After being stuck by the porcupine, Brian decides that the most important rule of survival is to pay attention to everything around him and always be ready to react quickly in order to stay safe.
In "Hatchet," Brian's encounter with the porcupine highlights the dual nature of experiences in survival situations. Initially, the porcupine's attack results in painful quills embedded in Brian's leg, representing a negative consequence. However, this incident ultimately teaches Brian valuable lessons about resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of being aware of his surroundings. Thus, it illustrates that even adverse events can lead to personal growth and survival skills.
In the novel "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen, Brian encounters various animals during his time in the wilderness after a plane crash. Some of the animals he meets include a porcupine, a skunk, a moose, a snapping turtle, a bear, and a wolf. These encounters with wildlife play a significant role in Brian's survival and growth throughout the story.
A porcupine
Brian encountered the porcupine outside his shelter one night while trying to reach the sour plum tree.
While Brian slept, a porcupine entered his shelter and tried to attack him. Brian awoke and the porcupine shot its quills at him, one of which hit his face. Brian was able to kill the porcupine and remove the quill from his face using his hatchet.
Brian is awakened during the first night under the overhang by a porcupine that tries to enter his shelter. The porcupine's quills brush against Brian, startling him awake.
Brian called the survival pack in "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen, his "survival kit."
it was the transmitter
Brian was sleeping when a porcupine wandered in.It was dark,and Brian couldn't see what it was,so he threw his hatchet,missed,and hit the hatchet on the rocky wall of his shelter,causing a nick in his hatchet.
In the book "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen, Brian hears a "whirring" sound at night which turns out to be a porcupine gnawing on bark. This sound adds to the suspense and fear Brian experiences while surviving in the wilderness.
Brian found out what animal was in the shelter with him by feeling and seeing quills in his leg from a porcupine.
The encounter with the porcupine in "Hatchet" shows that accidental situations can have both positive and negative outcomes. While Brian inadvertently falls on the porcupine's quills and gets wounded, he also benefits from it by using the quills to create a makeshift hunting tool. This highlights the theme of adaptation and resourcefulness in survival situations.