“A riveting, hopeful survival story.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
A mesmerizing memoir from a living literary legend, giving readers a new perspective on the origins of Gary Paulsen's famed survival stories. His name is synonymous with high-stakes wilderness survival stories. Now, beloved author Gary Paulsen portrays a series of life-altering moments from his turbulent childhood as his own original survival story. If not for his summer escape from a shockingly neglectful Chicago upbringing to a North Woods homestead at age five, there never would have been a Hatchet. Without the encouragement of the librarian who handed him his first book at age thirteen, he may never have become a reader. And without his desperate teenage enlistment in the Army, he would not have discovered his true calling as a storyteller. A moving and enthralling story of grit and growing up, Gone to the Woods is perfect for newcomers to the voice and lifelong fans alike, from the acclaimed author at his rawest and realest. |
Activity 1:
Read the following quote from the book: “He thought then—and still thought later as an old man—that it was right for him, everything was right for him right …then … blue perfect right, and he wouldn’t have minded if it could go on and on and he could stay and not have the other part of his life. This part. Shouldn’t make plans. Shouldn’t ever make plans about how things should go. Explain how Paulsen is using foreshadowing here. What is he foreshadowing will happen?
Activity 2:
When Paulsen was 13, he would go to the basement to escape his parents, and thought about running away. He didn't, at least not then. Instead, he caught fish and sold them to a bar for $2 each. The barkeep sold them to some of his patrons who weren't able to catch those fish so they could use them as bragging rights. The barkeep sold them for a lot more money than he bought them from Paulsen. Do you think this was fair? What would you have done differently than Gary did? Would you have run away instead? Create a Venn Diagram with the pros and cons of his fish selling business. Was Gary smart, or could he have done a better job?
Activity 3: SYMBOLISM
A symbol in a story is an object that represents an idea. When you look at the role a certain object plays in the story (what it does and how it affects the characters) you can figure out what that symbol represents.
Download this WORKSHEET.
Analyze each symbol in the chart below that appears in Gone to the Woods. First explain what role the symbol plays in the novel. Then decide what you believe each symbol represents.
Read the following quote from the book: “He thought then—and still thought later as an old man—that it was right for him, everything was right for him right …then … blue perfect right, and he wouldn’t have minded if it could go on and on and he could stay and not have the other part of his life. This part. Shouldn’t make plans. Shouldn’t ever make plans about how things should go. Explain how Paulsen is using foreshadowing here. What is he foreshadowing will happen?
Activity 2:
When Paulsen was 13, he would go to the basement to escape his parents, and thought about running away. He didn't, at least not then. Instead, he caught fish and sold them to a bar for $2 each. The barkeep sold them to some of his patrons who weren't able to catch those fish so they could use them as bragging rights. The barkeep sold them for a lot more money than he bought them from Paulsen. Do you think this was fair? What would you have done differently than Gary did? Would you have run away instead? Create a Venn Diagram with the pros and cons of his fish selling business. Was Gary smart, or could he have done a better job?
Activity 3: SYMBOLISM
A symbol in a story is an object that represents an idea. When you look at the role a certain object plays in the story (what it does and how it affects the characters) you can figure out what that symbol represents.
Download this WORKSHEET.
Analyze each symbol in the chart below that appears in Gone to the Woods. First explain what role the symbol plays in the novel. Then decide what you believe each symbol represents.