What are the two main ones in the book?

• A. Man vs. man and man vs. nature
• B. Man vs. self and man vs. nature
• C. Man vs. society and man vs. fate
• D. Man vs. time and memory

Answer: (B)

Two kinds of conflict drive Hatchet: an inner struggle and a fight against the natural world. The story follows Brian as he grapples with fear, doubt, loneliness, and the choices he must make to keep himself alive. That’s the man vs self part—the way his thoughts and emotions influence his actions and his growth.

At the same time, he battles the wilderness itself—weather, hunger, cold, and the daily tasks of finding food, building shelter, making fire, and staying safe until help arrives. That’s the man vs nature part—external pressures that test his skills, endurance, and persistence.

Together, these conflicts show how his inner resilience directly impacts his ability to survive the harsh environment, and how facing the wild shapes his mindset and abilities. The book isn’t centered on fighting another person or on societal pressures, nor on time or memory as the main driver; the core tension comes from what he experiences inside and in the external world of the wilderness.