Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Paulsen's a pretty straightforward writer. He tells his story and says what he means—there's not a lot of deep symbolism or hidden meaning. But as a constant motif throughout the book, the natural world comes to mean a lot more than just rivers, trees, and icy ponds. Wild animals are more than just dangers in the woods.
What do we mean? Well, for example, we know that Paulsen took off to the woods as a way of escaping his bad home life. In that sense, the outdoors represented safety, independence, and self-sufficiency—things that served him well throughout his life.
But it could also represent real danger: poisonous snakes and bears were everywhere, freezing temperatures almost killed him, and his trip to Alaska was really risky. We think Paulsen's talking about the dangers involved with just being alive, whether they come from an icy pond or a coldhearted bully, a poisonous snake or a poisonous family environment. Paulsen shows us that life—good or bad, scary or comforting—is one pretty exciting adventure.