76 pages • 2 hours read
Brian's Winter
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Part 2, Chapters 14-15Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 2: “Winter”
Part 2, Chapter 14 Summary
Six inches of snow falls, adding to the snow already on the ground. When Brian tries to walk in the snow to gather wood, his feet and legs sink into the snow and freeze. As he considers this problem, he remembers the rabbits’ large feet, and realizes he needs to make a pair of snowshoes. The next morning, he plans them: He will make two bows of wood, tie them together, and add crosspieces. His plan proves easy enough, and he creates webbing for the middle using strips of moose hide. In two days, the shoes are finished. He makes a few adjustments after trying them for the first time, and successfully moves in the snow because of them.
The snowshoes change Brian’s attitude and perspective. Now he can get outside to walk, hunt, and do things again, rather than shutting himself into the shelter. That night, he takes inventory of his meat supply, and decides to hunt again soon.
Part 2, Chapter 15 Summary
Somehow, the weather grows even colder. However, as Brian ventures outside, his animal hide clothing keeps him warm while he walks and hunts. Although rabbits are plentiful and easily spotted, Brian has been “spoiled” by the moose (113)—one kill that provided him with so much food. Therefore, he decides to look for large game. Eventually, he spots a deer, and slowly works his way closer to get in range of a shot. Brian shoots the deer behind its shoulder, and watches as the deer slowly settles on the ground and eventually dies.
Brian feels terrible for killing the deer, as if it “was a kind of murder” (115). However, Brian knows that this is the price of survival. Now that the deer is dead, he cannot waste the meat. This time, after removing the hide, Brian piles the meat on top of it like a sled and pulls it all back to camp in one trip. Thankful for the plentiful meat and successful day, Brian thinks that although he misses summer, perhaps he, “liked winter better” (118).
Part 2, Chapters 14-15 Analysis
As Brian solves more problems, his previous successes fuel new discoveries and achievements. His iterative process echoes the way invention happens in our modern world. His major brainstorm relies on his previous observation of the rabbits and their large feet: He needs snowshoes to traverse the deep snow. As he plans and makes the snowshoes, Paulsen shows that the idea for snowshoes that comes to Brian’s mind builds on one of his previous inventions: He will lash together “Two bows” (105). When Brian meets with some issues when he tests the snowshoes, he makes adjustments to make the snowshoes more effective, again iteration his invention and its development like any other engineer would.
The snowshoes change Brian’s perspective of his surroundings, and he discovers a newfound appreciation for the cold winter months. Now that he can now go out, observe and enjoy nature, and hunt again, he realizes how much staying inside has affected him mentally. This shows the basic human need for activity and stimulation. The snowshoes open up a new world of possibility for Brian, contributing to his physical and mental health in ways he didn’t realize he needed.
The motif of death as necessary for survival recurs in these chapters. After hunting the deer, Brian watches it die slowly and feels horrible for killing her. He feels that this kill differs from killing the moose, because the deer seems innocent and defenseless. Even though he’s killed several animals, the kills still bother him. In fact, he thinks of this kill as murder. Brian’s sensitivity towards animal death shows his appreciation of nature and recognition that all living things have value. However, despite Brian’s sadness, he knows that he cannot survive without the deaths of living creatures.
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By Gary Paulsen
