Characters
Who is the main character of Hatchet?
What event causes Brian's plane to crash?
The pilot has a heart attack and becomes incapacitated, causing the plane to crash.
In what general environment is Brian stranded?
A remote Canadian wilderness/lake (boreal forest/wooded lake area).
What central theme involves Brian learning to depend on himself?
Self-reliance, independence, and resilience are essential for survival.
Define the word “override” as used in the context of the plane’s controls or story events.
To take control or overcome (in mechanical terms, an override can force control of a system); in context, the pilot might override controls.
He flies Brian to Canada and suffers a heart attack causing the crash
After the crash, what is Brian’s first priority for immediate survival?
Get to shore, find shelter, assess injuries, and secure water/safety.
Name two basic tools or items Brian makes or uses to meet his needs.
Hatchet, bow/arrow & spear, shelter framework, fire-starting method...
The hatchet itself is a symbol. Name one meaning the hatchet has in the story.
The hatchet symbolizes survival, resourcefulness, and connection to his mother (it represents both tool and emotional anchor).
What does the word “hollow” mean when describing a place Brian finds (use a short definition appropriate to the book)?
“Hollow” = a small valley or depression; an empty or sheltered place.
Which character gives Brian the survival advice he remembers from home (a person or a memory)? Explain briefly.
Brian remembers advice and lessons from his teacher and from survival shows/books.
How does Brian finally get rescued near the end of the novel? (Give the key incident that leads to rescue.)
How does Brian create a reliable source of food? Name the method or food source he uses
He fishes (spears or rods) and gathers berries; spearing birds is also a reliable method he develops.
How does the idea of “coming of age” apply to Brian? Give one concrete change that supports this theme.
Brian shifts from helpless boy to competent survivor. For example, he learns to make fire and provide food.
Give the meaning of “horde” or “raft” as used in survival contexts in the novel (choose one and define)
“Horde” = a large group (of insects/animals); “raft” = a makeshift floating platform.
Identify two animals Brian encounters that create significant conflict or learning moments for him.
Examples: porcupine (Brian learns to respect and avoid), moose or wolf (threatening encounters)
What important discovery does Brian make in the plane’s survival pack, and how does it change his situation?
The survival pack contains food, a rifle, and useful supplies (including a sleeping bag and other tools).
Explain how Brian builds or improves shelter to protect himself from weather and animals.
Brian improves a shelter by reinforcing with branches, placing it on higher ground, and covering with leaves and brush for insulation and protection.
Identify a moment in the novel that represents hope or renewal, and explain why it fits.
Examples: The day Brian successfully makes fire or the morning he finds berries/fish — symbolizes hope and renewed control over his life.
Explain the phrase “sustained effort” and give an example from Brian’s actions in the book.
Sustained effort = continuous, persistent work over time; example: repeatedly practicing fishing or tending a fire to keep it alive.
Describe how Brian changes the way he thinks about his parents, particularly his mother, by the end of the novel.
Brian gains maturity and perspective: he moves from blaming his parents to understanding complexity and responsibility; he accepts his changed family situation and his own inner strength.
Describe one major turning point that shows Brian moving from panic to purposeful survival. Use a specific scene.
Example turning point: when Brian catches fish reliably or learns to make fire...demonstrates planning and skill over panic.
Describe how Brian handles illness or injury while alone (give one specific example and the action he takes).
He rests and monitors his symptoms.
Discuss how nature functions as both antagonist and teacher in the novel. Give one supporting example.
Nature opposes him (storms, animals, scarcity) but also teaches skills (finding food, shelter). Example: the tornado damages his shelter but later forces him to rebuild better; he learns from each challenge.
Choose a figurative language example from the book (simile or metaphor) and explain how it enhances the scene where it appears. (Name the phrase and its effect.)
Example: “the sun beat down like a hammer” (simile) — emphasizes intensity and discomfort.