Hatchet

“I will not let you go out, he said to himself, to the flames—not ever.  And so he sat through a long part of the day, keeping the flames even, eating from his stock of raspberries, leaving to drink from the lake when he was thirsty. In the afternoon, toward the evening, with his face smeared and his skin red from the heat, he finally began to think ahead to what he needed to do.”

How does this excerpt contribute to the THEME of the novel?

• Brian's dedication to the fire shows that learning to persevere and not give up is necessary in overcoming a challenge.

• Brian’s fear of losing the fire shows that being nervous in a desperate situation makes a person aware of his surroundings.

• Brian’s organization in planning ahead shows that it is important to remain hopeful in desperate situations.

•  Brian’s knowledge of what he can eat and drink shows that knowledge is the key to survival in the wild.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

     “Brian looked back and for a moment felt afraid because the wolf was so . . . so right. He knew Brian, knew him and owned him and chose not to do anything to him. But the fear moved then, moved away, and Brian knew the wolf for what it was—another part of the woods, another part of all of it. Brian released the tension on the spear in his hand, settle the bow in his other hand from where it had started to come up. He knew the wolf now, as the wolf knew him, and he nodded to it, nodded and smiled.”

How does this excerpt show that Brian is becoming more confident in his ability to survive?

• Brian is satisfied knowing that he can communicate with the wolf because it will keep him safe.

• Brian is skilled in using his spear and his bow, so he no longer fears animals in the wild.

• Brian is respectful of the wolf and realizes that the wolf is more powerful than he is.

• Brian is calm when he faces the wolf because he has adapted to his new environment.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

“Brian looked back and for a moment felt afraid because the wolf was so . . . so right. He knew Brian, knew him and owned him and chose not to do anything to him. But the fear moved then, moved away, and Brian knew the wolf for what it was—another part of the woods, another part of all of it. Brian released the tension on the spear in his hand, settle the bow in his other hand from where it had started to come up. He knew the wolf now, as the wolf knew him, and he nodded to it, nodded and smiled.”

What EVIDENCE best supports what you chose for the previous question?

• “He knew Brian, knew him and owned him and chose not to do anything to him.”

• “But the fear moved then, moved away, and Brian knew the wolf for what it was—another part of the woods, another part of all of it.”

• “Brian released the tension on the spear in his hand, settle the bow in his other hand from where it had started to come up.”

• “He knew the wolf now, as the wolf knew him, and he nodded to it, nodded and smiled.”

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

 “Then he picked up the spear and the bow and trotted back around the lake to his shelter, where the fire had burned down to glowing coals. He sat looking at the bird wondering what to do. With the fish, he had just cooked them whole, left everything in and picked the meat off. This was different; he would have to clean it.

    It had always been so simple at home. He would go to the store and get a chicken and it was all cleaned and neat, no feathers or insides, and his mother would bake it in the oven and he would eat it. His mother from the old time, from the time before, would bake it.

    Now he had the bird, but he had never cleaned one, never taken the insides out or gotten rid of the feathers, and he didn't know where to start. But he wanted the meat—had to have the meat—and that drove him.”

How has Brian changed from the beginning of the novel?

• Before Brian traveled on the plane, he was patient, but now he is unwilling to take the time to clean and prepare the bird properly.

• After the crash, Brian was not willing to kill a wild animal for food, but now he knows that hunting is necessary for survival.

• Even though Brian remembers the way his mother prepared chicken, he accepts having to eat the bird without cooking it.

• Instead of wanting to give up like he did in the past, Brian uses determination to think through his problem of how to cook and eat the bird.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

 “Then he picked up the spear and the bow and trotted back around the lake to his shelter, where the fire had burned down to glowing coals. He sat looking at the bird wondering what to do. With the fish, he had just cooked them whole, left everything in and picked the meat off. This was different; he would have to clean it.

    It had always been so simple at home. He would go to the store and get a chicken and it was all cleaned and neat, no feathers or insides, and his mother would bake it in the oven and he would eat it. His mother from the old time, from the time before, would bake it.

    Now he had the bird, but he had never cleaned one, never taken the insides out or gotten rid of the feathers, and he didn't know where to start. But he wanted the meat—had to have the meat—and that drove him.”

What evidence best supports what you chose for the previous question?

• “Now he had the bird, but he had never cleaned one, never taken the insides out or gotten rid of the feather, and he didn't know where to start. But he wanted the meat—had to have the meat—and that drove him.” 

•  “Then he picked up the spear and the bow and trotted back around the lake to his shelter, where the fire had burned down to glowing coals. He sat looking at the bird wondering what to do."   

• “With the fish, he had cooked them whole, left everything in and picked meat off. This was different; he would have to clean it.”

•  “It had always been so simple at home. He would go to the store and get a chicken and it was cleaned and neat, no feathers or insides, and his mother would bake it in the oven and he would eat it.”   

Tags

CCSS.RF.5.4C

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

In the novel Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, which of the following would be considered a memory moment?

•  Brian has an experience in the novel that the reader must remember.

•  Brian cannot recall a crucial event from the beginning of the novel.

•  Brian faces a conflict that will alter the plot of the novel.

• Brian interrupts the flow of the novel and shares a memory.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3