The Resolution

The Resolution

Nick Woerishofer

Text Structure- Conflict Resolution

Essay

1/20/12

Author’s Note: This is a text structure, conflict resolution essay about the book, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. The purpose is to show what the main conflict is in the book and how it was resolved. Enjoy!

As I read the book, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, I thought about the main conflict in the story, and how this main conflict gets resolved. The main conflict is person vs. self because in the book Cole is fighting his anger issues. Cole has problems with his anger and learning how to control his anger. I think this is the main conflict because in the book he has so much anger that he has to bully other kids at school. The reason he has this anger is because when he goes home he doesn’t have anybody who cares about, his dad beats him and his mom doesn’t even pay attention to him. The main conflict gets resolved at the end of the book when he learns how to control his anger. He does this by soaking in the pond every day, and rolling his anger rock down the hill. There are many reasons why this is the main conflict.

            Such as that Cole burns down the shelter the first time on the island, the reason for this is because of his anger. He burned down the shelter because he was mad that Garvey and Edwin left him there alone on the island. He got mad that he even has to do the circle justice. But at the same time he didn’t want to go to jail. Cole tends to get angry a lot in the book. Cole also gets angry whenever he saw the Spirit Bear. But after Edwin taught Cole how to soak in the pond and roll away his anger. Cole stopped being angry all the time.

            Cole also learned how to trust other people and how to live by himself and to survive alone. Edwin taught Cole a lot, like how to build the shelter that he lived in for a whole year.  Another reason why this is the main conflict is because in the book Cole is always mad at his dad because he beats him. He later forgives his dad and stops being angry at him, when he learns that you can’t get rid of your anger but you can control, he stops being angry at his dad and forgives him for what he’s done.

            This conflict gets resolved when Cole learns how to control his anger. Edwin teaches Cole how to control his anger. He teaches him to soak in the pond and carry the ancestor rock and then to roll the anger rock, down the hill. Soaking in the pond relaxes Cole and makes him forget all about his anger. Carrying the ancestor rock means to carry your ancestors and all they have done, then to roll the ancestor rock down the hill means that the ancestor rock turns into your anger and you roll it away to get rid of your anger. That is how Cole learned to control his anger and be angry all the time.

            As stated above, the main conflict is person vs. self, because Cole is in a fight with himself to control his anger, this conflict gets solved when Cole learns how to control his anger. Also stated above were the reasons why this was the main conflict in the story and how it was solves. As you can see there are many reasons why this is the main conflict in this book. I think Cole learns a lot in this book about controlling your anger, self-worth, trust, and friendship. In the end of the book Peter learns how to forgive Cole and they become friends.

Cole's Letter

Cole's Letter 

Letter to Peter

2/16/12

Author’s Note: This is a letter from Cole to Peter explaining how sorry he is about what he did to him. And what has happened since the island.

Dear Peter,

            After my time on the island I have learned my mistakes and I have learned how to control my anger and how to get rid of my anger completely. Now I live with my parents, with no abuse, no hatred, and best of all no anger. I want to take this time to say that I am sorry for what I did to you. I have learned that what I did was wrong and that it was my entire fault. I hope what you could forgive me for what I did. And I hope that you know that it was a foolish mistake and I’m sorry. I hope that one day we can be friends. If I could go back in time I would change everything that happened that day. I would be nice to people. I used to beat people up because that was all I knew. My dad beat and I hated him for it. But now I understand he got beat up by his dad too, so that was all he knew, he didn’t know any better. I am sorry for your injuries and I don’t think I could ever forgive myself for what I did, there will always be a hole where I will never forget about what I did.

            Peter I know you still don’t have full trust for me, even after our time together on the island, but maybe one day you will understand that I am sorry. I will never be the same and I know neither will you. I now that your injuries will ever fully heal but after the time on the island with me I hope that you healed a little not only physically but also mentally and I hope that you build some trust for me. I know what I did was wrong and you probably don’t want to forgive me and that is ok because if I were you I wouldn’t forgive me either. I just want you to know how sorry I really am and how I feel that nobody deserves to be treated like that. After time on the island, not only alone but with you I come to think of us as friends and I know you don’t think that way yet but I hope with time and healing you will forgive me and we can be friends.

            I now live with my parents and my does not beat me anymore, and there is no hatred or anger at our house. Edwin was right about everything, anger can never be forgotten. I had a pond built in my backyard and I soak everyday and I walk by myself up a hill in my neighborhood and roll my anger away. After the island I have come to know not only myself better but also the people around me, such as my parents and Garvey. He comes to visit often and he enjoys spending time with my family and I. I have not heard from Edwin since the island, I sometimes wonder how he is doing. I often think of the Spirit Bear, and the things he has taught me. I will never forget the day I got attacked and my right arm will never be the same. I now go to a new school and have many friends. I just wanted to say I am sorry for what I did. And I will never do anything like that again. I hope you can forgive me for everything.

You’re Friend,

            Cole Mathews

Meaningful Quote

Meaningful Quote

Touching Spirit Bear

Ben Mikaelsen

2/12/12

Nick Woerishofer

Author’s Note: This is a writing piece on a quote in the book, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. Enjoy!

The quote that I chose is “Whatever you do to the animals, you do to yourself. Remember that.” I chose this quote because this is the quote that changes Cole. I think Cole finally understood what that means after getting mauled by the Spirit Bear. I think that he realized that trying to hurt the Spirit Bear he was only hurting himself. I think that this quote means we should be nice to animals and others because when are mean to animals and others we are only hurting ourselves. I think this is the quote that up this whole story because it is true. There are many good quotes in this book but I think by far this quote is the best.

           

            This is has lots of meaning to it because, I think that Cole learns a lot from it. It’s is true Cole tried to hurt an animal and he paid the price for it. Whatever he tried to do to the animals he did to himself and now he will never have full use of his right arm. This quote is also meaningful because it not only helps Cole get over his anger but it also helps Edwin get over his anger too. While teaching Cole how to get over his anger I can tell Edwin gets angry when Cole makes a comment about what Edwin says so I think that while Edwin might want to get angry at Cole he know he will only be angry at himself.

            This quote not only helped Cole heal but it helped Peter heal too. When Peter came to the island he wasn’t sure because he was still afraid of Cole. But he got used to his as time passed and now they are friends. I think it was a good idea to bring Peter to the island, because he healed along with Cole. At first Peter didn’t believe in the Spirit Bear but then after he beat up Cole he saw it standing there just staring. Then he turned and walked into the woods.

            Along with the quote helping people like Cole heal; it didn’t help a lot of people though. Like it didn’t help Garvey because of two reasons 1. I don’t think Garvey heard it and 2. He really didn’t need to heal. It also didn’t help Cole’s parents heal either, probably for the first reason. Cole’s mom healed on her own she stopped drinking all on her own. She didn’t need the quote. I think Cole’s dad should go to the island too, he really need to heal and stop beating Cole. This quote didn’t help everybody but it helped most people.  

            In conclusion, this quote is very meaningful in the story. I believe it will help Cole heal and get over his anger. This quote can be used in real life too because It is true whatever we do to animals we do to ourselves. That way we can get over our anger too, and at the same time we protect the animals. I think this is the most meaningful quote in this book because of the reasons stated above.