Chapter 20 · Hatchet

Copywork

Brian had gained immensely in his ability to observe what was happening and react to it; that would last him all his life. He had become more thoughtful as well, and from that time on he would think slowly about something before speaking.

Read the passage aloud. What does the semicolon do in the first sentence?

Discussion

Narration Tell the epilogue back: how the pilot came to be there, what the weeks did to Brian, the changes that lasted, the press and the dreams, and how things stood at home.

The epilogue says many of Brian's changes would last. Which one do you think matters most for him, and why? Character
Paulsen closes with an epilogue of numbers, names and facts. Why might he end the book that way instead of with another scene? Author's choice
For a week it looked as if his mother and father might get back together, but "things rapidly went back to normal." What does that tell us about what the rescue could change? Theme
Brian tries several times to tell his father and never does. What might have held him back? Inference
After the rescue, Brian sometimes wakes and sits thinking of the lake, and it "was not bad and would never be bad for him." Why might that be? Tone

Make a Connection Tell about a time you went through something hard and found you did not want to forget it.

Vocabulary

immensely: Brian had gained immensely in his ability to observe Very greatly.
thoughtful: He had become more thoughtful as well Careful and full of thought.
permanent: Many of the changes would prove to be permanent. Lasting for good.
wiry: he would remain lean and wiry Thin but tough and strong.
virtually: had virtually no body fat Almost; nearly.
marveling: marveling at the quantity and the variety Filled with wonder.
furor: the furor died within a few months A burst of public excitement.
trigger: seemed to trigger the dreams To set off.
plentiful: seemingly plentiful in the fall Found in large numbers.

Critical thinking

Brian looks up the names of what he saw at the lake. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how well he understood the place.
The epilogue says how the pilot came to be at the lake. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how much of the rescue was Brian's doing and how much was chance.
The epilogue imagines Brian staying into winter. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why it says that would have been very hard.