Hatchet by Gary Paulsen Chapter 1

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

• Hatchet is a young adult novel written by Gary Paulsen that tells the story of 13-year-old Brian Robeson's survival in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash.
• The novel explores themes of survival, determination, and the human spirit, highlighting that people are often stronger than they realize.

Setting

• The setting is crucial to the narrative, with the Canadian wilderness environment significantly impacting Brian's journey.
• The story takes place in Northern Canada's forests, where Brian crash-lands after leaving Hampton, New York, to spend time with his father.
• The setting reveals the theme that people are often stronger than they believe, highlighting Brian's struggles and determination to survive.

The Sky

• The novel begins with Brian on a small plane, flying to spend time with his father in Canada.
• The pilot suffers a heart attack, and Brian must take control of the plane, eventually crash-landing into a lake in the Canadian wilderness.

The Wilderness

• Brian faces numerous challenges in the wilderness, starting with the rocky ridge he encounters while searching for a place to land the plane.
• The lake is the first part of the wilderness Brian meets, where he rummages for survival equipment and food.
• Brian learns to hunt for fish using a homemade bow and arrow, symbolizing hope and a renewed spirit.
• He returns to the lake to find the survival pack, containing essential items like a sleeping bag, cook set, matches, and an emergency transmitter.

The Woods

• The woods represent danger and mystery, with potential threats from wolves and bears.
• Brian uses the woods for fuel for his signal fires, attempting to signal for help.
• The woods challenge Brian the most, requiring him to rely on his learning and observation skills to survive.

The Season

• The story takes place during the summertime, allowing the woods and water to provide some protection for Brian.
• If the story had taken place during the winter, the water would have been frozen, and the ground would have been covered with snow, reducing Brian's chances of survival.