your trying to say but why would Cole want to get drunk like his father. If you mean he needs to fit in with his father then he can probably try to find things they're both good at. i dont know something like that but not get drunk. That's crazy!

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Brittany, you say that Cole is crazy, and in a way he probably is a bit crazy. But again, what is the trait that makes him think he can take on a 750lb bear and win? I'd say he's really arrogant.

Athena said...

Who's me?

Eileen said...

bears are really scary... he should not mess with themm

Emily said...

Me i think that will teach him a lesson on not trying to act like the bigger person to a 700 pound bear.

spencer said...

i hope cole changes because he is a jerk and derserved what the bear did to him

Emily said...

i think it will too spencer.

Eileen said...

He needs to act like a normal person and like not try to do crazy things like escaping the island by swimming and how he burned all his supplied

brittany said...

whenn he saidd he has never been touchedd before besides for whenn his father hadd hitt himm showedd thatt cole had a hard life & it wouldnt be AS badd if he triedd to just not loose his temper the way he does .

Athena said...

Eileen,

that's right he shouldnt! i wouldnt even go near one let alone TRY TO ATTACK ONE! id be like "aah!" and run! haha (:

mekedes said...

to eileen
your right bears are really scary. I think cole was just trying to prove that he's not scared of anything.

me said...

hes going insane

Eileen said...

Lets try killing a bear with our own hands.... that like insane but this book makes you wonder what will happen nextt

Eileen said...

Lets try killing a bear with our own hands.... that like insane but this book makes you wonder what will happen nextt

Athena said...

Eileen,

right, he does need to act like a normal person but .. he's abused and all and i can kind of see where he's coming from .. not that it's okay to do what he does but like he should put an effort into not doing those things.

Eileen said...

He thinks he is tough but really isnt... Im with you mekedess

Anonymous said...

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eileen said...

you ARE RIGHT aTHENAAA

Eileen said...

true true.

Eileen said...

who said NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

brittany said...

i dont get why cole likess the way hes livingg . so many people are trying to make him better & he isnt taking the help , i mean whats so good aboutt all the drama hes bringing ? hes crazy .

Lori DiGisi said...

Hello Everyone,
I am reading your comments and I am so impressed with your thinking.

I like how people are looking at Cole's attacking the bear through many perspectives..

It is a question I have my self... what would cause Cole, who is so small to attack a HUGE bear? What do you think he believes about himself or, is he thinking at all when he attacks?
Dr. DiGisi

Eileen =) said...

To Britt...
I agree with you.. he needs to take the advice

Eileen =) said...

Vanessa why did you write Anonymous and then at the end write your name ?