Hatchet - What Happened?
This is what happens to the pilot in Chapter 1.
What is a heart attack?
Brian finds this natural feature and turns it into a shelter.
What is a rock overhang?
At the beginning of the novel, Brian spends much of his time thinking about this happening.
What is being rescued?
This type of figurative language compares two things using like or as.
What is a simile?
Paulsen includes Brian's memories of his family and friends while he is alone in the wilderness. What do these memories help reveal?
What is Brian's emotional struggle and how much he misses the people in his life?
This is the type of plane is Brian flying when the pilot has a heart attack.
What is a Cessna 406 single-engine bush plane?
Brian follows these animals and discovers that they lead him toward a source of food.
What are birds?
Brian demonstrates this trait when he continues trying to solve problems even when his first attempts fail.
What is determination/persistence?
This type of figurative language puts two seemingly contradictory words or ideas together, such as "deafening silence."
What is an oxymoron?
In Chapter 8, Brian's dream includes Terry repeatedly pointing toward a fire. Why is this dream important to the plot?
What is it helps Brian connect his thoughts and memories to the solution for making fire?
Brian initially believes rescuers will find him quickly because he thinks they will search along this.
What is the plane's flight path/flight plan?
In Chapter 8, Brian thinks he is being attacked by a dangerous animal, but he discovers it is actually this.
What is a porcupine?
At the start of the novel, Brian is consumed by anger regarding this personal burden, but his focus shifts from past resentment to present survival.
What is "The Secret"?
A character says, "It's raining cats and dogs." he words don't literally mean animals are falling from the sky. This type of figurative language gives the phrase its nonliteral meaning.
What is an idiom?
In Chapter 9, Brian destroys part of his twenty-dollar bill trying to make fire. Why is this detail important beyond simply providing material for the fire?
What is it shows that the value of objects has changed for Brian—money that mattered in his old life is nearly worthless compared with something that can help him survive?
The pilot's heart attack causes the plane to veer from its original course. Why does this realization completely change Brian's understanding of his situation?
What is Brian realizes he could be hundreds of miles from where rescuers expect him to be, so he may have to survive much longer than he thought?
The nickname Brian gives to wild chokecherries after eating too many unripe ones and becoming violently ill.
In Chapter 8, Brian goes from panicking and thinking “I can't do this” to realizing that feeling sorry for himself does not change his situation. What important lesson does he learn?
What is self-pity will not help him survive, so he needs to focus on what he can do and take action?
Brian's leg is described as having stiffened "like wood." What type of figurative language is this, and what does the comparision help the reader understand?
What is simile, and it shows that Brian's leg has become extremely stiff?
Brian calls fire “a friend” and “a guard,” but immediately afterward he realizes there is nobody around to tell about his accomplishment. What contrast does Paulsen create?
What is Brian has gained security and a sense of accomplishment, but he is still deeply lonely and misses his family?
Brian remembers Perpich's idea that “you are your most valuable asset.” Based on Brian's actions by the end of Chapter 5, what does this idea mean?
What is Brian's ability to think, make decisions, learn, and solve problems is more valuable than the physical objects he owns?
Brian has sparks but cannot make a fire. He tries grass, twigs, and even a twenty-dollar bill. What important realization finally helps him solve the problem?
What is he needs very fine, dry material that can catch and hold the sparks?
Compare Brian's response to the crisis at the beginning of the novel with his response to problems by Chapters 8–9. What is the most important change in his character?
What is Brian moves from being overwhelmed and depending on the hope of rescue to becoming more independent, observant, resourceful, and willing to solve problems himself?
In Chapter 8, Paulsen describes the sparks from Brian's hatchet as "a golden shower of sparks in the dark." What is being compared, and why is this description more effective than simply saying "sparks flew"?
What is sparks are compared to a golden shower, which creates a vivid image of many bright sparks flying through the darkness.
At first, Brian reacts to frightening situations by panicking and acting immediately. Later, he observes a problem, thinks through possible solutions, experiments, and adjusts when something fails. Why is this change important to the overall story?
What is Brian is developing from someone who reacts to his circumstances into someone who can think critically, adapt, and take responsibility for his own survival?