Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Chapters 5-8 Guide

Literature Application

Directions: Learn the 5 types of internal and external conflicts present in chapters 1-8. Then, give a brief description
of each and provide a brief description of an event and page number from the novel to demonstrates the conflict
type.

Type Description of conflict Textual evidence from the novel

Man vs Self

Man vs Man

Man vs Society

Man vs Nature

Man vs Technology

Directions: Make a list of all the possessions that Brian has with them and list them in order of importance.

1. ______________________ 2. _______________________ 3. _________________________

4. ______________________ 5. _______________________ 6. _________________________

7. _______________________ 8. _______________________ 9. __________________________

Directions: Read the follwing question based on the first 5 chapters of Hatchet. Write your answer in the lines
provided and support your thinking with evidence from the novel. Also, provide your own thought and personal
insight.

How did you react to Brian’s thoughts and actions after the plane crash? Do you think he is being reasonable or
unreasonable? Why? (250 words minimum)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Science and health application

Directions: Research how long a person can survive without water or food. Should Brian have drank the water from
the lake? Why or why not? Justify your answer with your research.

How many days can a person survive without water: ___________ Without food: ___________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
 Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Chapters 5-8 Guide
Individual activity

Directions: In chapter 6, the nararrator describes Brian’s environment. Using your mind’s eye, illustrate what you
think Brian’s new environment looks like.

Survival lessons

Directions: In Chapter 7, Brian learns an important survival lesson from his encounter with the bear. What is that
lesson? Why do you think Brian was afraid of the bear at first? Where did he get his knowledge of bear behavior
before he met this one in the wilderness? Don’t forget to elaborte!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Directions: Brian meets a porcupine, and inadvertently discovers sparks for fire.  Luck plays an important role in
Brian's survival, as in, for example, how he sees the sparks from the hatchet when he throws it at the porcupine.
Brian then turns that luck to his own advantage. Think of at least three other examples of "Brian's Luck" through
Chapter 8.

1. ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Social studies and science application

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Directions: In chapter 8, Brian encounters a bear. Fill out the table below about bear encounters.

What I think I should do if I What Brian did when he What my research says I should do
encounter a bear encountered a bear if I encounter a bear