He fought impatience to get on the plane projectNot wanting to wait.
Hatchet
Chapter 17
Gary Paulsen · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Copywork
He fought impatience to get on the plane project and remembered sense, remembered what he had learned. First food, because food made strength; first food, then thought, then action.
Read the passage aloud. Why might the writer repeat "first food"?
Discussion
Narration Tell the chapter back in order: rebuilding after the tornado, the picture of the pack, the raft, the evening, and the trip to the plane.
- Brian's first thought after the tornado is "First things first." What does he mean by it, and does he keep to it? Character
- Brian thinks of the survival pack as a way to be "rich." Why might the picture have such a hold on him? Inference
- Brian says "Sense" is all it takes to solve problems, and the raft only works once he sees the limbs. What does the raft show about how he thinks? Theme
- Brian wishes he could share the beautiful sunset with someone. Why might that wish come right after thoughts of his mother? Tone
- Brian lies on the raft and thinks the plane job "looked impossible." Why does he stay anyway? Moral reasoning
Make a Connection Tell about a time you wanted something so much that you kept working long after it seemed impossible.
Vocabulary
- impatience
- strength
food made strength
Power in the body.- incessant
chasing away the incessant mosquitoes
Never stopping.- intact
a major section of the weave still intact
Whole and unbroken.- refine
refine the camp and bring things back to sanity
To make better.- chipper
feeling almost chipper because his ribs were much better
Cheerful and lively.- stymied
And for a moment he was stymied.
Stopped by a problem.- stable
he needed a stable platform to get the job done
Steady and firm.- eddy
Once an eddy of breeze came up against him
A small swirl of wind or water.
Critical thinking
- Brian makes a fire quickly after the tornado. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what lets him do it.
- Brian ties the raft to the plane with torn strips of windbreaker. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how he comes to that idea.
- Brian reaches the tail of the plane. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he finds and what stops him.