Reading "Bearing Up" and "Why Do You Dream" Quiz Study Guide

How has our understanding of dreams changed since ancient times?

In ancient times, dreams were believed as messages from the gods or to predict the future. In Ancient China, they believe that while dreaming, the soul leaves the body and travels to other places. In Europe, they believed nightmares were sent by the devil. Now, most researchers believe dreaming is when we think while sleeping.

how does what Jonah said to Mike compare to what Mrs. Skinner told Mike?

Jonah says that a reason why Mike's nightmares keep coming back is that he hasn't confronted it, that's why it's still coming back

Who's the main character?

Mike

How does Mike feel about his dad's job as a SAR Tech? How do you know?

Mike doesn't like his dad's job. I know this because he thought the job was dangerous. An example of this is when his dad had to rescue those people on the boat. His dad's life was at risk. Mike's dad says, "It's not being a hero, . . . It's just a job that's got to be done." Mike then said, "You didn't have to be a SAR Tech though." He didn't like his dad having that job.

How does Mike feel after he "talks" to the bear? compare this feeling with the feeling Mike's dad describes on page 24.

Mike feels like he's been released from being trapped. Now, he has no fear and feels like a different person who is more. This relates to Mike's dad's feeling because his dad said that he also has to overcome fear and in the end, you feel great.

Is Mike a static or a dynamic character? Explain your reasoning.

Mike's a dynamic character. I know that because at first, he kept running away from the bear and his fear. He never felt free. In the end, he confronted it and afterwards felt free. He changed internally.

Why might some people have once believed that believed that dreams were messages from gods and demons?

Some people might have believed that because maybe in the past, someone's dream did actually come true good or bad. Since they were strong with their beliefs, they might've connected those theories together.

What do the 2 similes in the beginning of the story help you understand?

The bear is all he can see and that can't control his dreams

(When Mike was talking to the bear.) What is the answer? What does Mike now understand that the bear in his dreams has been trying to tell him?

The bear's trying to tell Mike that he has to confront his fears and has to stop running away. Mike knows that after he faces his fear, he wasn't scared of it anymore.

How might what Mrs. Skinner is saying to relate to Mike's nigthmare?

There might be something that Mike's not ready to deal with, and that's why Mike's running away from it

What does the metaphor about the forest and his dreams mean?

There's parts of his mind that he's not ready for

How are mike and his mom feeling when MIke's dad is saving those people on the boat? How do you know?

They're scared because usually when someone feels scared, they don't want to eat because they lose their appetite

Does the description of Mike and Jonah's conversation on page 25 confirm or change your impression of Mike? Explain.

This confirms my impression of Mike because he's still scared and was still trying to get off of the subject of his nightmares.

On pages 23-24, what does Mike's conversation with Mrs. Skinner reveal about Mike?

This talk reveals that Mike's afraid of something, and his mind or conscience is trying to tell him to face his fear.

Consider the quote by Stephen LaBerge at the end of the article. Explain what it means.

Everyone has their own dreams because everyone's a different person. Dreams reflect ourselves, that's why our dreams could be very different than other's dreams.

Why does Mike stop having the dream about the brear?

He didn't run from the bear the last time, and he overcame his fear

what caused the fear to drain out of MIke?

He overcame his fear and he felt good about it

What's the mood in the beginning and end of the story?

Beginning= frightening, troubled, eerie End= carefree, cheerful, delighted

Do you think Mike really saw a bear in his back yard? Explain.

(Answer could be yes or no, but you need evidence from the text.) No, because in real life, a bear wouldn't just stay there still. Also, in the article, it said that the bear just disappeared, which isn't possible for anything to just disappear without being seen. And after that, Mike never saw a bear again.

What's one of the themes?

(My opinion.) When you overcome a fear, the end result is amazing.

What i the mood in Mike's dreams?

terrifying, eary, fightening

What's the climax?

When Mike confronts the bear in his backyard

According to the article, do dreams have meaning? Explain.

Yes, in the article dreams do have meanings. It says that dreams could help us figure out how to react in real-life situations, they could help us with our emotions, and they do reflect who we are

Has Mike had problems with this type of thing in the past?

Yes, with other large creatures= tyrannosaur; tiger; Cookie Monster