Brian’s Hunt

By Gary Paulsen

(This book contains graphic scenes of animal violence and gore)

Grades 6-8; Genre – Fiction; GRL S; AR pts: 3.0

This story takes place two years after Brian had been stranded in the Canadian wilderness. When Brian finds a dog one night, a dog that is wounded and whimpering, he senses danger. The dog is badly hurt, and as Brian cares for it, he worries about his Cree friends who live north of his camp. His instincts tell him to head north, quickly. With his new companion at his side, and with a terrible, growing sense of unease, he sets out to learn what happened. He sets out on the hunt.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. Describe Brian’s dreams right after the accident of crashing in the lake and how they’re different now. They were more tarrying and traumatizing then and now they’re more fond memories and comical p.2
2. How old is Brian now? 16 yrs old p.2
3. Why did Brian decide against shooting the moose? It was a lot of meat to deal with and he didn’t want to waste any of it p.5
4. Why did Brian think about Susan Smallhorn? She sounded interesting; pretty; brave; had a scar under her eye he thought of as a beauty mark; he’d never met her p.6

Chapter 2

1. Why had school and studying become different after his airplane crash? He started to realize the things you could learn and know from books. Being in his life and death situation changed his perspective p.10
2. Why did the world Brian’s parents live in look ugly to him? He didn’t like the sights, sounds and smells anymore. They focused on “things”, money, the right car, the right girls and the right clothes p.11
3. Why did Brian take so long to move the canoe after studying the pike? He didn’t want to scare it p.14
4. What lesson did Brian learn from the Inuit hunting seal? To be patient and not get frustrated p.16

Chapter 3

1. Why did Brian check his equipment every day? To make sure it was in good shape; make sure it was all there p.21
2. Why did Brian like to sleep in the canoe in the middle of the lake? Less mosquitoes, like a cradle rocking him to sleep p.24

Chapter 4

1. How did Brian wake up in the middle of the night? He heard an odd sound and he’s very in tune with odd sounds out in the wilderness/bush p.27
2. What was making the sound? A dog that was in his cooking spot p.30
3. How did Brian know the dog he could approach the dog? It was wounded, it was female and a type of dog he had seen in Cree camps, whimpering and not growling p.30

Chapter 5

1. Describe the dog’s condition. Its side was ripped open about 1.5 feet long, there was a torn back flap of skin on the shoulder that exposed muscle p.33
2. How did the dog respond to Brian sewing up it’s shoulder? Moaned, looked him in the eyes, seemed to trust him p.36
3. What Brian know about the dog? She was a female, she was a human dog, couldn’t hunt for herself, away from her people and wondered why so far away from them p.38
4. What kind of thinking skills is Brian using to figure out what happened to the dog and what conclusion did he come to? Critical thinking, process of elimination; a bear attacked the dog p.42

Chapter 6

1. What were the two reasons Brian gives of why the rabbit screamed when he shot it? It warned other animals there was a predator and other predators came to the area out of curiosity p.46
2. What were the ingredients to Brian’s stew? Rice, rabbit meat, fish meat p.48
3. How does the author describe how Brian felt about the dog? She was a friend in need p.50
4. Explain why you think Brian felt a push to move and go north? He felt a pressing need to know where the dog came from and why it was injured p.50

Chapter 7

1. How did Brian get over the beaver dams as he was traveling? He had to unload his canoe, lower it by hand, then repack it in the stream below p.54
2. What does the phrase mean, “he saw inside things” relating to hunting? He saw a line of where the arrow should hit p.56
3. Why did Brian say “thank you” to each animal after he had killed it? Because it cost the animals their lives to feed him and he was grateful to them p.49

Chapter 8

1. What did Brian realize about having a dog? That he would never go without a dog again, there was a loneliness that was always there, until now p.61
2. Why did Brian think the dog left his people? Something hurt them or the camp p.62
3. How did Brian know he was in the woods where man lived? The animals were quiet and out of sight p.66
4. How did the dog feel about drawing nearer to the island? She was up and whining and growling p.67

Chapter 9

1. Who did Brian find and what condition was this person in? David Smallhorn; he was ripped up and dead p.72
2. Why didn’t Brian grab the gun? He wasn’t as familiar with it and knew his broadhead could do good damage p.74
3. Where did he find Anne’s body? Dragged off into the brush p.76
4. What had happened to Susan? She was berry picking along the shore and saw what had happened as she came back and ran back to the canoe and was able to get away from the bear p.79
5. Where did Brian find Susan and what condition was she in? down the lake 4 miles from the island; she was crazed and exhausted p.82

Chapter 10

1. What was Susan’s reaction to finding out both of her parents are dead? Sobbed for hours p.86
2. Where were the two small children? In Winnipeg with relatives p.86
3. Why did Brian want to stay on the island and not fly out with the rescuers? He wanted to hunt the bear p.87

THE HUNT

1. Why was Brian able to trust the dog? She could smell out the bear’s tracks even if Brian couldn’t see them; the dog would warn him if there was danger p.91
2. How was Brian able to discern between the bear he was hunting to the other bears he saw? The other bears didn’t chase him or go after him; their claw prints were different since the big bear had a missing claw and broken claw p.93
3. How did Brian feel when he first realized the bear was hunting him? Scared; coldness on his neck, no breath, everything stopped 94
4. How did Brian fight the bear once his bow was knocked out of his hands and the bear attacked him? Picked up arrows that had been flung to the ground around him p.96
5. Was Brian satisfied now that he’d killed the bear? Explain. No, he just felt sorrow for his friends that had died p.98