Julie Of The Wolves

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Surviving in Difficult Contexts”

In this activity, students will write a scene of fiction that reveals a protagonist facing a harsh natural environment in another setting and time period; this scene will also draw parallels to the novel.

Along with the themes of The Wilderness Versus Civilization, Indigenous Wisdom and Traditions, and Independence Versus Solidarity, George’s novel concerns survival. Draft a scene of fiction in which a young protagonist is forced to survive in a harsh natural environment. Use George’s novel as a model to consider the following questions as you draft your piece:

• Who is your protagonist? What is this person’s background? To what extent is this person comfortable in the natural environment?
• What factors in the natural environment cause the protagonist conflict?
• How does the protagonist plan to face or survive the challenges in the natural environment?

Your scene might be the opening scene of an imagined short story or novel, or it might be a scene that occurs deeper within the imagined story. Use sensory details and figurative language to convey the natural environment and use characterization techniques (direct and indirect) to depict your protagonist. After drafting your scene, list the parallels between your protagonist and Miyax. As others read or summarize their scenes, list additional parallels between the created protagonists and Miyax.

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to review story elements (point of view, setting, theme, plot, character) and narrative tools (dialogue, inner monologue, pace, tone, mood, atmosphere, suspense, hook, description, etc.) before students begin their drafts.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Miyax spends time in two distinct environments: the cities of Alaska and the wilderness of the Arctic.

• How do the differences between these environments impact Miyax’s character? (topic sentence)
• Analyze and discuss at least 3 examples of Miyax’s character development that support your topic sentence. For example, how does Miyax change as she transitions from city life to wilderness life? How does she stay the same?
• In your concluding sentences, summarize the novel’s overall message regarding The Wilderness Versus Civilization.

2. Throughout the novel, Miyax and her Indigenous community sing songs related to their immediate environment.

• What is the role of these songs in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Select 2-3 of these songs and analyze their purpose and placement, incorporating details and cited lines or passages that support your topic sentence.
• In your concluding sentences, evaluate the extent to which the songs help to develop the theme of Indigenous Wisdom and Traditions.

3. Compare Miyax’s relationships with humans to her relationship with the wolf pack.

• Which group teaches Miyax more valuable lessons—wolves or humans? (topic sentence)
• Analyze and discuss at least 3 situations from the text that support your topic sentence. Note the ways in which these situations impact Miyax’s relationship with her surrounding world.
• In your concluding sentences, speculate with brief rationale on the ways in which Miyax will use what she has learned moving forward.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Consider the way in which Miyax’s perception of the city of San Francisco changes throughout the novel. How does she view this city initially? How does her viewpoint change by the end of the novel? In a 3- or 5-paragraph essay, analyze and discuss what San Francisco means to Miyax and what it ultimately symbolizes in the story. How do Miyax’s expectations regarding San Francisco connect with her final decision regarding where she wants to settle?

2. Although Julie of the Wolves often is read by a younger audience, the novel has frequently been challenged for its content because it includes alcohol addiction, sexual assault, violence, and additional challenging subject matter. Are objections to the book justified? Why or why not? In a 3- or 5-paragraph essay, explain with rationale who the most appropriate audience likely is for the novel. Consider the setting of the novel as well as the time period of its publication in your answer.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following words best describes Miyax’s relationship with Daniel?

A) Abusive

B) Adequate

C) Adoring

D) Altruistic

2. Which of the following sentiments does Miyax feel when Amaroq acknowledges her presence?

A) Frightened

B) Excited

C) Perturbed

D) Concerned

3. In trying to pet Kapu in Part 1, “[Miyax] reache[s] out to hug him, for his eyes [a]re mellow and his fuzz irresistible. But he [i]s like water and slip[s] through her hands.” Which of the following literary terms is used in this description?

A) Allegory

B) Irony

C) Personification

D) Simile

4. Which phrase best describes how Miyax views the internal hierarchy amongst animals?

A) As something silly

B) As something important

C) As something boring

D) As something irrational

5. What is Miyax’s primary concern as she spends her days on the tundra?

A) Finding reliable sources of food

B) Learning all the sleep patterns of wolves

C) Becoming friends with the local fauna

D) Making amends with her husband

6. Which combination of words best describes the character of Jello?

A) Tender and loving

B) Untrustworthy and aloof

C) Strange and introverted

D) Intelligent and kind

7. Which term best describes the structure of Part 2?

A) Flashforward

B) Flashback

C) Monologue

D) Analysis

8. With which statement would the author most likely agree?

A) Wolves are extremely dangerous and should be eliminated.

B) Science is the best way of the future and should be relentlessly pursued.

C) Animals are intelligent creatures and should be respected.

D) Oil drilling is necessary and beneficial for the arctic region.

9. With which of the following events does the awakening of the grizzly bear correspond?

A) The end of summer

B) The beginning of the hunting season

C) The onset of climate change

D) The end of American oil drilling

10. According to Miyax, which of the following signs “mark[s] the beginning of civilization and the end of the wilderness”? (Part 3)

A) A dead bear

B) An oil drum

C) A fueled plane

D) An empty bottle

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Using a map of Alaska, trace Miyax’s journey to different cities. Note her method of travel to different places. Number the locations to represent the correct sequence of events in the text.

2. What does the word “gussak” mean in English? Identify 2-3 examples from the novel where Miyax uses the word “gussak” and analyze if they are used in a positive or negative manner.