Brian
What is the main characters FULL NAME
Brian Robeson
How did the pilot die?
Heart attack
How did Brian survive the plane crash? What did he do?
Brian survived by steering the plane into a lake, escaping through a window, and swimming to shore despite his injuries.
What word does Brian keep repeating in his head besides the word "secret?"
DIVORCE
Give an example of one positive and one negative thought Brian has had?
Where is Brian headed?
He’s flying to visit his father in Canada for the summer.
What clues does Brian observe to show that the pilot is becoming sick?
Gassy, heavy breathing, hands jerk on the controls, red face, face turns tight
What does Brian find for food? Why is it called that?
Brian finds berries to eat. They’re called gut cherries because when he first eats them, they make his stomach hurt and give him cramps.
Why does he keep thinking about the secret?
Brian keeps thinking about the secret because it makes him feel hurt, guilty, and alone.
After getting sick from eating berries, what decision does Brian make about food?
he decides to be more careful about what he eats
What is Brian's father's job?
Mechanical engineer who works in the oil fields of Canada. That’s why Brian is flying on a bush plane to visit him at the start of Hatchet.
What were Brian’s two choices as he flew in the plane wondering what to do?
Keep flying the plane until it ran out of fuel, hoping to find help or figure out how to land safely.
Try to land the plane immediately, even though he had no real flying experience and risked crashing.
What does Brian’s decision to keep flying the plane show about his character?
Brian’s decision to keep flying the plane shows that he is brave, calm under pressure, and determined to survive, even when he’s scared and unsure what to do.
When Brian has to fly the plane himself after the pilot's heart attack, what prior experience helps him?
Brian remembers when the pilot let him hold the controls earlier in the flight, showing him how to steer and keep the plane level. That brief experience helps Brian know a little bit about how to fly when he’s suddenly on his own.
What decision shows Brian’s growing maturity after the crash
He decides to stay calm, think clearly, and take control of his situation instead of panicking
How did the main character end up in the forest?
Pilot died, he had fly the plane and crashed it into the lake
Where did Brian decide would be the best place to land the plane?and why?
He chose the lake because it was the largest open, flat area he could find without trees, rocks, or uneven ground. Landing on water gave him the best chance to survive the crash since it would cushion the impact more than land or forest
Brian suffered from great thirst. Judge his decision to drink the water from the lake?
Brian’s decision to drink from the lake was necessary but risky. He didn’t know if the water was safe, but he was so thirsty he had no choice. It was a reasonable decision for survival, even though it made him feel sick afterward.
Why does the author Italices the word “him? Who is he?
The author italicizes the word “him” to emphasize Brian’s shock and emotional pain when he remembers seeing his mother kiss another man. The “him” refers to the man Brian’s mother is secretly seeing, the one she’s having an affair with.
What decision shows that Brian is beginning to think like a survivor instead of a scared boy?
He starts planning ahead for food, shelter, and safety
What important item does Brian retrieve from the plane crash?
Hatchet
How does Brian’s relationship with his parents influence his emotions during the flight?
Brian feels hurt and confused because he knows his mother’s secret but hasn’t told his father. This makes him feel lonely, guilty, and anxious during the flight.
Brian learned a skill from a former English teacher...How did he apply this lesson to his situation?
Brian remembered his English teacher, Mr. Perpich, who told him to stay positive and motivated. He applied this lesson by encouraging himself not to give up, thinking clearly, and focusing on what he could do to survive instead of panicking.
Explain why the “secret” felt like a “knife cutting into Brian”
The “secret” felt like a knife cutting into Brian because it deeply hurt him to know his mother was seeing another man. Keeping it inside made him feel pain, anger, and guilt, as if the truth were wounding him emotionally every time he thought about it.
Give me an example of what it means to be "motivated"
Answers will vary