Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
chapters 16-19 and Epilogue
Study guide
Chapter 16:
Brian was attacked by a moose and escaped the insane animal by “playing” injured (dead)and
crawling away.
Brian was awakened by a tornado and couldn’t go back to sleep because insects were chewing
on him.
The morning after the tornado Brian found that the tail of the plane was sticking out of the lake.
He was saddened that nothing was done for the dead pilot.
Know what this quote signifies: “Come on, he thought, baring his teeth in the darkness-come on.
Is that the best you can do? Is that all you can hit me with – a moose and a tornado?” page 147
o Brian has the strength to overcome these obstacles.
o He was tough in the head
Chapter 17:
Brian’s campsite needed to be rebuilt after the tornado but he found the wall was still intact.
But first he had to build a fire. Going to sleep that night, he remembered the emergency pack in
the airplane.
He decided to get to the plane by building a raft out of fallen logs which he called Bushpile. It
was difficult to get the raft to the plane because branches stuck down into the water and
dragged the raft.
Chapter 18:
As he was trying to get into the plane, Brian’s hatchet fell into a small crack in the plane.
Once he got his hatchet back, Brian continued cutting away triangles of metal which he kept –
not wanting to throw anything away.
It took a long time to get the emergency bag out of the plane because it was underwater and
caught on the seats.
Chapter 19:
Brian called the survival pack a treasure. It was so difficult to get the pack back to his campsite,
he didn’t open it because all he could do is sleep.
After seeing the freezed-dried food Brian decided to have a feast then save the rest.
As Brian is cooking dinner a plane flies overhead and lands on the lake. The pilot was surprised
to find Brian “You’re him, aren’t you? You’re that kid.” page 177.
Epilogue:
Brian had been alone on the L-shaped lake for fifty-four days
The things that changed Brian the most and became permanent:
o His ability to observe what was happening and react to it.
o Food never lost its wonder for him.
Questions he answered for himself:
o Gut cherries were choke cherries
o Nut bushes were hazelnut bushes
o Rabbits were snowshoes and cottontails
o Foolbirds were ruffled grouse (fool hens)
The Secret was never revealed to Brian’s father.