Final answer:
Brian's reaction to a plane crash in the context of a story typically shows him oscillating between maintaining control and panicking, a common narrative device highlighting the human response to crisis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you're asking seems to reference the reaction of a character named Brian when faced with a plane crash in a story, which is reminiscent of literature studies. However, without directly referencing specific text from 'Hatchet' by Gary Paulsen, where Brian is the protagonist, the answer appears to be option d: Brian goes back and forth between being in control of a situation and panicking. This reflects a common narrative device where a character experiences a conflict between trying to maintain composure and succumbing to the chaos of a dire circumstance. In literature, such as the excerpts provided in your question, characters often face intense dilemmas where they oscillate between control and panic, underlining the human nature of responding to crisis situations.