10 Questions
Why does Brian refuse to talk to his mother?
Because he is angry about her secret affair
What does Brian's mother give him before he boards the plane?
A hatchet
What event causes Brian to crash-land in a Canadian wood?
The pilot's heart attack
What is the first major challenge Brian faces after regaining his motivation to survive?
Being attacked by a skunk and a moose
What is Brian's initial mistake in finding food?
He eats poisonous berries
What is Brian's initial expectation after the plane crash?
He will be rescued soon
What does Brian find in the survival kit?
Food, a sleeping bag, and a radio transmitter
Why does a pilot show up to rescue Brian?
Because he heard Brian's transmission
What does Brian discover while trying to retrieve the survival kit?
The pilot's face being eaten by fish
What happens to Brian's parents after he is rescued?
They continue to live separate lives
Study Notes
Brian's Background
- Brian is a 13-year-old boy who discovers his mother's secret, which leads to his parents' divorce
- He refuses to talk to his mother, feeling resentful and guilty
- His father moves to Canada for work, and Brian visits him during the summer
The Plane Crash
- Brian boards a cargo plane to visit his father, receiving a hatchet as a gift from his mother
- The pilot provides Brian with a brief flying lesson before having a heart attack and dying
- The plane crashes into a lake in the Canadian wilderness, leaving Brian alone and stranded
Survival Challenges
- Brian struggles to find food and shelter, eating poisonous berries and encountering a bear and porcupine
- He learns to build a fire, but expects to be rescued soon
- Brian has a close encounter with a skunk and a moose, which injures his ribs
Turning Point
- After six weeks, Brian regains his motivation to survive and becomes proud of his ability to fend for himself
- He learns to catch fish for food, becoming more self-sufficient
Tornado and Rescue
- A tornado pushes the plane's tail out of the water, allowing Brian to retrieve the survival kit inside
- Brian loses the hatchet in the water, but retrieves it by diving under the water
- Inside the survival kit, Brian finds food, a sleeping bag, and a radio transmitter
- Two weeks later, a pilot shows up after hearing the transmission, and Brian is finally rescued
Explore the plot points and character development in Gary Paulsen's novel Hatchet, where 13-year-old Brian learns self-sufficiency and survival skills in the face of adversity.
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