1. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Literary Analysis
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

2. Plot Elements (The Freytag Pyramid
Exposition-
Brian Roberson leaves New York and flies to visit his father.

3. Rising Action: The Freytag Pyramid
The pilot has a heart attack, and Brian lands the plane.
Brian finds berries and builds a shelter.
Brian in attacked by a porcupine.

4. Climax The Freytag Pyramid
Brian tries to commit suicide, fails, and realizes he is strong.

5. Falling Action – The Freytag Pyramid - Brian survives a moose attack,
Brian survives a tornado
- Brian retrieves the survival bag

6. The Freytag Pyramid
Resolution
- Brian is rescued

7. The sky and the wilderness
Setting
The sky and the wilderness

8. Theme – (underlying meaning or the central message)
Survival
Physical survival in the wilderness
Mental/emotional in the aftermath of divorce
Challenge (sub-theme of survival and divorce)

9. Point of View
Third person, but everything is seen through Brian’s eyes

10. Characterization Direct – the author describes a character
Indirect –the author reveals a character through speech and action
Static – A character who does not change throughout the story
Dynamic – A character who changes throughout the story
IS BRIAN A STATIC OR DYNAMIC CHARACTER?

11. Conflict
You must also be able to identify the specific types of conflict that we discussed in the student packet you completed on Hatchet (passages A – H).