DogsongDogsong

By: Gary PaulsonBy: Gary Paulson

Presented By:Presented By:

•Kyla Campbell

•Steven Reber

•Tori Christ

SettingSetting

This story takes place in an Eskimo village and in Russel’s dreams.

Main CharactersMain Characters

Russel-a fourteen Russel-a fourteen year old boy who year old boy who is determined to is determined to find his inner selffind his inner self

Oogruk- a very Oogruk- a very wise, old man wise, old man who is blindwho is blind

Dogs- Russel’s Dogs- Russel’s loyal friendsloyal friends

Nancy- a Nancy- a pregnant woman pregnant woman who Russel saveswho Russel saves

Key EventsKey Events

•Russel moves in with Oogruk

•Russel goes out on the dogs for the first time

•Oogruk dies

•Russel has many dreams

•Russel rescues Nancy, a pregnant woman

•Russel kills a polar bear for the sake of him, the dogs, and Nancy

MoodMood

The mood of the story is inspiration The mood of the story is inspiration and determination.and determination.

GoalsGoalsWhen Oogruk told Russel to go out as far When Oogruk told Russel to go out as far

North as he could and never come back North as he could and never come back until he had completed his journey, he until he had completed his journey, he knew it wouldn’t be easy.knew it wouldn’t be easy.

1.) His first goal was to become a man.1.) His first goal was to become a man.

He would accomplish this by doing what He would accomplish this by doing what Oogruk told him to do.Oogruk told him to do.

2.)He wanted to find the meaning in his 2.)He wanted to find the meaning in his life. (his song)life. (his song)

How He Accomplished His How He Accomplished His GoalsGoals

He did what Oogruk told him to do- He did what Oogruk told him to do- he went out on his dogs, even he went out on his dogs, even through hard circumstances. He did through hard circumstances. He did this through his determination.this through his determination.

He worked hard and never gave up.He worked hard and never gave up.

How the Story EndedHow the Story Ended

The story ended by Russel The story ended by Russel accomplishing his goals and accomplishing his goals and finding his meaning in life.finding his meaning in life.

Summary Summary – During the beginning of the book, Russel moves in During the beginning of the book, Russel moves in

with Oogruk. Then Oogruk and Russel go out on the with Oogruk. Then Oogruk and Russel go out on the dogs so Oogruk can smell the sea for one last time dogs so Oogruk can smell the sea for one last time before he dies. before he dies.

– Before Oogruk dies, he tells Russel to go out on the Before Oogruk dies, he tells Russel to go out on the dogs and to never come back until he has completed dogs and to never come back until he has completed his journey. his journey.

– After Oogruk died, Russel did as he was told. Along After Oogruk died, Russel did as he was told. Along the way, he had many dreams. He soon had so many the way, he had many dreams. He soon had so many that he wasn’t sure at times whether he was in a that he wasn’t sure at times whether he was in a dream, or in reality. He also rescued a poor, pregnant dream, or in reality. He also rescued a poor, pregnant woman. He killed a polar bear for food, then went back woman. He killed a polar bear for food, then went back out on his dogs to finish his journey.out on his dogs to finish his journey.

His “Song”His “Song”“Come, see my dogs. Out before me they go, in the long line to the sea. Out they go. Come, see my dogs. They carry me into all things, all things I will be; all things that will come to me will come to my dogs. I stand on the earth and I sing.

Come, see my dogs. See them, see them in the smoke of my life, in the eyes of my children, in the sound of my feet, in the dance of my words. I stand on the earth and I sing.

Come, see my dogs. My dogs are what lead me, they are what move me. See my dogs in the steam, in the steam of my life. They are me.”

His “Song” (continued)His “Song” (continued)“Come, see my dogs. I was nothing before them, no man and no wife. Without them, no life, no girl-woman breathing no song.

Come see my dogs. With them I ran, ran north to the sea. I stand my the sea and I sing. I sing of my hunts and of Oogruk.

Come see my dogs. Out before me they go. Out before me they curve in the long line out before me they go, I go, we go. They are me.”

What We Said About the What We Said About the BookBook

Kyla-“Terrible….” Tori- “Overall, Ithought it wasokay, but at someparts I thought itwas veryconfusing.”

Steven-“ It wasodd andconfusing….”

Review Review

1 star=bad1 star=bad 2 stars= 2 stars=

unsatisfactoryunsatisfactory 3 stars=okay3 stars=okay 4 stars= good4 stars= good 5 stars= excellent5 stars= excellent

00.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

KylaToriSteven