Hatchet

=__ Hatchet __= Hatchet is the story of a boy named Brian. On a trip to the Canadian oilfields to spend the summer with his dad, the pilot of the Cessna he is traveling in suffers a heart attack and dies. Brian must land the plane in the lake. Brian learns to exist in in this wilderness. He faces many dangers including hunger, animal attacks, and even a tornado. This book gives the reader a better understanding of what it is like to survive in an untamed land.toc

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Background Information

=**Literary Structure**:= //Hatchet// is a novel, a long prose work that tells one story. In this case the book is 195 pages long, covering 19 chapters and an epilogue.

=**Plot Development**:= The plot of a story is the series of events that takes place throughout the course of the story. A plot may develop by way of foreshadowing, or providing clues to, events that are coming up. On the other hand, flashbacks can also develop plot. Although the events of a flashback have already taken place, they can still give us clues about what may happen. Some plots may also develop episodically, where events are separate from one another but still tell the same story. //Hatchet// employs all three of these plot development techniques.

=**Point-of-View**:= The point-of-view is the perspective by which the story is told. Points-of-view can be categorized into first- (“I” narrator) and third-person (outside observer), and third-person can further be divided into omniscient, or all-knowing, and limited. Hatchet is told from the limited third-person perspective. Although Brian is not the narrator, we still know his thoughts but we don't know the thoughts of the other characters.

=**Tone**:= The attitude that a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character.

=**Setting and Mood**:= The setting is the time and place in which the events of the story occur. Mood is the emotional component of a story that is influenced by the setting, word choice, pacing, etc. Setting and mood are connected in //Hatchet//, and the setting has a deep effect on not only Brian’s mood, but also on the reader’s emotional attachment while reading.

=**Flashbacks**:= a flashback is a literary device in which an earlier episode, conversation, or event is inserted into the chronological sequence of a narrative.

=**Character Development**:= There are two types of characters in literature—dynamic and static. Static characters don’t change through the course of a story and show little, if any, emotional development. Dynamic characters change as a result of the story's events. Brian is certainly a round character, undergoing not only emotional, but physical changes as well. Characters that are fully developed and several character traits are revealed throughout the story are round characters. Characters that are not fully developed that only have one or two character traits to describe him or her is a flat character.

=**Symbolism**:= In literature, symbolism is when some aspect of the story, like a person, object, or location, actually represents something else. A few examples of how symbolism is used within __Hatchet__ include: > that Brian, too, can be free and fly when he accepts that he is responsible for > saving himself.
 * The reflection of a large bird flying from the top of the real forest symbolizes
 * When the plane turned just as Brian gets his signal fire going, it symbolizes the boy’s great despair that he will never be rescued.
 * A feeling Brian called //clouddown//, a feeling which made him want to take the hatchet and end it all, represents despair.
 * The hatchet given to him by his mother symbolizes survival as it is the one tool he could never have done without.

=**Themes**:= Adolescent literature, especially the novel, includes a theme as part of the structure. A theme is an idea that is carried through the story, which the author makes a statement about by the end. In //Hatchet// some of the themes we are shown include: survival, courage, and adolescent problems.


 * Details**: Reading closely and carefully is important when looking for detailed information about a text, especially in a novel, like //Hatchet//, where details often further the plot and tell more of the story.

If you enjoy reading about Brian Robeson's experiences in __Hatchet__, you may want to continue reading about him in Paulsen's sequel, __The River__, in which an older Brian returns to the north woods. If you want to know more about the author, Gary Paulsen, read __Woodsong__.

=Chapter Summaries= [ Chapters 1 - 4 | Chapters 5 - 8 | Chapters 9 - 12 | Chapters 13 - 15 | Chapters 16 - Epilogue ]

Chapter 1
Thirteen-year old Brian Robeson, the sole passenger on a small plane from Hampton, New York to the north woods of Canada, boards the aircraft excited at the notion of flying in a single-engine plane. After the novelty of the experience passes, Brian returns to his thoughts of his parents' recent divorce. Brian recalls the fights between his parents and his hatred for the lawyers who attempt to cheerfully explain to him how the divorce will affect his life. What Brian calls "The Secret" also enters his consciousness, and at this point we do not know to what "The Secret" refers. Brian feels the burn of tears come to his eyes, but does not cry, making certain to guard his eyes from the pilot, whose name Brian cannot exactly remember. He suspects it is Jim or Jake, a man in his mid-forties who has been virtually silent during the ride. Seeing Brian marvel at the complexity of the control panel in front of him, the pilot offers him a chance to fly the plane himself. Initially reluctant, Brian declines the offer. Upon the pilot's insistence, he takes the wheel and for a few minutes has complete control of the plane.

The pilot remarks on some pain in his shoulder as Brian once again recalls the details of the divorce. Brian's father knows that his mother wants a divorce, but his father has no idea why nor does he favor the split. The court has decided that Brian will live with his mother during the school year and with his father during the summer. The plane jerks, awakening Brian from his thoughts. He notices the smell of body gas in the plane and assumes the pilot had a stomachache. He also seems to be experiencing increasing pains in his shoulder and arm. The divorce one month behind him, Brian is heading north to visit his father and to bring him some special equipment from New York. A mechanical engineer, his father has perfected a new drill bit for oil drilling. Brian recalls the long ride from the city to Hampton to meet the plane, during which Brian's mother had tried to convince him to tell her what was wrong, but he felt he could not tell her that he knew "the secret." When they had arrived in Hampton, his mother gave him a hatchet to use in the woods during the summer. Sensing that his mother felt particularly vulnerable, Brian had humored her by attaching the hatchet to his belt, where remained for the duration of the plane ride. Returning to the present to see the pilot jerk in his seat, Brian suddenly realizes the gravity of the situation. A jolt of pain barring his efforts to use the radio, the pilot jerks and flails in his seat while it becomes apparent to Brian that he is having a heart attack. Once the attack has ended and a frightening silence emerges, it takes many tense seconds for Brian to actually grasp what had happened. Seeing the whites of his eyes, Brian tries to comprehend the pilot's likely death, and to determine what action he must take, alone in a plane thousands of feet in the air.

Chapter 2
Brian feels immobile after the pilot's heart attack, due to his state of shock at the events of the plane ride. The plane has continued without any assistance from Brian or the pilot, and Brian suddenly realizes he must take control of the plane. Confused by the numerous dashboard controls, Brian seeks the controls for the radio. Reaching over the pilot to remove his headset, he bumps the wheel and must make a serious of corrections to right it again. He tries to use the radio to no avail, as he loses the signal before he can convey any useful information. Every ten minutes for the rest of the ride Brian again attempts and fails to establish contact. Attempting to envision a successful landing of the plane, Brian finds he has insufficient time to prepare. The plane engine dies suddenly, forcing him to land earlier than he had expected. He points the plane's nose down and vomits.

Chapter 3
Seeing only trees rather than lakes directly in front of him, Brian becomes convinced he will not survive the plane's descent. Finally he spots an L-shaped lake, uncertain whether he has enough speed to reach it. At that instant the plane hits the trees, shooting through them and landing on the lake. Water rushes over Brian, who screams and vomits during the descent, but he succeeds in unbuckling his seatbelt and swimming up to the surface. When he finally reaches the shore, Brian passes out from pain and exhaustion.

Chapter 4
In a semi-dream state, Brian vividly recalls every detail of the incident in which he discovers "The Secret." He had been riding his bike with his friend Terry when he saw his mother in a strange car, kissing a man with short blond hair. The hatred, anger, and astonishment that had swept over him at that moment return to him anew. Becoming conscious once again, Brian slowly absorbs the surrounding wilderness as the details of the plane crash rush back into his mind. His entire body aching from the injuries he has sustained during the crash, he falls quickly asleep. Awakening in a haze, Brian finds his survival of the plane crash almost unbelievable and quickly remembers the pilot's less fortunate fate. The mosquitoes in the area swarm around him and leave him with painful bites on every part of his exposed skin. Brian feels lucky to have survived the crash, and upon looking at the surrounding area, realizes how close a call it had been; he had just barely avoided a huge rock nearby. Contemplating the scenery and listening to the many sounds of nature surrounding him, he falls asleep once again.

Chapter 5
Gripped by unbelievable thirst and hunger upon awakening, Brian drinks water from the lake while trying to grasp the fact that he has landed in this complete wilderness. Reassuring himself with the hope that the searchers will come that day to rescue him, Brian recalls his old English teacher Mr. Perpich, who had repeatedly emphasized to his students the importance of a positive attitude, and Brian uses this memory to motivate himself against despair. Brian experiences the profound silence of the woods, noting that such silence never exists back in the city. In a sudden wave of despair Brian suddenly remembers that he had bumped the wheel when reaching over for the pilot's headset. This action had most likely rerouted the plane, and Brian begins to accept the fact that the search planes might not rescue him for a few days. Sensing imminent panic, Brian works to calm himself, determined to find something to eat and to make a shelter.

Chapter 6
Brian recalls the time he spent playing in the city park with his best friend Terry, who he suddenly wishes were with him. Together they had pretended they had gotten lost in the woods. They had built a lean-to for a shelter, which inspires Brian to seek out an ideal spot to build one himself. Finding a perfect overhang and gathering the materials to enclose the lean-to, Brian realizes the gravity of his weakness and hunger. He decides he must seek out food and compares the customary facility of finding food with the challenge of his current situation. Still dwelling on his parents' divorce, he decides he will tell his father "The Secret" as soon as he returns home. Brian finds some unfamiliar bright red berries to eat, which turn out to taste very bitter. However, left with little choice, he eats them until the pangs of hunger subside. Since Brian has no matches he must think hard about how to start a fire; for now, he works to improve his shelter by interweaving sticks into the walls. Although he feels sick from eating too many berries, sleep nonetheless comes to him.

Chapter 7
In Chapter 7 of the book "Hatchet" Brian has a horrible stomach ache and diarrhea. He recalls "the secret" of his mother kissing a man in the mall. He has harbored resentment for his mother ever since he had seen her kiss him. The next morning he cleans up his mess from his illness the night before and sees his reflection in the pond. He looks beaten up, dirty, and ugly. Brian looks over his cave and is pleased with his "home." While collecting raspberries he encounters a bear which sniffs him and looks him over. The bear leaves and does not attack him. Brian ran from the bear. Later he realized that if the bear had wanted it would have attacked him, but it had not. Brian realizes that both he and the bear were hungry and after he berries. He contemplates on the bear.

Chapter 8
In chapter 8 Brian is in the cave and it is dark. He hears a slithering type noise. He throws his hatchet towards the sound. He misses and it sparks off of the rocks. Suddenly, Brian feels intense pain like needles are sticking him and sending pain into his leg. As the creature moves from the cave, Brian catches a glimpse of it. It is a porcupine.

Brian is in terrible pain and has to pull the needles out. The episode teaches him the most important rule if he wants to survive. Feeling sorry for himself won’t help him. He is in intense pain but he decides he needs a fire. He recalls the sparks the hatchet had made. He begins to use the hatchet to make fire.

Chapter 9
Brian tries to make a fire from the sparks with dried grass and twigs, but the sparks just burn out without catching. Next, he remembers the twenty-dollar bill he has in his pocket and he tries to light that, but again the sparks won't catch. He then has the idea to use some bark from a nearby birch tree. He pulls off some of the peeling bark, makes a pile of it inside his shelter, and strikes some sparks into it. Again, no fire, but this time a piece of the bark seems to glow a little before it goes out. Realizing the birch bark needs to be thinner in order to hold the fire, Brian spends the next two hours cutting bits of bark into thin strands, making a big pile of birch bark fluff. This time, when he strikes the sparks into the pile, a few of them smolder a bit before going out. Remembering that fire needs oxygen, he tries again, this time blowing on the smoldering sparks when they fall onto the bark. He blows too hard, though, and the sparks go out. The next time, he blows more gently, and the glowing sparks grow stronger, suddenly bursting into flame. Brian is ecstatic. He runs from the shelter to gather some dry wood to feed the fire. Building up the fire with the wood, he thinks to himself that now he has a friend—a friend named fire. The fire will keep him company, and also discourage animals like the porcupine from coming into his shelter. Suddenly, Brian wonders what his father and mother are doing at this moment, and he wonders if his mother is with the man from the car.

Chapter 10
At first, Brian is reluctant to leave the fire, worried that it will go out. He sits by it for a good part of the day, feeding it more wood and just basking in the joy of having it. Finally, in the afternoon, he goes out of the shelter to search for enough wood to keep the fire burning through the night. As it turns out, when he's near the fire, the mosquitoes leave him alone. That's good to know. He also realizes that he can use the smoke from the fire to make a signal if he ever sees a plane pass overhead. That's //really// good to know. As it gets dark, Brian settles in for the night and eats the rest of his raspberries. His leg still aches from the porcupine quills, but it's gotten a little less stiff. Tomorrow he plans to look for more food and to build a signal fire. Brian wakes up during the night and finds that the fire has almost gone out. He stirs it up with a stick and adds some more wood to get it going again. He hears a sound outside the shelter, but the fire makes him feel relatively safe, so he goes back to sleep. When he wakes up in the morning, he finds tracks in the sand in front of the shelter, leading up from the lake and then back down. There's a pile of sand near the shelter where the tracks stop. Trying to figure out what kind of animal it was, and what it had been doing, Brian digs down into the sand pile and finds a cache of eggs. It must have been a turtle, he decides, coming up onto the land to lay its eggs. When he sees the eggs, Brian realizes how hungry he is. There are seventeen of them, but he's not sure how to go about eating them. He has nothing to cook them in, and the idea of eating them raw grosses him out. But they are food. He cuts one open with the hatchet (the outsides are tough and leathery) and forces himself to suck out the insides. They're greasy, and Brian doesn't like the way they taste, but he's so hungry that he eats six of them before he stops and decides to save some for later. Somehow eating the eggs makes him even more aware of his hunger. He licks the insides of the shells clean, and even tries to eat the shells themselves, but they're too tough and he can't get them down. He decides to store the remaining eggs in the shelter, and eat only one a day to make them last. Brian realizes that in making this plan he's forgotten to think about when he'll be rescued. He reminds himself that he can't forget that. After all, that's what gives him hope, and he has to hold on to his hope.

Chapter 11
Brian occupies himself by storing the eggs, cleaning his camp, and stacking wood; these activities help keep him from falling into depression. Seeing his reflection in the lake, Brian notes how his body has changed. His extra weight has disappeared and his skin has browned. More significantly, however, he notes the mental transformation he has undergone. He observes his surroundings with a new keenness, his senses honed to pick up on the goings-on of the woods. His mind and body have also made a connection that had not existed before his stay in the woods. Standing atop a bluff overlooking the lake, the beauty of the lake and woods overwhelm him. He soon has an important realization that he can catch fish in the lake for food. Upon closer inspection, he notices that the lake appears full of fish of many kinds. Initially attempting to catch them with his bare hands, Brian soon concludes he needs some sort of fish spear.

Chapter 12
Brian spends many hours perfecting his fish spear, but in the end it fails to help him catch any fish. In need of a way to send the spear into the water, Brian decides to make a bow and arrow. While searching for wood, Brian almost steps on a bird and it flies up in a flurry of feathers. It occurs to Brian to try to catch these birds, slightly smaller than chickens, which he calls "foolbirds." At that moment a plane flies overhead, giving Brian hope that the searchers have come for him. Gesturing and yelling at the top of his lungs, Brian falls into despair and hopelessness when the plane flies past him and away into the horizon. He begins to lose faith that he will ever see his family and friends again, and experiences profound emptiness and loneliness.

Chapter 13
While Brian searches for foolbirds, as he calls the chicken-like birds he has discovered, his instincts tell him that some creature lurks nearby. At that moment he spots a big beautiful wolf, which then walks up the hill and away from Brian, followed by three others. After the plane flies by him without spotting him, Brian feels incredibly defeated. He even tries to commit suicide by cutting himself with his hatchet. When he survives, however, he determines never to let death tempt him again, and in that moment Brian transforms himself into the "new Brian." He finally figures out how to catch the many fish in the lake when he realizes he must account for the refraction of light underwater and readjust his aim. On that first day that he catches fish, he feasts on them and, satisfied with his accomplishment and the wealth of food it produced, feels hopeful. This hope, however, differs from his earlier hope that he will be rescued. He now believes the chances of his being rescued are slim. Rather, he possesses "tough hope" that he can survive on his own with his new knowledge of the wilderness.

Chapter 14
A skunk comes to investigate the spot in the sand where the turtle has laid its eggs. Brian yells at the skunk, which reacts by spraying him. Blinded for nearly two hours as a result of the spray, Brian runs into the lake to wash himself. The skunk has also eaten the eggs he had stored on the shore. Brian learned two lessons from this incident: make a sturdy shelter and put food in a protected place. Spending days strengthening his shelter with additional wood, and finding a high tree for a food shelf that bears would be unable to reach, Brian still faces the problem of a lack of food. After brainstorming about this problem, he resolves to construct a small pond in which he may store the fish he has caught, attracted by the remains of the fish he had already eaten. Brian demonstrates his forethought but not only finding food for the moment, but also developing some system of storage for the future.

Chapter 15
While in the woods, Brian measures time by events he experiences rather than by societal measures of time, although he does mark the passing days on the stone next to his shelter. His real sense of time, however, revolves around events such as the day of First Meat. Living off berries and fish, Brian still had still craved more substantial food, meat in particular. He has thought of trying to catch the foolbirds that abound in the woods, but despite their stupidity has a difficult time catching them. They tend to fly away at the last second, and are difficult to spot. Training his eyes to see the outline of a foolbird, Brian decides to employ his spear rather than his bow and arrow, which enables him to lunge at the birds. Moving sideways rather than straight at the bird and lunging at it at the last second, he catches his first meat. Cleaning the chicken proves harder than he had expected, and he notes once more that in the past, and in a world where his mother had cooked for him, such a duty would never have occurred to him. Brian rigs up a system to rotate the chicken over a flame and sits back to watch it cook. Anxious to have his first bite, Brian pulls off a piece that has not quite cooked thoroughly yet. He reminded himself of the importance of patience, and when the meat has finally cooked through, Brian enjoys his feast more than anything he has ever eaten.

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