Hatchet By Gary Paulsen

In this report we will be talking about the novel Hatchet, written by Gary Paulsen. All throughout the novel, Paulsen uses creative literary techniques to emphasise the theme of man versus nature. The novel, Hatchet, is about a young boy, called Brian, who takes a plane over a forest going from America to Canada to visit his dad, when the pilot dies from a heart attack and Brian has to crash land the plane in a lake. Brian then has to learn how to live in the wild while waiting to be found by the rescue crews. In the paragraphs below we will be talking about the literary techniques Paulsen uses throughout the novel, like metaphors, similes, reptation and exaggeration, that help show that, Brian is dealing with dangerous animals of the wild,

Throughout the book, Paulsen highlights the theme of man versus nature. He does this by employing literary techniques like similes and metaphors. Some examples that prove this are, on page 63, Paulsen uses a simile to show that a porcupine had attacked Brain, “his leg was instantly torn with pain, as if a hundred needles had been driven into it” (Paulsen, pg. 63). Paulsen also uses a metaphor on page 121 to show that Brian is being attached by a moose, “he saw a brown wall of fur detach itself from the forest to his rear and come down on him like a runaway truck” (Paulsen, pg. 121). This evidence proves that Brain had to work against the dangerous animals of the wilderness to survive. He had to use his smarts and knowledge to live in the same space as them and stay

In Hatchet, Paulsen highlights various aspects of natural conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, the weather, annoying pests, like mosquitos, and his extreme lack of consistent food. He highlights these by using creative literary techniques, like metaphors, similes and exaggeration, to help the reader visualize a clearer image in their heads as they are reading. One example of this is the tornado that wiped through the area he was living and destroyed his shelter, “It was wind, wind like the sound of a train, with the low belly roar of a train. It was a tornado” (Paulsen, pg. 125). Another example is when Brian first realised how much of an issue the mosquitos could be, “swarming hordes of mosquitos that flocked to his body, made a living coat on his exposed skin, clogged his nostrils when he inhaled, poured into his mouth when he opened it to take a breath” (Paulsen, pg. 29). These examples show and support the statement that Brian has to live with and work around the harsh conditions of nature and how bad and different the conditions he had to live with and adapt to