Sunday, October 17, 2010

Touching Spirit Bear - C Block

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? Is he finding a way to overcome this flaw in the chapters we have read so far (up to ch. 18)? Justify your response with evidence from the text. Use proper spelling and grammar in your response, please.

151 comments:

Hayley said...

I think Cole's worst personality trait is his anger. He can't control it and it makes him make bad decisions and actions. One thing Cole is doing to help with his anger in these chapters is going to the pond every morning and carrying the rock up the hill.

Justin said...

I think Cole's greatest character flaw is his arrogance. He thinks he can do anything and come out on top. To take on a bear with a makeshift spear and a blunt knife, you need to be pretty arrogant to do that. His arrogance is still evident up through chapter 18.

Natalie said...

I think Cole's worst personality trait is he's self centered and cocky. He only thinks about himself and not others at ALL. Cole is most definitely changing this personality trait because I think he now realizes that the world doesnt revolve around him and he has hurt others alot. Cole wants to change and I have hope that he will. He's already showing progress.

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Justin, in what ways do you think his arrogance is still apparent? Can you give some examples?

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Natalie, what is the evidence that he's starting to change his self-centered attitude?

Natalie said...

I agree with Hayley. And I think hes controlling his anger quite well now, but it was definitely a problem in his past.

Andrew said...

Cole has a short temper. I say that because if anyone does a small thing to him. For example, when Peter ratted on him, Cole got back at him by beatin him up. However, he has getting better, because do you remember when Edwin pushed him down at the Circle meeting? Well if you dont remember, Cole didn't fight back so that means he has learned how to control his temper.

Cassio said...

I think Coles worst character trait is his need to manipulate otheres. He uses it to get himself out of bad situations, but once he's out he goes and get right back in to them for example he used manipulation to get into circle justice, but ruined his chances when burning down the hut. Once he got to the island and was helpless on the floor he realized that by hurting others he was only hurting himself.

jimmy said...

Coles worst flaw is that he only cares about himself. He's very selfish, because he wont let antybody help him, and he wont help anybody else. The main reason cole is overcoming his selfishness is because he is soaking, carying the ancestor rock, and carving the totem pole.

Edward said...

Coles greatest character flaw is that cole as to take out his anger on other people. this is a bad characteristic because cole always lets his anger build inside of him until he has somebody to take it out on. After cole got off of the island he learned to control his anger a little more. Cole was able to control his anger enough to not hit edwin when he pushed him to the floor.

Nate said...

I think Cole's greatest character flaw is anger. If he learned to control he anger and learn how life is he wouldn't be in this situation. I know that no one is perfect and never gets mad at people but beating kids up and not respecting people's culture and nature is not alright. I understand that his parents are not the parents that any kid wants but I think he should go to threopy and listen to what the person has to say.

Justin said...

On page 148, where Cole is offered leather gloves while building his shelter, he says "I may have a bum arm, but I'm not a wimp." Just because he's not a wimp doesn't mean he's invincible. Later on, becasue of his arrogance in refusing to take the gloves, Cole ends up getting blisters.

Natalie said...

Mrs. Sullivan some evidence that he is changing his self centered attitude is when he sees the dead bird and realizes he didn't deserve to die, like Peter doesnt deserve to get hurt. The animals I think really change Cole.

Joao said...

Cole has a short temper. I say that because if anyone does a small thing to him. For example, when Peter ratted on him, Cole got back at him by beating him up. however, he has getting better, because do you remember Edwin pushed him dow at the circle meeting? Well if you dont you are not reading the book, but Cole didnt fight back or say anything, so this means that Cole is controling him self. This looks like Andrews because i agree with him.

Eddie said...

i think coles flaw is that he hold up anger till it builts up so much that he has to take it out on someone.what he is trying to do is to not let it out in such a violent way, like when edwin pushed him, he could of got up and hit him, yet he did not.

Lizmary said...

To me Cole's biggest character flaw that led him to the island is that he blames everyone but himself. He thinks that the whole world is his enemy while he is his only friend. In page 7 it shows his behavior; "With anger that had been brewing all day, he attacked him and started hitting him hard in the face with his bare fists". Another page that shows this is page 3-4; "He didnt trust anyone who wasnt afraid of him."

Andrew said...

Hayley,and Natalie, I agree w/ you both, because when he finds a way to control his, like the pond, he acts different.

Anonymous said...

Cassio, he may manipulate others, but I never saw in the book it's a need to manipulate.

Cassio said...

Others*

Justin said...

Nate, Cole's already been to therapy and every other doctor imaginable to help straighten him out. He just gets referred to another therapist or guidance person. Why should he go to therapy again?

Joao said...

Hayley i agree with you because that might help Cole control his anger.

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Andrew, you say that Cole has learned to control his temper based on what happened at the second circle meeting. Do you think he's completely changed?

Hayley said...

I agree with Jimmy. I think having to take care of himself and soaking in the pond and having to carry the rock are really helping him to calm down.
Also, he is completley alone on the island. He has no one to blame for his problems and this is helping him become less angry at other people.

Natalie said...

Cassio I think your right. I never thought of that but he really does manipulate others. And he does use it all the time to get out of these situations he's in.

Cassio said...

He needs to manipulate to get him out of trouble he lies and uses people to get out of his wrong doings. He doesn't NEED to as an obsession, but needs to because he feels it his only option.

Nate said...

Justin, now that he is not as bad a kid that he was before I think if he goes to therapy he will be able to be helped.

Joao said...

Natelie I agree with you that Cole is cocky and whatever but how do you know that Cole really wants to change.

Andrew said...

Nate, well he has learned sometimes how to control his anger like going in the pond to let go of his anger. Also, he has seen that the world is beautiful in the text, and that is part of the reason he wants to live. So I dissagree w/ your statement

Brianna said...

I agree with hayley that Cole is a very anger person and i think that at the same time its not his fault for becoming that person.At the same time its also his fault becasue he could of went a different direction and said to himself that he didnt want to be that person and that he wants to change. I definetly think that he is changing a little bit now and maybe trying to change.You know that he did change because when Edwin gave him a hard shove, he didnt do anything.

Anna said...

I think Cole's worst personality trate is selfishness. Cole thinks the world revolves around him. He can't care for anyone else besides himself because he thinks no one cares about him. He thinks he can accomplish any challenge that approaches him. By reading up to chapter 18 i think cole is changing and not only caring about himslef. He aslo learned how to get over his anger so hes not mad at everyone and will help other people along with himself.

jimmy said...

I disagree with Justin because I think cole has learned to control his arrogance by carving, soaking and dancing. Cole hasn't been arrogent since he was mauled because he learned to control it.

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Jimmy, can you think of an example of Cole's selfishness? Do you think that the tasks Edwin and Garvey have given him (soaking, etc) are really working?

Hayley said...

I agree with Cassio. He relies on his ability to manipulate others to fix his problems. He can't always do this and needs to learn how to fix his mistakes a different way.

Natalie said...

Justin, he should go to therapy again because maybe now he'll take it much more seriously becasue he WANTS to change before he didn't.

Cassio said...

I disagree with Nate because he's been to theropy where he was just "reffered" or passed down to other people which i think meesed him up more because it made him think no one wanted to deal with him.

Priscila said...

I think Cole's greatest flaw is his anger, because most times he has bad decisions and do whatever he wants. Now hes changing to making good decisions when he went back to the island.

Nate said...

Cassio, i stand corrected.

Lizmary said...

I agree with hayley and natalie. I actually think that Cole will change in the end of the book, but he still has some attitude left that really needs to be calmed. To me he just isnt putting enough effort into his "change"

Anna said...

Hayley, i agree with your comment on Cole's anger. Is there anything else hes doing to make his anger go away?

Andrew said...

Ms. sullivan, I dont think he has completely changed, because he still has a short temper, and doesn't want any of Edwins help nor Garvey.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Cassio. Therapy won't work.

Natalie said...

Again, I think Cassio's right becasue he doesn't need to manipulate others but he feels as though he needs to. And I know Cole wants to change because he's talked about it many times.

Cassio said...

Lizmary it hasnt been to long since he was mauled by a bear and decided to change he still has time to put in "effort"

Anna said...

Natalie, I agree with your comment on how he needs to go to theropy now because his mind is telling him that he wants to change.

Miss Sampson said...

Justin and Nate,

You are making very good points dealing with ways to handle anger. Thinking about the first soak that Cole does with Edwin, give an example of different ways other than therapy that Cole could help his anger. What does Edwin say about anger and the people that have tried to help Cole in the past? Hint: look at Chapter 17.

Nate said...

I agree with Andrew he isnt a whole new kid now he still has his short temper.

Andrew said...

Jimmy I dissagree w/ you because he hasn't learned to control his anger, because He doesn't like having other peoples help!!!!!!

Natalie said...

Thank you Anna, I dont think Nate was completley wrong. Now that Cole has the drive to change he'll take these therapy sessions more seriously.

Natalie said...

Thank you Anna, I dont think Nate was completley wrong. Now that Cole has the drive to change he'll take these therapy sessions more seriously.

Eustaquio said...

I think Cole's greatest flaw is that he blames everyone/thing but himself. like in the first chapter, he said,"Serves him good", directing that to Peter since Peter is the one who ratted him out, but Cole is still the one who vandalised the hardware store, and Cole is the one who had beaten up Peter. I think Cole is trying to overcome all of his flaws, but he hasn't been fully successful(I know he's not just going to change overnight though)

Hayley said...

Well Anna, after talking about the stick with Edmund, he knows his anger will never completley go away but he does know that he can control it better.

Natalie said...

Andrew, maybe now he'll like having other peoples help.

Cassio said...

@Nate: His temper definetly isn't as short now since his visit to the island his mom's now in his life he finally thinks people care about him, and he's asking for help which is something he's never done he is changing. Now i think you actually have to try to tick him off for him to lose his temper.

Hayley said...

*Edwin(:

Justin said...

Hayley, in the book it says he can never get rid of his anger. If you look on pages 144 and 145, Edwin explains that no matter what, anger is always there. But it's what you make of it that ends uyp in your mindset. When Edwin asks Cole if the sky is clear or stormy, Cole can either look at the sunrise or the storm clouds. It's what you make of your life and the hand you're dealt with that will really help control Cole's anger. If he focuses on his anger then he'll stay angry. If he focuses on the hapiness then he'll stay happy. I think this is one of the main themes in the book.

Natalie said...

Hayley, I think you meant Edwin.

Anna said...

Hayley, its Edwin not Edmund!

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Priscila, we haven't heard from you yet. What do you think about the question?

Lizmary said...

Yeah but Cassio, he almost died yes i agree, but 6 months since he got mauled by the bear, he has had enough of time to think about how much he wants to change and how badly he wants too.

eddie said...

andrew that is becuase he has not changed fully

Andrew said...

Joa do you have anything to share about Coles feelings of how he completely changed? Other than my answer???!!!

Nate said...

Thank you Cassio

jimmy said...

Andrew he does want people to help thats why he's on this island. And when cole had to build his own shelter cole said to Edwin and Garvey why can you help me.

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Anna, what's the evidence that Cole cares about more than himself?

Natalie said...

Anna I think your response was right.(:

Miss Sampson said...

Lizmary,

The last quote you included on your first post, "He didn't trust anyone that was not afraid of him." Cole gets himself into trouble by thinking this way. What does this quote have to do with the Spirit Bear? What does he learn from this bad experience?

Justin said...

Nate, (and Natalie) I don't think therapy will help Cole because therapists try to help you *get rid* of your anger which is an impossible task. It's a human emotion, it's always going to be there. If Cole goes, and a therapist tells him to do whatever to get his anger to go away, and then it doesn't work, Cole's just going to be more angry and feel like he's being passed around again.

Andrew said...

Jimmy so why is Garvey and Edwin on the Island w/ him???

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Jimmy, do you think he wanted Garvey and Ecwin to help with the shelter because he's really accepting of help, or because he just didn't feel like doing such a big job himself?

Eustaquio said...

Mrs.Sullivan Priscila posrted a comment. I read it.

Joao said...

no i do not have an anwser Andrew but i agreed with your anwser thats why i wrote it

Natalie said...

Yeah I agree with Jimmy he does want people dto help him.

Eustaquio said...

posted*

Andrew said...

Joa, fair enough

Anonymous said...

Mrs.Sulliva whos ECWIN

Natalie said...

Andre there on the island with him to watch how he has changed and can do things for himself now.

Nate said...

Justin, I have been corrected (by Cassio)and understand your point now!!!

Cassio said...

Natalie: Andre? littleeeeeee wierd

Natalie said...

Andrew* and who's annonymus?

Priscila said...

Eutsquio ? what are u tryin to say ? I dont get it.

Eustaquio said...

I agree with nearly everything everyone said.. so yeah..

Cassio said...

Yeah man up

Andrew said...

Natalie, do you think Cole has completely changed?

Joao said...

i agree with cassio

Eustaquio said...

(to priscila) Mrs. sullivan asked you about the question. she thought you didn't say anything but i told her you had posted somehting already.

priscila said...

Eustaquio*

jimmy said...

Just my point Andrew cole excepts that people want to help like his mom, Edwin, and Garvey.

Natalie said...

Not completley but he's almost there.

Cassio said...

Actually guys we're getting a little off topic so leave mrs.Anonymous alone

Anna said...

Mrs. Sullivan, To me i can tell he is not only caring about hiom self and wanting to change by his personality and how he reacts to instructions from Edwin and Garvey. From listening to them he doesnt think that he can just do whatever he wants to do, he is respecting what their saying.

Miss Sampson said...

Brianna,

What are some other examples in which Cole is trying to change? Think about his actions once returning to the island.

eddie said...

andrew there is the problem poeple cant change in few days

Nate said...

Cassio how do you think Cole should control his anger then?

Priscila said...

Ohh , alriqht(:

Andrew said...

But what do u think about Cole Eustaquio

Andrew said...

Eddie what is that prob.

Natalie said...

Eddie it hasnt't been a few days.

Cassio said...

Cole is going to change in my opinion. He is still in a process you don't make that drastic of a change from one day to the other sure potentially fatal accidents can open people's eyes but it's hard to change your ways or habbits.

Anonymous said...

Its true that cole cant get rid of his anger but he can try to put it behind him and try to move on and look at the future and become the person that he is willing to be and should be .

Hayley said...

Does anyone think Cole is going to go back to they way he was at the beginning of the book?

eddie said...

andrew the prob. is that yes he is not fully changed but accepting peoples help is a big start

Anna said...

Hayley, In a sense i think he might but from the new experiences hes having and the new way of learning i have a feeling he might not

Andrew said...

He believes no one wants to help him... if you have been reading

Lizmary said...

Miss Sampson,
well he says to Garvey and Edwin that he did touch and see the Spirit Bear. He had the evidence he just didnt want to show it, he believed that his words were proof. When the bear mauled him, he stayed there laying for a couple of days, then when the spirit bear came back he touched it. He felt trust with the Spirit Bear for some reason and that he meant no harm. Later Cole figured out/ thought that the bear was only trying to defend itself. Cole learned trust with an animal.

Brianna said...

Anonymus was Brianna By mistake .

Eustaquio said...

(to Andrew) I think Cole is just another person in the world who made bad choices and is now trying to get better

Natalie said...

I agree with Anna.

Cassio said...

@Hayley: That'd be pretty funny, but woould kind of defeat the purpose of the book.

Nate said...

Yes Edward it hasn't been a few days. Have you been reading?

Andrew said...

Eddie, if he will ever except peoples help.

eddie said...

natalie yes but im saying still SOME anger is still in him

jimmy said...

He Knows people want to help him thats why they come to the circle Justice garvey actually tells cole that they want to help and his mom has been sending leters even though she knows cole cant read them.

Anna said...

Andrew, I have been reading and from some of his actions i think he realizes that some people want to help him and that he wants to change! Mr. have you read the book.

andrew said...

Eustaqio... Hopefully

Joao said...

lizmary, do you think is kind of strange that cole ripped out some of the bear's hair and the bear didnt attack him again??

Mrs. Sullivan said...

Cassio, I agree with you that Cole can't change overnight - he has years of bad habits and choices ingrained in him. I think Edwin and Garvey know this because of their own experiences, which is probably why Cole is being banished for a whole year.

Justin said...

Hayley, I don't think he is going back to the old Cole. The old Cole would have tried to steal the boat and escape the island. This Cole didn't.

Natalie said...

Hayley, I never thought of that but I think that could happen. It would really be an ending people wouldnt expect.

Cassio said...

I agree with Anna

Priscila said...

I think by the end of the book Cole is goin to turn into a good kid like , make good decisions . Unlike the way he is now.

andrew said...

Anna he doesn't want Edwin and Garvet to help him at all at the end of ch.18

eddie said...

i agree with anna on that one

Joao said...

who thinks that Cole is going to completly change??

jimmy said...

eddie is right cole will always have anger no matter what he still has bad dreams about it and its sometimes hard for him to under stand.

Natalie said...

Andrew, Garvey*

Lizmary said...

Hayley to me its like 50/50. I do think that then i dont. Its really hard to tell right now, for me anyways

Anna said...

Andrew, its Garvey

Andrew said...

Cassio, he doesnt want Garvey and Edwin to help him at the end ofch.18

Nate said...

I know I dont Joao.

Hayley said...

Yes Natalie I agree but I dont think he will go back to how he was. Too much has happened to him that has made him see life in a different point of view to go back.

Anna said...

But he wants to help himself i think.

Eustaquio said...

I wonder what Garvey and Edwin did that made them go to the island...

aNDREW said...

My B Anna

Cassio said...

Cole doesn't always have to be angry. He can GET angry, but that happens to everyone. He isn't an angry person anymore though he's not as frustrated.

Andrew said...

yES W/ NO ONES help

eddie said...

yes he mite not want there help andrew but he understands tthey are trying

jimmy said...

Andrew tour wrong he wants help and he wonts to help others to like peter so he can forgive himself.

Nate said...

I think even by the end of the book Cole wont completely change.

anna said...

ITS COOL

Eustaquio said...

This was a good talk.

Anonymous said...

Akwardddd

Joao said...

Nate is awsome cuz he reponded my question

Brianna said...

Miss Sampson ,

An example that Cole is trying to change is on pg.111-112 He makes a promise to himself that he is going to be truthful and that will be his proof.

Nate said...

I disagree with Joao

Andrew said...

First off its not tur its your and Your wrong he doesnt want Their help

Emily said...

Hayley, i said the same thing i agree that that his biggest flaw is his anger and i think that he will get over it in the next few chapters.

Emily said...

Justin, i agree but i also think that he is not just arrogant but that he is ignorant in a sense.

Maddie said...

I agree with hayley when she said that she thinks that Coles worst personality is his anger! i completley think that that is true, he has way to much anger in his life

Ally said...

jimmy and andrew, i think when cole said he wanted help like with building the hut that was because he didnt want to do it but i do think that other times he actually wants help to change.

Macia (F block) said...

Guys is anger Cole's ONLY problem or is there more? I mean to say doesn't he also have some trust, and authority issuses too? When you have anger issuses more comes along with it. Trust issuses, authority issuses, sometimes abandonment issuses too. That was how Cole dealt with his abuse. He had all these problems which had him make bad disscisons, and not care. But isn't what he really wants to be a better, truthful, more loal human being? He wants to change into someone who other people can trust and not someone who will be locked up for the rest of his life. He wants to be normal. Not someone who is put through agany day, after day. I mean does anyone really? We all want respect so Cole's only way to gain people's respect is by showing them he can be trusted. He used to force people's respect by minipulating them, but now he really wants to earn it. What would you rather respect built off of fear and anger? Or respect bulit on trust, and a soild foundation of equality? Just stating my opinion here...

ally said...

macia, if cole hadnt been attacked by the spirit bear he probably wouldnt of wanted change...