Transcript Julie of the Wolves

Julie of the Wolves
Jean Craighead George
Introduction
This book describes a young girl’s
battle between the old and the new.
Are the old Eskimo ways better than
the new gussak ways? Is there a
way to have both? Which will she
choose?
The book is divided into three parts:
1. Amaroq, the wolf
2. Miyax, the girl
3. Kapugen, the hunter
Part 1: Amaroq, the wolf
Part 1: Amaroq the Wolf
In this section we are introduced to Miyax,
also known as Julie. She is a thirteen year
old Eskimo girl who is lost on the Alaskan
tundra. Miyax has made contact with a wolf
pack which she is trying to befriend. The
leader, a large black wolf, reminds Miyax of
her dead father. She calls the proud leader of
the wolf pack, Amaroq.
Part 1: Amaroq the Wolf (Con’t.)
Amaroq eventually accepts Miyax
and treats her as one of the wolf pups.
He anticipates her needs and tries to
supply the basics for her.
Part 2: Miyax, the girl
Part 2: Miyax, the girl
Miyax lost her mother at the age of
four and her father in his grief carried
her to a seal camp. Her life there was
very different as she learned the old
Eskimo way of life. At the age of
nine, Miyax was forced to leave her
father and return to civilization with
Part 2: Miyax, the girl (Con’t.)
Kapugen’s Aunt Martha. Miyax then
becomes Julie. In Mekoryuk, she
begins a new life especially after
hearing of Kapugen’s disappearance
and apparent death. Aunt Martha
does not approve of Julie’s new
friends and curtails her activities.
Part 2: Miyax, the girl (Con’t.)
Aunt Martha feels the old ways are
best until the day arrives when Julie is
requested to go to Barrow and marry
Naka’s son as arranged by Kapugen
and Naka before Kapugen
disappeared. Julie accepts and the
Part 2: Miyax, the girl (Con’t.)
next stage of her life begins. In
Barrow Julie marries Daniel who has
“a few problems”. Her life settled
down to cooking, sewing, school, and
studying. She saw very little of
Daniel until one day he wanted to
change the arrangement. Miyax
decided it was time to leave.
Part 3: Kapugen, the hunter
Part 3: Kapugen, the hunter
In this final section of the book,
Miyax uses the many skills her father
taught her as a young child. Through
his teachings, Miyax knows how to
capture and kill small game, create
needed items like a sled and
snowshoes, and how to locate the
coast now that night has fallen.
Part 3: Kapugen, the hunter
(Con’t.)
Towards the end of the book, Julie
plays hostess to a couple and their
baby. Before this couple leaves, she
gains a surprising piece of news
which leads Julie in another direction.
Conclusion
In the end, Julie must decide whether
the old Eskimo ways are better or if
she is willing to learn the new gussak
way of living. Which will she
choose? Only time will tell.
Resources
Graphics and Sound Clip. Microsoft Office
Gallery Online http://dgl.microsoft.com
George, Jean C. (1972). Julie of the Wolves. New
York, NY. Harper Trophy HarperCollins
Publishers, Inc.
Created by:
Rose M. Layton
AETE 731
Summer I, 2003
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