The bear made no move to hurt you, to threaten you.To show you may cause harm.
Hatchet
Chapter 7
Gary Paulsen · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Copywork
The bear made no move to hurt you, to threaten you. It stood to see you better, study you, then went on its way eating berries.
Read the passage aloud. Why might Brian's thoughts talk to him as "you"?
Discussion
Narration Tell the chapter back in order: the night of sickness, the morning at the lake, the walk to the raspberries, the bear, the rain, and the hatchet by his head.
- In the worst of the pain, Brian cries out "Mother, mother, mother..." Why might that be the word he reaches for? Character
- Brian's legs run before his mind has decided anything. What does that show about fear? Theme
- Brian feels "rich with food" just before the bear appears. Why might Paulsen put those two moments side by side? Author's choice
- After the bear leaves, Brian's brain says it "did not want you." What in the scene backs that up? Inference
- The chapter opens with Brian screaming for his mother and ends with him wondering about the bear. What has shifted in him? Plot structure
Make a Connection Tell about a time you were frightened of something and then decided it was nothing to fear.
Vocabulary
- threaten
- study
It stood to see you better, study you, then went on its way eating berries.
To look at closely and carefully.- self-pity
And he was, at that moment, almost overcome with self-pity.
Feeling sorry for yourself.- receded
he stood and held his abdomen until the hunger cramps receded
Went back; grew less.- gorge
now he had some sense and he did not gorge or cram more down
To eat far too much.- tricky
Gut cherries were food, but tricky to eat.
Hard to handle without trouble.- indicated
And the bear had almost indicated that it didn't mind sharing—had just walked from him.
Showed or pointed to without words.- caution
continued picking for the entire morning, although with great caution
Careful watchfulness to avoid danger.- convinced
That convinced him and he walked slowly back to the raspberry patch
Made someone believe or decide.
Critical thinking
- The morning after he is sick, Brian sorts the berries. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he has learned.
- Brian decides to leave the gut cherries and look for other berries. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what drives that choice.
- Brian looks at his reflection and then cries. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he is feeling.