Student Question
What are the names and roles of the wolves in "Julie of the Wolves"?
Quick answer:
In "Julie of the Wolves," Miyax names the wolves in her "wolf family." Amaroq is the patriarch and leader, while Silver is his mate and the pups' mother. Nails is a dependable adult wolf, and Jello is a submissive outcast. The pups include Kapu, named after Miyax's father, Sister, and three tawny pups called Zing, Zat, and Zit. Amaroq and Silver lead the pack, with Nails as a spiritual guide and Jello as the caretaker.
Miyax has a name for each member of her "wolf family". She calls the patriarch and leader of the pack, a "regal black wolf", "Amaroq". Amaroq's mate, and the mother of the pups in the family, is an exceptionally beautiful animal whose fur seems to sparkle in the light of the sun such that she seems to glow. Miyax names her Silver, and to another adult gray wolf in the pack, she gives the name "Nails". The third adult wolf in the group occupies an obviously lesser status than the others. He is a pathetic, cowering creature, and when Miyax sees him rolling "trembling (on) his back and wriggl(ing)", she calls him "Jello".
There are five pups in Miyax's "wolf family". The largest, bravest one she names "Kapu", after her own father, "Kapugen". She calls a quiet female in the group "Sister", and the "three tawny pups who had little personality" to her at first "Zing", "Zat", and "Zit".
Amoroq and his mate Silver are the undisputed king and queen of the pack. Nails is Amoroq's "dependable friend...(and) spiritual father of the pups"; he takes orders from Amaroq, but stay(s) close to Silver and the little wolves. Jello is an outcast, tolerated only as long as he is subservient. He receives the lowly task of babysitting the pups while the other adults go out hunting, and gets the scraps after all the others have eaten (Part 1).
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