Research Proposal

For my end of year Research paper, I want to explore the different ways that adolescents behave in novels in which they must struggle to survive after some sort of a disaster. There are many books out there which focus on the survival strategies of adolescents after they are stranded somewhere that is unfamiliar to them. One of the books which focus on this are Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, where Brian must adapt to survive in the Canadian wilderness with no tools but a hatchet. Brian, however, evolves into a new person who becomes very intelligent in his efforts to survive using only what nature gives him. Another book I plan to use is Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, where a group of young boys are stranded on an island and at first are civilized, but then most of them grow into untamed savages when required to survive on their own. Another book is My side of the mountain, by Jean Craighead George, where a young boy named Sam escapes to the mountains in New Yor where he gets help from a man named Bill to survive. Although he begins being very poor at survival and eventually grows into a success, Sam ends up realizing that once he starts to gain experience in the outdoors, he finds himself building a guest house in a tree, showing his secret desire to be back in civilization.

One final book I may or may not use is Life of Pi which is about a boy named Pi who is stranded at sea on a lfieboat with only a Tiger. Although he has supplies and knowledge to survive, he is faced with a unique and dangerous addition, a Tiger in his presence who he tames and takes care of.