Gary Paulsen's Hatchet Practice Test 2026 - Free Hatchet Practice Questions and Study Guide

Self-reliance means taking the initiative and solving problems using what’s around you rather than waiting for help. In Hatchet, Brian is stranded and must figure things out on his own. He studies the environment and uses available resources—the land, water, materials for shelter, and his hatchet—to create fire, build a place to stay, and find food. This kind of independent problem solving shows he relies on himself and the surroundings rather than others or luck. The other ideas don’t fit because there isn’t someone else to lean on, he doesn’t just wait passively for rescue, and he isn’t simply ignoring danger—he pays attention and adapts to the risks he faces.