Runt

Discuss how expectations set Runt up for both success and failure in finding where he belongs. How do the different opinions of Runt’s size influence him, and what choices does Runt make based on those opinions? How do those choices help or hinder him along his journey?

Compare and contrast Runt and Goldie in terms of The Tension Between Autonomy and Belonging. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each character’s version of belonging? How does meeting Goldie contribute to Runt’s journey toward his place in the pack?

Choose three ways in which Runt tries to prove himself to King. What lessons does Runt learn from each failure you chose, and how do these failures, both individually and sequentially, contribute to Runt’s character arc? What broader messages about failure does the novel offer?

Compare and contrast the deaths of Thinker and Helper, including an analysis of how each affects Runt. What does Runt learn from each death? How do these deaths help Runt along his character arc? How do they establish the world that Runt lives in, including how he is treated by King?

Compare and contrast King and Bider as pack leaders. How does King’s leadership make his pack the strong unit it is? How might the pack be different under Bider’s rule? Which version of the pack would be more effective and suited for survival? Discuss the ideas present in The Many Forms of Strength to answer this question.

Using Runt’s encounters with other species in the novel (such as the porcupine, humans, and the moose), explore the many kinds of strength as they inform relationships between species in the wild. Does occupying a higher spot on the food chain necessarily mean that a species is stronger than those further down? Why or why not? If so, how? If not, what other factors make some types of prey stronger than predators?

Choose three wolves from the story and assess whether their given names are right for them based on their actions and dialogue throughout the book. If the name is right, what moment(s) make it clear that the wolf was named correctly? If the name doesn’t suit a wolf, what name would be a better fit, and why? Support your explanations with evidence from the text.

Analyze the dynamics between wolves throughout the story and how Bauer incorporates non-traditional behaviors of wild wolves for dramatic effect. What role does anthropomorphism play in the construction of these non-human characters? To what degree is this story about wolves effectively a story about human character and relationships?