Figurative Language
"The memory was like a knife cutting into him." page 31
What is a simile?
An example of this literary element, chapter four opens with a detailed memory of the day Brian discovered his mother with an unknown man.
What is flashback?
In the beginning of the story, Brian is slightly embarrassed to be seen with this object, which would come to symbolize his resourcefulness and self-reliance.
What is the hatchet?
Brian is on the way to visit this person when the plane crashes.
Who is his father?
"I have a friend named fire" p. 93
This is an object in a story that has a deeper meaning which may or may not be explicitly stated in the text.
What is a symbol?
What is a fire?
This event causes the wreckage of the plane to become visible in the lake.
What is a tornado?
"For a second, all he heard was the whusssh of the empty air waves." p. 19
What is onomatopoeia?
Brian's loss of hope at the end of chapter twelve is an example of this.
What is internal conflict?
After months of surviving independently, Brian feels uneasy about this object that symbolizes the separation between human civilization and the wilderness
What is the rifle?
Aside from warmth and a pest deterrent, the fire also served as this.
What is a way to signal to planes overhead?
"'Look back," he whispered [...] feeling his father's face fade" p. 117
What is alliteration?
Brian's confrontation with a moose is an example of this.
What is external conflict?
Hatchet features three of these objects, which may symbolize hope or loss of hope.
What are planes?
Brian used these as his fire source
What are sparks from the hatchet hitting rocks?
"He ran in the sun, his legs liquid springs." p. 116
What is metaphor?
Brian is an example of this kind of character, who undergoes a major change over the course of the story.
What is dynamic?
This animal encounters Brian and doesn't register him as anything unusual in the wilderness, symbolizing Brian's transition away from his younger self.
What is a wolf?
What did Brian dream about the night he was hurt by the porcupine?