Chapter 12

Hatchet

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

It was abrupt, as if the plane had turned. He shielded the sun from his eyes and tried to see it, tried to make the plane become real in his eyes.

Read the passage aloud. Why might Brian try to see the plane when he can already hear it?

Discussion

Narration Tell the chapter back in order: the failed spear, the idea of a bow, the bird in the leaves, the plane, and the bonfire.

1. Brian thinks discoveries happened "because they needed to happen." What might make him believe that, and does it hold up?Theme

2. Brian says his hunger now is "A hunger to make him hunt." What do you think he means?Character

3. While he runs for the fire, Brian pictures the pilot, the landing and supper with his father. Why might his mind run so far ahead?Inference

4. The chapter begins with a failed spear and ends with a gone plane. How are the two failures alike, and how are they different?Plot structure

5. Brian whispers, "Look back," while the sound fades. Why might Paulsen stretch out that moment instead of cutting straight to his despair?Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time a plan failed and you had to think up another way.

Vocabulary

Crossword

1
			2
3


	4

		5	6
	7

Across

Across 1. Sudden and unexpected.
Across 3. Covered to protect from something.
Across 4. From the earliest times, very simple.
Across 6. Got narrower toward one end.
Across 7. Rough and simply made.

Down

Down 2. Going on and on without stopping.
Down 3. Bending and bouncing back.
Down 5. Thrust forward suddenly.

The words in the chapter

abrupt It was abrupt, as if the plane had turned.
shielded He shielded the sun from his eyes and tried to see it
persistent A persistent whine, like the insects only more steady
crude It was crude, but it looked effective
lunged he lunged time after time but was always too slow

tapered until the thick end tapered down to a needle point
springy and they were springy, but they lacked snap somehow
primitive some primitive man tried to spear fish and it didn't work
flailing everything but flailing with it

Define These Words

flailing: Waving about wildly.

Critical thinking

1. A bird bursts from under Brian's feet. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how he goes from terrified to planning.

2. Brian looks for wood to make a bow. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how he decides which wood is right.

3. Brian calls all his work "silly" and "just a game." Using two pieces of evidence, explain whether you think it was.