Brian's Winter

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. When the story begins, how long has Brian been stranded in the wilderness?

2. What does Brian call the stronger bow that he makes to defend himself from bears?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. In Chapter 1, why does Brian have to go back to hunting with a bow and arrow?

2. In Chapter 2, how is Brian proven wrong about bears?

3. Why does Brian start calling one of his arrows his “medicine arrow”?

Paired Resource

“Alone Is About Much More Than Pure Survival”

• This article from The Walrus, by Erin McCleod, ponders some of the psychological aspects of isolation in the wilderness from the perspective of contestants on the reality show Alone.
• This resource relates to the themes of Nature’s Beauty Versus Nature’s Severity, The Role of Intellect in Survival, and Awareness of One’s Surroundings Brings Emotional Rewards.
• What main idea about human psychology is McCleod trying to convey? What psychological impact is isolation having on Brian? How do the profiled contestants each try to connect with nature in a different way? Which contestant’s feelings about nature seem closest to Brian’s? What inner resources do they draw upon in order to survive? What inner resources does Brian draw upon? What about nature’s “neutrality” makes it a good place for the contestants to test themselves? Does the author seem to be portraying nature as a neutral force, or does it actively try to harm or help Brian?