Wrapping it Up

Thanks for all your work on this Gilbert, I've enjoyed reading your entries!  I've noticed that your entries have gotten better and better each time. I REALLY look forward to your last few entries.

I hope that you check out Brian's Return and Brian's Winter as GREAT follow up books!  There is also a true account of the events written by Gary Paulsen that I will try to track down for you.

Chapter 19 and Epilogue

1) What is in the survival pack that is particularly useful?
2) Why does he not like the rifle?
3) What did you expect to happen with his mother and father?  Did you expect a "happy ending"? Are you surprised Brian doesn't talk about "the secret"?
4) What stands out to you in the epilogue about all the facts that are revealed about what he experienced?

Chapter 17 and 18 Deeper Thinking

1) Describe Brian's plan to get the survival pack from the plane and the steps he goes through to retrieve it. 

2) How do you think the survival pack would have changed Brian and his experience?

3) Describe your reaction to what has happened to the pilot.  What is Brian's reaction?

4)  Tell us about the last line in chapter 18, what do you think Brian is referring to?

5) The Hatchet.  It is not only the title of the book, but it is a symbol of how Brian feels, how he survives and how he grows and changes throughout the experience.  Explain how you think the hatchet is a symbol?

6) Pretend that the hatchet is a new product that you are marketing for a TV or radio ad.  What would you say about how great it is to sell it someone?

Chapter 14 ,15, 16

1) Put these events in the order that you think is the WORST of the WORST to the BAD, but Not TOO BAD:

The skunk spray
Having to build a new shelter
The insane moose
The plane crash
The tornado
The mosquitos
The porcupine
The cold
The heat
The bear and wolf


2) Page 157 describes a real turning point for Brian.  What is it?

3) What happens to give Brian hope again and makes him reflect on how lucky he is?

Chapter 13 Key Understandings

It has now been 47 days that Brian has been alone... surviving!

Describe what Brain means by the following key words:


1) clouddown -
2) mistakes -
3) tough hope -

Chapter 10 and 11/12 Contrast - Old Brian vs New Brian

1) In Chapter 10, Brian refers to himself as a "City Boy".  Even though he's really hungry he is still thinking that eating bugs and raw eggs is kind of gross.  Even though there is no one around him to see or judge him, he is still concerned about what he looks like.  And when he sees the turtle tracks in the sand he thinks about the animal as playing in the sand even though he knows that animals are normally working, not playing because they have to to survive.

Contrast this to Chapter 11 and 12 and some of the ways Brian is thinking and acting more "instinctively" or more "primal" instead of such a "city boy".  Give some examples.  How does this attitude of working and thinking change Brian's success?

2) Often the themes in novels fall into one or more of the following categories:
    Man vs Man
    Man vs Nature
    Man vs Himself
Can you give an example of each of these from Hatchet?

3) Brian begins to really think instead of just survive.  He is starting to think creatively and invent tools and strategies.  Describe his thinking as he worked on his spear.

4) At the end of Chapter 12 Brian is back to feeling hopeless.  What happens that shakes the confidence he has been building back to reality? 

Chapter 9 Thinking

Brian makes fire.  Describe what he learns are the most important things to making fire.

Why does Brian say he now has a friend?

What are some of the good things that will now be possible benefits to having fire? See if you can come up with at least 5 benefits.