Journal Entry 61: Film v Book

Compare and contrast the film version of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet with the novel version. How are they alike? How are they different? What can an author do with a novel that a filmmaker cannot do? What can a filmmaker do that an author cannot? What is it about each medium that makes it able to tell a story in a special way?

We haven't finish the movie yet, so I'm just going to compare the book with some parts of the movie. Some events that happened in the movie is a little bit different from the book, even though what they're trying to show might be the same. For example, in my imagination, the forest was grander, and Brian's house was right next to the lake. Also, when the pilot died, the whole plane was supposed to stink and the pilot was supposed to fart first. I also thought that Brian's hatchet would be a bit larger, because the hatchet in the movie seem so small that it looks like it can't even cut branches. The movie also added some random stuff, like the bear attacking Brian. In the book, the bear never touched Brian at all and actually "helped" Brian find more food. Another weird and disgusting thing the movie added was Brian eating worms (mayjor ewwwww), Brian never ate any worms in the book and I wonder if the movie will show Brian eating turtle eggs (another ewww), but I think maybe the director used worms instead of turtle eggs because bugs are much cheaper. Authors can have all the time to entertain readers and let them use their imagination to "see" the story. Everyone's version of the story might be a little different, yet everyone's version is the best version to themselves, unlike movies. Most people think the books are so much better than books when they read the book first. Books are so much better, even though it may not have any visual effects, but you can imagine them! Filmmakers can restrict what people see, unlike books, and I think that may sometimes be a good thing, but it rarely is. 

Journal Entry 60: Hip-Hop Language

Pick an ordinary, everyday activity and write about it in “hip-hop language”. Remember to use “gangsta” words—it should sound street-wise and tough, as well as a bit arrogant.

Hizzle, Howzzle yall homies poppin' n crackin' today, nigga? Got no idea how to act gangta, ya know? Y'all know I ain't no good at being a gangsta cuz ma pants ain't saggin n I'm in no gang. So, don't go talkin trash bout ma attempt and don't diss me, y know I really did ma best. I was chillin' with my homie, and I learned that gangstas curse in every sentence n don't give much beep to grammar. Fo' ya information, this journal's gonna be real random. Sometimes, if ma test scores were wack, my mom would ice me, and ground me so I can't chill with ma G (I think that's supposed to mean "friend"), which is real sad cuz I don't like gettin stuck in ma crib (that's supposed to mean home, for some reason). N y'all know who's da ghetto singer dat everyone hates, right? Yeah, that's right, it's that foo' n I ain't gonna say his name, cuz I don't wanna offend nobody. I also want my own phat lowrider (good car) fo' me to go cruisin' with ma homies, it's real word (cool). I ain't got no love fo' homework, but I've got a lot of love for sweets. They are just real sick (yummy), ya know? So now I gotta go get some of 'em and I also learned that I'll never be qualified for a gangsta, but gangstas get chased by honky pigs (apparently, they also call cops that...). 

Journal Entry 59: Epic Language

Pick an ordinary, everyday activity and write about it in “epic language”. Remember to use “fancy” words—it should sound formal and elegant.

Going to School

I wake up in the morning, the start of another miraculous day. The glorious rays sun shines through my windows, light up my room and enlivens me. I brush my teeth until they are dazzling white. I unhurriedly pick out my outfits. What shall it be? Casual, dressy, normal tees, or crop tees? Cardigan, shrugs, blazer, or hoodie? The immeasurable and everlasting choices. Oh, when can I ever finish deciding? After I've finally come to decision, oh my, it's already 6:30! I gracefully waltz down the stairs, and devoured my breakfast in 1 minute, then dashed to my lavatory. I hastily smoothed out my hair, adding a headband or some fancy clips, and flew down to steps to take the school bus. The bus was on time, eagerly waiting for me to board. I carefully sat down on the seat, for I did not want to ruffle my precious and holy hair. After a while of sitting upright, I gave in and leaned on the soft and snug headrest. I fell asleep dreaming of nothing in particular, for it was the start of another wondrous day, so I have no need to dream since the day will be perfect and extraordinary anyways. Regrettably, I did not care to think about the horrid and unbelievably cruel amount of homework my teachers are going to give me, just like this arduous and troublesome journal. How, just how, can we write so elegantly, when we speak in such common ways in our everyday conversations?

Journal Entry 58: Lucky?

In Hatchet, Brian says that his survival is dependent on luck more than anything else. Do you think this is true? How much does Brian’s past experience and knowledge also play a part? Does he develop new knowledge that helps him survive? What about your own experience? Have you ever gotten out of a difficult situation simply by luck?

I think some events in that happened to Brian do depend on luck, but his past experiences and knowledge play the most part. Some events, like being able to spot a lake and land on it, instead of having to land among trees (and possibly get killed instead of that). Truthfully, though, a lot of things that happened to Brian is because of bad luck. Like getting on a plane driven by a pilot that gets a heart attack, unable to get connection from the radio (on the plane), and also being attacked by the moose, then not being spotted and left behind by a plane. Although he was pretty unlucky, he is kind of lucky too, because he was able to find shelter in the "cave" and also crash when it's not in the winter, or else he might have just freeze to death. His past experiences and knowledge definitely did play a part, in fact, it played the most part. Him recognizing the turtles' eggs helped him gain more food, and also his past experiences of what is needed to make a fire. Brian does develop new knowledge that helped him survive, like being more aware of things around him and also some things that indicate what might happen (if the skies are scattered...). I have gotten out of situations that aren't too difficult by luck before. Well, last time I had a swimming class, I was very, very tired after swimming about 2000 meters, but the coach was making us do sprints and relay. Luckily, I didn't have to finish it because I cramped my calf during the sprint. Honestly, I'd call getting a cramp bad luck, but it kind of is good luck as well, because at least I got to sit by the swimming pool and watch my classmates getting tortured!

Ha ha, I'm evil.

Journal Entry 57: What Makes Fire

In Hatchet, Brian has to rely on what he has learned in school, while playing, watching television, and observing what is around him. One of the things he has learned about is the conditions necessary to make a fire. List the tree things Brian knew he needed and explain what each thing means. Describe the two ways Brian tried to make fire and how he needed all of the conditions listed above. What might have been lacking when he attempted to start the fire. Why couldn’t he start a fire by rubbing the sticks together?

The three things Brian knew he needed for building a fire are oxygen, heat and also something flammable that fire can burn on. Fire obviously must need oxygen, because without oxygen, it can not burn at all, and that's why it's better to live in space because there is no possibilities of causing a fire! Fire also needs heat, because if it's not hot, then there wouldn't be fire at all. Fire also creates warmth, but it needs heat to create it first. Having a spark because you have oxygen and heat is easy, but to be able to make a spark turn into fire that burns is much harder, like Brian found out. In order to keep a fire burning, you need something the fire can burn on, like paper, and it has to be dry and, well, just like paper. The first time, Brian tried to make fire by creating heat using friction. He failed because there was not enough heat, and it'd take him days to make the heat just right and also, he wouldn't be able to keep the fire for long because there's nothing the fire can burn on. Then, Brian tried making a fire using grass and twigs as the things for the fire to burn on. That, too, did not work well, because the material wasn't right, and he needed something finer, like paper. He then ripped his money into pieces, but the fire only lasted a little while because there wasn't enough things for the fire to burn on. Finally, he goes out to collect suitable wood and he finally makes a decent fire and is able to keep it burning for a long period of time.

Journal Entry 56: Lost in the Woods

What would you do if you were suddenly lost in the wilderness? Do you know any survival tactics? How would the environment affect your ability to survive? For example, how would being lost in a forest be different from being lost in a desert? Or in the mountains? Describe the place you are “lost,” and then describe step-by-step what you would do to survive and find your way home.

If I was suddenly lost in the wilderness, I'd panic and then probably scream. After screaming, I'd probably stop and think about everything and the possibility of dying and also how long I might last. I don't know a lot of survival tactics, and I am really, really, really, scared of any insects, seriously, any at all! I think the ideal place to be lost in is somewhere people go camping and left small houses and supplies there. Ha, I know that's pretty lame, but, I don't have much skills. If I was lost in a forest, I'd probably scream every minute because of all the bugs, but I might have a better chance of surviving because there're more resources. If I was lost in a desert though, unless I accidentally find an oasis, I'll be dead in 2 days. If I was lost anywhere while it's snowing, I'd more likely die in 2 hours, because I'll just freeze to death. If I were lost, I would most definitely not make it back to my home. Yes, I know I'm a little pessimist here, but that is just the truth. I, Janet Lin, would never find my way back home if I were lost in the wilderness like Brian.

Journa Entry 55: Personal Assets

In Hatchet, Brian survives a plane crash and struggles to stay alive while lost in the wilderness. What personal assets does he have that help him survive? What personal attributes does he have to overcome? What are your greatest assets? How might these assets help you succeed in life? What personal assets do you have that might help you survive in the wilderness? Do you think you have any qualities that might hinder your survival rather than help it?

Some person assets that helped Brian is that he is very determined, smart, and optimistic (most of the time). His being very determined helped him survive, because he was very determined not to give up and to survive. He's also quite smart because he knew how to make ladders and weapons with just his hatchet and shoe laces. He was also optimistic, thinking that planes will come rescue him, and that was like his motive for living and working. He was a city boy though, so he doesn't really know much about the wilderness and is inexperienced. He is used to having food that's prepared by others and having everything set up and prepared for him. He also has a "secret" to worry about and he is kind of depressed by it. My greatest asset is probably that I've gone camping quite a few times in my life, so I guess I have some experience with the wilderness, and I also read a little about natures and animals. I do have a lot of qualities that might hinder my survival though. First of all, I am not very determined and I might easily give up if I were Brian. And, I don't think I would've done anything when the pilot had an heart attack. But, unlike Brian, I'd give up on all hope when the other person he tried to talk to before the plane crashed stop talking. I also am VERY afraid of some animals and insects of all kinds. So, truth to be told, I don't think I'll survive at all in the wilderness.