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Literary Techniques In Hatchet By Gary Paulsen

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“Things seemed to go back and forth between reality and imagination – expect that it was all reality.”
Hatchet is an adventure novel which tells the story of thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson, who finds himself alone in the wilderness, having to learn how to survive. The only thing Brian is left with is a hatchet, a present his mother had given to him shortly before his plane departed for Canada. Hatchet follows Brian along on his journey in the Canadian wilderness, each day discovering more about himself, and the needs for survival.
The author Gary Paulsen, uses different literary techniques to help the reader grasp a deeper meaning of the story. Throughout the book, Paulsen explores the use of similes and repetition to bring the characters and setting of the story to life. …show more content…

Using similes to describe whereabouts helps the reader to connect with the story at a deeper and more meaningful level. Brian’s entry into the wilderness occurred when he was put in the position where he only had one choice, to crash the plane. “Then a wild crashing sound, ripping of metal, and the plane rolled to the right and blew through the trees, out over the water and down, down to slam into the lake, skip once on water as hard as concrete, water that tore the windshield out and shattered the side windows, water that drove him back into the seat.” (Paulsen, pg. 23). The comparisons made between Brian’s location, and the objects and specific things in our lives, helps the reader to create a better understanding as readers can relate to their own personal

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