Transcript Into the Wild - Pirates AP English Language and Composition

Into the Wild
By Jon Krakauer
www.intothewild.com
The Media
• “Death of an Innocent”
– 9,000-word article by Jon Krakauer appeared
in Outside, Jan. 1993
• Into the Wild novel by Jon Krakauer
published 1996
• “The Cult of Chris McCandless”
– article by Matthew Power appeared in Men’s
Journal, Sept. 2007
• Into the Wild film produced 2007
• Note: various other articles have been written in addition to
television interviews and coverage.
The Media
Jon Krakauer
• “Adventure” enthusiast
• Experienced hiker, climber, and writer
– Eiger Dreams
– Into Thin Air
– Under the Banner of Heaven
– editor of the Modern Library Exploration
series
Chris McCandless
• “Alexander Supertramp”
• Decomposed body found in bus (Alaska)
in September 1992
• From affluent East Coast family
• Emory University alumni (1990)
• Two-year “odyssey” from 1990-1992
Quick Write #1: Future Plans
• Think about some alternative
plans you might have instead of
beginning college immediately
after high school. What might
you do, why would you do it, and
how long do you see yourself in
this activity? (Get specific!)
Author’s Note
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How long did Chris McCandless’ journey in the
Alaskan wilderness last?
Immediately after graduating from Emory
University in 1990, Chris McCandless dropped out of
sight. List 5 things that he did to support his “plan”.
What are some themes Krakauer mentions are the
result of his “meandering inquiry”?
What do you think Krakauer means when he states
“I won’t claim to be an impartial biographer”?
What reason does Krakauer offer for writing this
book?
Chapter 1: “The Alaska Interior”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Chapter 1 begins with a postcard addressed to
Wayne Westerberg. Why do you think Krakauer
begins his novel this way? Explain.
Who is Jim Gallien? What does he do for Alex?
According to Jim, what does Alex intend to do?
Which items/possessions does Alex take with him
into the Alaskan bush?
Jim Gallien thought about informing the Alaska State
Troopers about Alex and his intentions. Why does
he change his mind? Explain.
Jack London (1876-1916)
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Born in San Francisco to
a poor family
As a child he was an avid
reader, especially stories
of real-life adventure
As a teen he joined the
“oyster pirates” and was a
sailor
Attended HS for one year,
passed the entrance
exams for UC Berkeley,
but quit halfway through
freshman year (did some
writing)
Jack London continued
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1897-took off to prospect for gold in the Klondike (part
of Yukon Territory in NW Canada), got sick, and
returned in less than a year
Klondike experience convinced him that “life is a
struggle in which the strong survive and the weak do
not”
Short stories and novels dramatize his belief that
“civilized” beings are either destroyed or re-created in
savage environments
– Call of the Wild & White Fang
Millionaire, but an alcoholic, London suffered from
kidney disease and depression
– Pain was unendurable, so he committed suicide
(drugs) and died at age 40
White Fang
• The remarkable story of a
fiercely independent
creature of the wild.
• In the desolate, frozen
wilds of north-west
Canada, a wolf-cub soon
finds himself the sole
survivor of his litter. Son
of Kiche-half-wolf, halfdog- and the aging wolf
One Eye, he is thrust into
a savage world where
each day becomes a fight
to stay alive.
The Call of the Wild
•
When gold was discovered in the Yukon
in 1896, Jack London caught the fever
and rushed off to the northlands to try his
luck. When he returned home, he had
not mined an ounce of gold but brought
back a greater treasure—vivid
recollections of rugged life in the frozen
wastelands. London converted his
experiences into exciting adventure
tales, including The Call of the Wild,
which has been called his masterpiece.
The Call of the Wild continued
•
It tells the story of the
magnificent dog Buck,
who is a loyal pet until
cruel men make him a
pawn in their search for
the gold of the Klondike.
Brutally treated, Buck
finds the blood of his
world ancestors rising
within him and breaks
free to roam the Alaskan
wilderness as leader of
a ferocious pack.
Chapter 2: “The Stampede Trail”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why do you think Krakauer begins with a passage
from Jack London’s White Fang? Explain.
In 1961, what did Yutan Construction purchase in
order to house the construction workers who were
upgrading the Stampede Trail? What did they leave
behind?
How many people arrived at the bus on September
6, 1992? Give their names and the order in which
they arrived on the scene.
What did these people discover?
What details does Krakauer give when describing
the remains of Chris McCandless?
Leo Tolstoy: 1828-1910
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Russian
Studied law and
Oriental languages
at Kazan University
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–
teachers said he
was “unwilling and
unable to learn”
diaries reveal his
“insatiable thirst for a
rational and moral
justification of life”
Tolstoy continued
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Military experience, but later a pacifist
and considered a “moral” philosopher
– Influenced Gandhi and MLK, Jr.
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Drifted towards a more oriental
worldview with Buddhist overtones,
– learned to feel himself in other living
creatures
•
Realist fiction, realistic depiction of 19thcentury Russian life
– War and Peace & Anna Karenina
Quick Write #2: Beliefs
• Think about some of YOUR
beliefs. What do you believe in?
Why? How do your beliefs shape
who you are? Where does your
set of beliefs come from? What
do your beliefs “look” like?
Greetings from…!
•
Refer back to your Quick write #1 and
your future plans.
–
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Think about some alternative plans you might have
instead of beginning college immediately after high
school. What might you do, why would you do it,
and how long do you see yourself in this activity?
(Get specific!)
Use this to help you write your postcard,
or chose a new destination
See assignment hand out for details
Dear…,
May 12, 2008
12 point font
Single space
¾ page
OR
________________________________
Really nice hand writing
Ink
¾ page
________________________________
________________________________
Chapter 3: “Carthage”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Who is Wayne Westerberg? How would you
describe him?
What do we learn about Chris McCandless
through Westerberg’s testimonial?
What does Chris give Wayne before leaving
Carthage? Why do you think he gave it to him?
Where is Chris originally from?
What was Chris’ home life like? Explain.
Based on the letter Chris sent to his sister Carine
and the note he later sent to his parents, what do
we learn about Chris’ relationship with his family?
Explain.
Chapter 4: “Detrital Wash”
1.
2.
3.
4.
From the point of view of the Datsun, describe
what happened to you from the time Chris reached
Detrital Wash to the present day.
What “unnecessary baggage” does Chris shed?
Who are Jan Burres and Bob? How does Chris
keep in touch with them?
Once he reaches the Colorado River, where does
Chris travel and how? What was his ultimate
goal? How does he end up achieving this goal?
Chapter 5: “Bullhead City”
1. Where does Chris work while staying in
Bullhead City?
2. Give two examples of things Chris’s coworkers remember about him.
3. What is life like at The Slabs?
4. Who does Chris meet up with again at The
Slabs? How does he spend his time there?
Henry David Thoreau: 1817-1862
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Transcendentalist
“He seemed born for great enterprise
and for command.” – Emerson (about
Thoreau)
Abandons life in society and moves to
Walden Pond. Writes Walden.
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet
desperation.” -- Thoreau
“I wish to meet the facts of life.” –
Thoreau
His essay, Civil Disobedience, inspired
the idea of passive resistance used by
Gandhi and MLK Jr.
Chapter 6: “Anza-Borrego”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Who is Ron Franz? How do he and Chris meet?
List three pieces of information from Franz’s background
story. Why might Krakauer spend time explaining Franz’s
background?
Describe both the people and location of Oh-my-God Hot
Springs.
List five items that Chris etches into his leather belt.
While “riding the rails” Chris encounters a “bull”. From the
context of the story, what is a bull?
In his letter to Ron, what advice does Chris give? Does
Ron take Chris’s advice? Do you agree with the advice
given? Would you take it? Explain.
Chapter 7: “Carthage”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How do Wayne Westerberg’s girlfriend, Gail
Borah, and his mother, Mary, react to Chris
McCandless?
List three things you learn about Chris that might
point to his innocence.
List three things you learn about Chris that might
point to his arrogance.
How does Chris plan to travel to Alaska? Why
does he choose this method?
Reread the postcards that Chris sends to Wayne
Westerberg and Jan Burres. Was Chris expecting
to die? Defend your answer.
Ch. 6 & 7 – Digging Deeper
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Ronald Franz and Chris McCandless establish a father-son type
of relationship. Identify one benefit or drawback (using a quote)
that each gets out of the relationship.
Before Chris leaves for Alaska, Wayne Westerberg offers to buy
him a plane ticket. Chris refuses, however, claiming, “flying would
be cheating. It would wreck the whole trip” (67). Find and explain
two quotes from this chapter that demonstrate whether or not
Chris actually lives by his own words.
Additional Discussion Topic: “So many people live within
unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to
change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of
security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to
give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to
the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very
basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure”
(57).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Chapters 8-10: “Alaska” “Davis
Gulch” “Fairbanks”
Look at the epigraph at the beginning of Ch. 8, on page 70.
Why were these two quotes placed together? What is the
common theme that Krakauer is trying to convey?
On page 71 Nick Jans offers the following criticism: “I’ve run
into several McCandless types out in the country. Same story:
idealistic, energetic young guys who overestimated
themselves, underestimated the country, and ended up in
trouble.” Do you agree with Jans? Was Chris naïve and
ignorant? Or, do you think he was adventurous and noble?
Defend your position.
What is the purpose of using the stories of other people in
chapters 8-9? What do you think is Krakauer’s reasoning
behind this choice? Is he successful?
Were you surprised that Chris left trails so that the authorities
could find out who he was?
What’s in a name? Chris uses a number of different aliases
throughout his journey in order to distance himself from his
past and those who knew him. Do names matter?
Quick Write #3: What’s in a Name?
• What’s in a Name?
• Does it matter that we have the
name we were given by our
parents?
• How do names matter?
Boris Pasternak: 1890-1960
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Russian poet and novelist born in Moscow
to a cultured Jewish family
Best known for his novel, Dr. Zhivago
(1957)
Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958
Presented Zhivago's inability to influence his
own fate not as a fault, but as a sign that he
was destined to become an artistic witness
to the tragedy of his age. (War and
revolution).
“I don't like people who have never fallen or
stumbled. Their virtue is lifeless and it isn't
of much value. Life hasn't revealed its
beauty to them.” – Boris Pasternak
Doctor Zhivago
• First published in Italy in
1957 amidst international
controversy, DZ is the
story of the life an loves of
a poet/physician during the
turmoil of the Russian
Revolution. Here is a
masterful chronicle of its
outbreak and chronicles:
army revolts, irrational
killings, starvation,
epidemics, Communist
party inquisitions.
Doctor Zhivago continued
• Taking his family from
Moscow to what he hopes
will be shelter in the Ural
Mountains, Zhivago finds
himself instead embroiled
in the battle between the
Whites and Reds. Set
against this backdrop of
cruelty and strife is
Zhivago’s love for the
tender and beautiful Lara:
pursued, found, and lost
again, Lara is the very of
the pain and chaos of
those cataclysmic times.
Chapters 11-13 “Chesapeake Beach”
“Annandale” “Virginia Beach”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What did Chris learn about his family on his first trip
across the country and how did this knowledge affect
him?
What are some quotes that represent characteristics of
Chris's parents?
What are the most important events in Chapter 12 of
AND what is the significance of each?
Name two qualities that Walt McCandless and his son
have in common and support each with a quote from
Chapter 11.
Explain the bond between a mother/son and father/son
how are they the same? Different?
Chapters 14 & 15:
“The Stikine Ice Cap”
1. In what point of view are these chapters told?
2. What is Krakauer’s opinion of Chris’ death and
how does he come to this conclusion?
3. How old was Krakauer when he made is his
first climb?
4. John Menlove Edwards said that climbing was
a “psychoneurotic tendency.” What does this
mean? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
5. How did Krakauer prepare for his climb?
6. What are the some of the mistakes Krakauer
made that could have proved fatal?
7. Compare Krakauer with Chris. Consider their
adventures, endeavors, and families.
Chapters 14 & 15:
“The
Stikine
Ice
Cap”
continued
8. Krakauer says that he suffered from hubris, exaggerated
pride, in his younger years. How does Chris suffer from
hubris?
9. Why does Krakauer use author intervention in these two
chapters? Is it effective?
10. How does the placement of these two chapters contribute
to the development of the plot? Should they be in another
section of the novel? Should they be omitted? Explain.
11. At the end of chapter 15, Krakauer says that surviving his
Alaska adventure was due to chance. Did Chris die
because of chance, fate, environment, heredity or other
sources? In the author’s note, Krakauer mentions that his
opinion about McCandless will be apparent in the novel.
What is his opinion?
12. Do you agree or disagree with Krakauer’s convictions of
Chris McCandless? Explain.
Quick Write #4: C/C Chris vs. Alex
• Compare and contrast Chris as
a teen to Chris/Alex as an adult
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What are your impressions of him at
each stage of his life?
How has he changed? Grown?
Which incidents in the novel helped
create this impression? Do you think
your impression might/ will change?
Explain.
The Naturalists’ Philosophy
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The Naturalists were a group of scientists/writers who
presented a new way of thinking at the turn of the 20th
Century.
Beliefs
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Everyone is born with the history and knowledge of
his/her ancestors.
The knowledge lies dormant until factors bring it out.
The Naturalists focused on the excess of “Human
Nature.”
Lust, Greed, Evil, Murder, Crime
The Naturalists’ Philosophy
The Naturalists posed as scientists.
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Foundation was based on Charles Darwin’s Philosophy.
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Everyone is an animal
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Man has evolved, but he has retained certain
animalistic qualities.
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Survival of the Fittest
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Man possesses this instinct.
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True self is revealed once a person is taken away from
society.
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Society = Laws and Reason
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Society governs our behavior.
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What if you take the person away from society and place
him in the primitive?
The Naturalists’ Philosophy
Heredity + Chance + Environment
= Fate
Quick Write #5 – H+C+E=F
Look at yourself – how has this
philosophy affected you?
Chapter 16: “The Alaska Interior”
1.
2.
Discuss the concept of chance/luck (both good
and bad) and the role it plays in Chris
McCandless’ fate in the Alaskan bush.
Was Chris a victim of bad luck? To what degree
did he have control over the events that occurred
during his 4 months stay in the Alaskan bush?
Cite textual evidence to support your answer.
Chapter 17: “The Stampede Trail”
1.
2.
Roman Dial states, “Sure he screwed up, but I
admire what he was trying to do. Living
completely off the land like that, month after
month, is incredibly difficult. I’ve never done it…
Living in the interior bush for an extended period,
subsisting on nothing except what you hunt and
gather—most people have no idea how hard that
actually is. And McCandless almost pulled it off”
(185).
Do you respect Chris for what he tried to
accomplish? Why or why not? Support your
response with textual evidence.
Chapter 18:”The Stampede Trail”
1.
2.
Now that you have completed the reading for Into The Wild, you
should have a much better understanding of Chris McCandless’
intentions and whether or not he was prepared for his trip into the
Alaskan bush. Do you think he knew what he was doing, or do
you think that he was ill-prepared and may have had a death
wish? State which position you believe to be true and support
your response with evidence. Then provide evidence and give a
counter-argument against those who would disagree with your
opinion.
Which of the following factors/forces—hubris, ignorance, chance,
environment, inexperience, romantic idealism, self-reliance—
played the greatest role in Chris McCandless’ death? Rank the
following elements in the order that you believe most likely led to
Chris’ death. (one being most influential, seven being the least).
Then justify your top 3 choices with evidence from the text to
explain your rationale of thinking.
from
Education of a Wondering Man
• “We are finally, all wonderers, in search of
knowledge. Most of us hold the dream of
becoming something better than we are,
something larger, richer in some way more
important to the world and ourselves. Too
often, the way taken is the wrong way,
with too much emphasis on what we want
to have, rather than what we wish to
become.” Louis L’Amour