THE WOLF OF GUBBIO

READING SKILLL

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Basic Facts about Wolves

The wolf is the largest member of the caninefamily. Gray wolves range in colour from grizzledgray or black to all-white. As the ancestor of thedomestic dog, the gray wolf resembles Germanshepherds or malamutes. Wolves are making acomeback in the Great Lakes, northern Rockiesand South-western United States.

Diet

Wolves eat ungulates, or large hoofed mammals,like elk, deer, moose and caribou. Wolves are alsoknown to eat beaver, rabbits and other small prey.Wolves are also scavengers and often eat animalsthat have died due to other causes like starvationand disease.

Population

Did You Know?

Wolves can range in color, from pure white in Arcticpopulations, to brown, gray, cinnamon and black.

There are an estimated 7,000 to 11,200 wolves inAlaska and more than 5,000 in the lower 48 states.Around the world there are an estimated 200,000 in57 countries, compared to up to 2 million in earliertimes.

Range

Wolves were once common throughout all of NorthAmerica but were killed in most areas of the UnitedStates by the mid 1930s. Today their range hasbeen reduced to Canada and the following portionsof the United States: Alaska, Idaho, Michigan,Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin and Wyoming.Mexican wolves are found in New Mexico andArizona.

Behavior

Wolves live, travel and hunt in packs of 4-7animals on average. Packs include the motherand father wolves, called the alphas, their pupsand several other subordinate or young animals.The alpha female and male are the pack leadersthat track and hunt prey, choose den sites andestablish the pack's territory. Wolves developclose relationships and strong social bonds. Theyoften demonstrate deep affection for their familyand may even sacrifice themselves to protect thefamily unit.

Wolves have a complex communication system ranging from barks and whines to growls and howls. While they don't howl at the moon, they do howl more when it's lighter at night, which occurs more often when the moon is full.

Reproduction

Mating Season: January or February.Gestation: 63 days.Litter size: 4-7 pups.

Pups are born blind and defenceless. The pack cares for the pups until they mature at about 10 months of age.

MURRAY BODO

Murray Bodo is a Franciscan priest, a member of the Franciscan Academy and the author of twenty-one books, including the international bestseller Francis, the Journey and the Dream. He has a Ph.D. in English and has taught English and Writing for 35 years, and his poems have appeared in several literary publications including The Paris Review.

Fr. Murray spends his summers in Assisi, Italy as a staff member and pilgrim guide for “Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs.” His latest works, published by St. Anthony Messenger Press in 2003, are Landscape of Prayer, a lyrical exploration of prayer and The Earth Moves at Midnight, a volume of poems.

Reading Skill

Coping with Unknown Words and Ambiguous

Sentence Structures

Identifying the use of words like it, its, he, our,

this, those, is an important reading skill. These

words may seem common and insignificant, but

when used ambiguously by the writer, they can

lead to misinterpretation. One should know the

word to which these pronouns refer to determine

their meaning. The reference word or antecedent,

is a word, a phrase, or a clause to which a

pronoun refers in a sentence.

The Wolf of Gubbio

By : Murray Bodo

Francis loved the woods and out-of-doors

because everything was there – good and evil,

danger and refuge, violence and peace.

When he heard the news about the wolf of

Gubbio, Francis felt sympathetic towards the wolf.

He saw in the wolf not so much the stalker as the

stalked. Everyone feared wolves and disliked

them. But he saw in the eyes of wolves a fear, a

hunted look, an anger, and hostility that wanted to

devour everything in sight in order to avenge their

own hurt and alienation. But wolves, after all were

like men. Their hunger, the restless pursuit, the

baring of the fangs was so symbolic of what was

wild and violent in all of us.

The Gubbio affair was interesting to Francisbecause it did not involve a pack of wolvesbanded together for strength and security. Thiswas one lone wolf; a deserter from a packstriking by himself.

The rumor about the wolf was up and aboutas Francis entered the city. Before the gossipcould create more fear, Francis bravely walked tothe plaza and began to preach about God’scommandment concerning love for all creaturesof God. He asked the people where the wolf’s lairwas because he wanted to see it and prove tothe wolf and all that love had nothing to do withfear. The townsfolk were shocked, while somebegan to laugh in mockery of Francis. A womanthen showed Francis the way to the wolf’s lair.

True Italian practice, the tension wore off quicklyand everyone seemed to be caught up in theexcitement and joined Francis in the search for thewolf’s lair in a procession or pilgrimage – likefashion. Francis, however was a bit nervous, and ashe would always do when a bit nervous , he beganto sing. The crowd soon joined him belting out an oldmarch song.

Soon, they reached the place. Suddenly, theyheard behind them a low growl and a pounding ofthe ground. Francis saw the wolf charging wildlytoward them. He then made the sign of the cross. Hetook a deep breath and started walking slowlytoward the wolf. The wolf was frothing at the mouthand growling menacingly. Then, Francis stopped afew yards from the wolf and stared at him as kindlyas he could under the situation.

The wolf’s eyes flashed with anger, its jaws

were working, slobbering on to the ground.

Francis did not move now that he was face-to-

face with the wolf. He stood still and tried to look

calm. Then, he said in a low, quiet voice:

“Brother Wolf.” The wolf quieted down in an

apparent response to Francis’ words. Francis

spoke again. “Brother Wolf, in the name of

Jesus, our Brother, I have come for you. We

need you in the city. The people have come with

me to ask you to be the guardian and protector

of Gubbio. In return, we offer you respect and

shelter for as long as you live.”

Francis then stretched out his hand to the

wolf that seemed so calm but remained

unmoved, scanning the crowd with bloodshot

eyes, slowly, it walked to Francis and lifted his

paw into his warm steady hand.

Finally, Francis leaned over and put his arms

about the wolf’s neck. Then he and his new

brother walked meekly up to the brave peasant

woman who accompanied him all along. The

three went back to Gubbio.

Comprehension Check1. What did Francis see in the wolf that reflects

human condition?

2. Why do you think was the wolf tamed by Francis

3. What does the wolf symbolize?

4. Who does Francis represent?

5. If you were to give the story another twist or ending what would have happened next?

6. Look at the second to the last paragraph. It has an ambiguous structure with the use of the pronoun his. Which does the first his refer to. What about the second his? The third his?