Brian's Adaptation in Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Categories: Free Essays

Gary Paulsen message for the readers is to change and adapt. He changed Brian's perspective through out the novel regarding the wilderness. At the start of the story we see Brian's plane crashed into the Canadian woods. Initially, perhaps due to his parent's divorce we see, Brian sad and obviously scarred because of the plane crash. He is lost and lonely which are the key factors to his trauma. He, at first, hears silence and then learns to identify the sounds of animals and other creatures in the woods.

He is hungry but hopeful that he would be found soon.

Paulsen keeps us informed through flashbacks regarding his previous life. One key factor which proves vital for his survival was his English teacher's advice, ' thinking positive, stay on top of things.' This advice calms him and he starts thinking through his current situation. Brian considered himself lucky since he did had a considerable safe landing given the circumstances. He discovers berries and fresh water to drink.

Get quality help now
WriterBelle
WriterBelle
checked Verified writer

Proficient in: Free Essays

star star star star 4.7 (657)

“ Really polite, and a great writer! Task done as described and better, responded to all my questions promptly too! ”

avatar avatar avatar
+84 relevant experts are online
Hire writer

He also finds a shelter. Brian's gets confident through out the novel. Brian learns to clam himself when he would get scared. In chapter 10, we see, he learns to make fire and makes 'a wonderful discovery' to keep mosquitoes and other wild animals away. He learns to adapt to his environment.

With time paulsen shows us that Brian learns new survival skills. He survives a tornado and a moose attack. He make alternative inventions such as the hunting spears, spoon, etc. He focuses more on living and thinks less about him getting rescued.

Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper
Topic
Number of pages
Email Invalid email

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

"You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy"
Write my paper

You won’t be charged yet!

He learns new hunting skills and gets leaner and stronger, mentally and physically. Some might argue that he is still affected by his parents divorce, but we see him paying more attention to his personal growth and stops sulking over his parents divorce and also comes out of the bubble of the rescue mission he had in his mind he had in the beginning.

Towards the end we see him going back to the planes carnage to collect things which will help him survive and find his way out of the wilderness. At this point we see Brain as being well adapt in the wilderness. He is tougher, more informed about the wilderness and capable to take care of himself. He excepts not to be rescued and takes charge of himself to take him home. Ofcourse, ultimately he does get rescued though.

Works cited

  1. Paulsen, G. (1987). Hatchet. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
  2. Blasingame, J. (1997). Gary Paulsen. In D. L. Kirkpatrick (Ed.), Twentieth-Century Children's Writers (pp. 836-838). St. James Press.
  3. Fleischner, T. L. (2003). Naturalists in the Field: Collecting, Recording, and Preserving the Natural World from the Fifteenth to the Twenty-First Century. University of Alabama Press.
  4. Gurdon, M. (2009). The Wilderness Survival Guide. Skyhorse Publishing.
  5. Loe, M. (2002). The lure of the local: Senses of place in a multicentered society. University of Iowa Press.
  6. Milner, M. (2007). Understanding Gary Paulsen. University of South Carolina Press.
  7. Paulsen, G. (1999). Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books. Harcourt Children's Books.
  8. Paulsen, G. (2011). Woods Runner. Wendy Lamb Books.
  9. Paulsen, G. (2013). Brian's Return. Ember.
  10. Rogers, T. (2015). Gary Paulsen. In The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures: The Midwest (Vol. 3, pp. 474-475). Greenwood Publishing Group.
Updated: Feb 02, 2024
Cite this page

Brian's Adaptation in Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. (2024, Feb 11). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/brians-adaptation-in-hatchet-by-gary-paulsen-essay

Live chat  with support 24/7

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

get help with your assignment