hatchet book essay

Gary Paulsen

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Adversity and Growth

At the start of the book, Hatchet ’s protagonist, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson , is a privileged city boy who is accustomed to the comforts of home and shocked at the unexpected changes brought about by his parents’ divorce. Brian initially views such adversity as a negative force that ruins the things he values. However, after a tragic plane crash that leaves him stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness, Brian finds himself facing much greater adversity…

Independence vs. Connection

The opposing forces of personal independence and connection with the natural world play a key role in Brian’s journey. At the beginning of Hatchet , thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is upset about his parents’ divorce but takes his immediate safety for granted, trusting the kind pilot to navigate to their destination in Northern Canada, where Brian is to spend the summer with his father . However, the pilot’s fatal heart attack creates a situation in which…

The Natural World

After a terrifying plane crash that leaves thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson alone in the wilderness to fend for himself, he becomes acquainted with a rich, complex natural world that was previously foreign to him. Even after he is rescued at the end of the book, Brian’s interactions with that new world continue to shape him in profound ways. At first, the wilderness around Brian appears chaotic to him, just as his life in New York feels…

The Power of Language

Although he is isolated from all human interaction during his time in the wilderness after a tragic plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson frequently turns to language as a coping mechanism and survival tool. Brian’s ability to verbalize what he is going through is pivotal at many points throughout the story, and the words he chooses often define the way he proceeds in the face of challenge. By repeatedly emphasizing the importance of language in shaping…

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Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-12

Chapters 13-15

Chapter 16-Epilogue

Character Analysis

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Important Quotes

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Summary and Study Guide

Hatchet , a Newbery Award-winning novel published in 1987 by author Gary Paulsen, is an esteemed story about a young boy’s struggle to survive after his airplane crashes in the Canadian wilderness. This work of young adult fiction appeals to readers of all ages for its descriptive prose and exciting plot. This guide refers to the 1999 First Aladdin Paperbacks edition.

Plot Summary

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Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is in the middle of his parent’s divorce and struggling to contain a dark secret: He knows his mother had an affair that caused the divorce. His father does not know. Brian is angry with his mother when he boards a small two-seater airplane bound for Canada, where he will spend the summer with his father. Just before Brian leaves, his mother gives him a hatchet, which he fastens to his belt even though he finds it slightly embarrassing. He doesn’t tell his mother why he is so angry with her, he only broods and refuses to speak to her.

As Brian and the pilot settle in to their flight, the pilot asks if Brian would like to fly the plane. He assures Brian that it is easier than it looks, so Brian gives it a try. Shortly after that, the pilot emits strong flatulence and makes strange sounds. Claiming his left arm is hurting, he tries to make an emergency call for help over the radio. Suddenly, the pilot has a heart attack and dies. Brian is left completely alone and panicked. He tries to radio for help but can’t make a connection.

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When the pilot dies, he jerks the plane off course, and then it flies on autopilot for quite a while. Brian knows no one can save him; it is up to him to land the plane. He decides to aim for a lake to make a water landing, as he assumes landing in the trees will kill him. With tremendous courage, Brian lands the plane in a lake, where the plane dives to the bottom of the water. Brian must free himself from the cockpit and swim to the surface before passing out. Upon losing consciousness, Brian is overcome by memories of his mother and the man she is having an affair with. Throughout the novel the narration alternates between flashbacks of the day Brian saw his mother kissing the other man and the horrors of the pilot dying and the subsequent plane crash.

Stranded at the lake, Brian assesses his position. He has very little on him, apart from his windbreaker, shoes, and hatchet. He is desperately thirsty and hungry, and he has no idea where he has landed. He recalls his English teacher who taught him about keeping a positive attitude. He tries to stay positive and evaluate what resources he does have rather than focus on how lost and alone he is. He finds things to do to keep his mind busy, building a small shelter out of tree limbs and leaves, searching for wild berries, and drinking water from the lake. His first success in eating wild berries (he will later call them gut cherries) results in a night of horrendous food poisoning. Brian learns to choose his food sources carefully and never to gorge, despite his constant hunger. He meets a bear while foraging for raspberries and is later attacked by a porcupine in his shelter. He learns to make fire by striking his hatchet against a flint-like rock after his father and good friend appear in his dreams, giving him coded messages about how to do so. Once he can make fire, Brian can cook things like fish, birds, and eggs. The fire’s smoke also helps alleviate the incessant swarm of mosquitos.

As he gets more comfortable surviving in the elements, Brian notices a change come over him. He feels more grown up and one with nature, unlike the city boy he was when he arrived. One day, a plane flies overhead, and Brian is filled with hope at being rescued. He fans his signal fire, but they don’t see him, and the plane leaves. After that, Brian assumes they will stop searching for him and he will be stranded there forever. He loses hope and tries to kill himself with his hatchet. He doesn’t succeed, and when he wakes up the next morning, he resolves to stay alive. He considers this a rebirth. He calls everything before his suicide attempt the time of old Brian.

He continues to develop his patience and hunting skills, eventually getting good with a bow and arrow, such that he can feast on birds and fish every day. Brian is surprised by an unprovoked moose attack and then by a tornado. The tornado destroys his camp and churns up the lake so much that the airplane shifts in the water. This reminds Brian that there is likely a survival kit in the airplane. He resolves to find a way to retrieve it, even though the thought of the dead pilot in the water scares him. He must first build a raft to take with him so he can hack an opening into the plane with his hatchet. He drops his hatchet while working, but he’s able to retrieve it after many deep, challenging dives. He eventually succeeds in busting into the plane, where there is indeed a substantial survival kit. But Brian is forced to look at the submerged dead pilot, whose body has been decaying and eaten by fish. This makes Brian vomit in his mouth and almost chokes him.

After hauling the heavy pack across the lake and back to camp, Brian discovers that it is full of everything he could possibly need. He feels rich. He now has a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, lighter, transmitter radio, and most importantly, freeze-dried food. He flips the switch on the transmitter a few times and then settles down to make a feast of food packages. After his third orange fizzy drink, he is shocked to see an airplane fly overhead and then land. The pilot disembarks and can’t believe he has found the famous missing boy. He explains that Brian was all over the news, but the search was called off not long ago. He heard Brian’s distress signal on the radio (although Brian had no idea the radio even worked) and saw Brian’s cooking fire, so he came to check.

The novel ends with a stunned Brian offering the pilot something to eat. The Epilogue explains that had Brian not been rescued, then it is unlikely he would have survived the harsh, snowy winter. After rescue, Brian does a lot of research to learn about the animals and plants he has come to know. He maintains his interest in and connection to nature for the rest of his life.

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by Gary Paulsen

Hatchet study guide.

Hatchet, published by Bradbury Press in 1987, is Gary Paulsen 's best-known novel. It is the first of five in the Hatchet series, detailing the events in Brian Robeson's life after he ends up stranded in a forest after the pilot of a bush plane he was flying in has a heart attack and dies mid-flight. Hatchet is a story of survival, resourcefulness, and resilience, and remains a popular novel for young adults nearly 30 years after its publication.

Paulsen's novels often center on nature, and Hatchet is no exception. The majority of the novel takes place in a remote Canadian forest, where Brian makes a camp beside a lake and spends nearly two months trying to survive until he is rescued. The novel caries important themes of respecting and understanding the natural world and the way it functions, and over the course of his two months there Brian truly becomes a part of the natural world around him.

Paulsen considers Hatchet one of his favorite books he has written. He has had many of the experiences that Brian has in the novel: he spent time living in the woods in order to get away from his family and their destructive tendencies.

Hatchet is often taught in school curriculums. It is followed by four other books in Brian's Saga, which all serve different purposes. The River was the next book written, and it follows chronologically from the events of Hatchet. Brian's Winter, on the other hand, envisions an alternate ending to Hatchet, and the final two books, Brian's Return and Brian's Hunt, follow this alternate storyline as well.

Hatchet has received numerous awards, notably the 1987 Newbery Honor medal.

Hatchet Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Hatchet is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What challenges does Brian face regarding food?

Brian had never before had to trap or catch his own food, and he didn't know how to start a fire. He didn't know what berries were safe to eat, and as a result, he became very sick.

How long have brians parents been divorced

The divorce was only a month old.

First Read: Hatchet

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Study Guide for Hatchet

Hatchet study guide contains a biography of Gary Paulsen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Hatchet
• Hatchet Summary
• Hatchet Video
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Hatchet

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Hatchet
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Hatchet Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Hatchet

• Introduction
• Sequel novels
• Film adaptation

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Literature

Essay Samples on Hatchet

The theme of never giving up in gary paulsen's "hatchet".

Gary Paulsen’s Young adult fiction story, Hatchet, takes place on a small island, an island with no people where he is alone. Brian got in this situation as the pilot of the plane he was on had died and Brian with no experience of flying...

Literature Analysis of the Young Adult Book 'Hatchet'

There are seven key characteristics of young adult literature. Some of these features include the book being written from the viewpoint of young people. Young people are expected to solve their problems even though they may get some support from adults. These stories are made...

• Literary Devices
• Youth Culture

The Theme of Survival in "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen

In Gary Paulsen's novel, "Hatchet," Brian Robinson is a 13-year-old city boy who lives in Hampton, New York, and is going through a tough time as his parents are getting a divorce. Brian has to ride a plane all by himself from Hampton, New York,...

• Book Review

Role of Hope and Perseverance in the Survival in the Novel 'Hatchet'

Survival. Humans have a weird way of them to persevere and overcome seemingly impossible opposition. Some may associate this with Charles Darwin’s theory “survival of the fittest.” Some may also associate this with the psychological term “the fight or flight response.” However, survival solely depends...

• Perseverance

Best topics on Hatchet

1. The Theme of Never Giving Up in Gary Paulsen’s “Hatchet”

2. Literature Analysis of the Young Adult Book ‘Hatchet’

3. The Theme of Survival in “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen

4. Role of Hope and Perseverance in the Survival in the Novel ‘Hatchet’

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Literary Criticism of Gary Paulsen’s “The Hatchet”

Survival as the main theme

The theme of survival for literary pieces has been very popular ever since Charles Darwin noted that “survival” is the central idea that promoted evolution. In any literary piece that promotes the theme of survival, a certain story structure is used. It involves a setting that primarily ponders on a certain kind of a disaster. The story also employs a main character that is trapped in the disaster. As a result, the plot often entails the narrative of how the main character struggles over and survives the various challenges brought about by the disaster.

Gary Paulsen’ Hatchet

The novel “Hatchet” uses survival as its central theme. As such, it employs the natural story structure of literary pieces that ponders on “survival”. The story offers Brian Robertson as a 13 year old boy who gets bombarded with many challenges- both usual and peculiar. These challenges form the story’s setting that leans on disasters and struggles. The main disaster in the story is the divorce of Brian’s parents. In addition to that, his problem escalates as he discovers that his mother is having an affair, which his father is unaware of. As a result, Brian is forced to deal with question of whether or not he should reveal the affair to his unknowing father. In his attempt to escape the disaster that he faces, Brian decides to inform his father about the secret and boards a Cessna plane to Canada. Just like any survival story, the disaster escalates as the pilot suffers from a heart attack and dies. Thus, the plane crashes somewhere in the Canadian Wilderness and Brian has to survive the wild life.

The “Hatchet’s appeal to at risk readers

According to Unwin and Palmer, Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet largely appeals to young adolescents who live “in the edge and in the shadow of violence”. By the phrase “at risk,” we refer to students or potential literary readers who are highly exposed to day-to-day displays of violence and tragedy.1 As such, they are forced to face their daily lives with threat and danger. Moreover, they often equate their surroundings to a social jungle where potential danger lurks at every corner. When faced with these youth who are “at-risk”, educators are faced with the quest of finding a literary piece that can attract their interest. They are supposed to find a literary piece that promotes a story and a setting which the adolescent will be interested in. They should find something that allows the “at risk” adolescent to relate to the main character in the story. According to Unwin and Palmer, the “Hatcher” is one of these notable reads for the “at risk” readers.2 Basically, the novel appeals to most at-risk readers primarily because it promotes the theme of survival. Apparently, at-risk readers can relate to the character of Brian who is literary trapped in the wilderness. Any “at risk” reader can equate himself to a main character that actually has to survive and surpass all the challenges that comes his way. As a survival-themed literature piece, the Hatchet gives the educator many opportunities to attract the student’s attention and direct it towards the skills of surviving. Though the landscape differs, both the at-risk reader and the Brian have to deal with the “wilderness”. In the Hatchet, Brian was able to survive fifty four days in the wild by employing various strategies. In his challenging landscape, Brian tried to adapt to his landscape. He taught himself how to make fire and he ate whatever type of food that he found in the forest (berries, turtle eggs, and fish). To survive his disaster, Brian had to learn the “ways of the jungle” and he learned how to interact with beasts from the wild (such as a bear, a skunk, and a porcupine). These survival skills in the forest can be translated into skills that can be used in dealing with the landscape of the “at risk” readers- the urban environment. For example, learning the “ways of the jungle” can be equated to learning technical skills and strategies that are highly needed in life. In the same way that Brian had to deal with the forest beasts, street kids are also supposed to deal with street bullies and punks that promote drugs, violence, and killings. Also, the Hatchet offers many moral values that can really be valuable and beneficial for the “at risk” readers. These include the need for adaptation, the openness to change, the value for hope, and the ability to surpass every challenge.

Paulsen, Gary. (1987). Hatchet. New York: Simon & Schuster. Unwin, Cynthia G. and Brian Palmer . (1999) . ' Survival as a Bridge to Resistant Readers: Applications of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet to an Integrated Curriculum.' The ALAN Review, Volume 26, Number 3, pp 9-12. 1 Unwin, Cynthia G. and Brian Palmer . (1999) . ' Survival as a Bridge to Resistant Readers: Applications of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet to an Integrated Curriculum.' The ALAN Review, Volume 26, Number 3, pp 9-12. 2 Unwin, Cynthia G. and Brian Palmer . (1999) . ' Survival as a Bridge to Resistant Readers: Applications of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet to an Integrated Curriculum.' The ALAN Review, Volume 26, Number 3, pp 9-12.

Author: Loretta Bowman

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Hatchet — Hatchet Movie Vs Book

Hatchet Movie Vs Book

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Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 906 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

I. introduction, ii. plot and character development, iii. themes and motifs, visual and cinematic elements, reception and criticism.

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