Into the Wild
Enrichment OUTSIDE article
Death of an Innocent : How Christopher McCandless Lost His Way in the Wild

Learning Focus: I can independently read and comprehend grade-level texts [CCSS.ELA.11-12.RI.10]
Directions: The article you are about to read is what inspired Jon Krakauer to write the novel, Into the Wild. This article, when published, developed and inspired more mail and response than any other article had in the magazine’s history. Krakauer felt such a connection to Chris that he traced his journey for a year, turning it into a national bestseller that has inspired audiences since its publication in 1996. As you read the article, complete the chart below, using evidence to support your claims.

Question/ Commentary
Your Answer
1. James Gallien is not the first person to meet Alex (aka Chris) on his journey, but he is the man that brings him to the final destination of his journey where Chris’s body is later found. He noticed that Chris did not fit the typical look of a hitchhiker, and seemed to have an educated air about him. What worries Gallien about Chris? Why does he try to dissuade him from beginning his journey?

2. On p. 2, Krakauer provides some insight into Chris’s character and personality. What type of ‘young man’ was Chris? What inspired him to begin his journey? What were his goals?

3. On p. 3, Krakauer provides insight into the day that Chris was found in the bus. In paragraph 19, Westerberg states that he believed that Chris “did too much thinking”. Why do you think that Westerberg sees this as a bad thing? What does he truly mean by this statement?

4. On p.4, Krakauer provides us with clues about Chris’s character. What do these clues tell us about Chris? What is your opinion of him, & what did he believe was important in life?
TIP: Leo Tolstoy is a Russian author who wrote the novels Anna Karenina & War and Peace. He was a moral thinker, social reformer, and a believer of a literal interpretation of social values.

5. On p. 5-6, Krakauer discusses the final postcard that Chris sent Westerberg. Do you believe, as some people did, that Chris really entered the wild with the intention of dying? Why/ why not? Also, what was the relationship between Chris and Westerberg?

6. On p. 5-6 Krakauer makes a personal connection to Chris. Explain it. What does he mean when he states “That’s a very different thing from wanting to die”? (paragraph 39)
TIP: Hubris is the Greek word for excessive pride. This is often found as one of the qualities of a tragic hero according to the Greek philosopher Aristotle.

7. On p. 7, we are given more information about Chris as a teenager, and how his cross-country teammates respected him. What did his workout ‘Road Warriors’ foreshadow about his future life and travels?

8. On p. 8, Krakauer discusses how Chris changed in college. What do you think drove Chris to become an introvert? What aspects of college life changed Chris, and how did this impact him in his future choices?
TIP: Introvert: a person characterized by concern primarily with his own thoughts and feelings

9. On p. 10, Krakauer compares Chris to monks. What similarities does he believe Chris shared with them? What does this illustrate about Krakauer’s opinion of Chris as an individual?

10. On p. 11, Krakauer describes Chris’s first days after arriving in Alaska. Briefly describe his first weeks in seclusion there, and the obstacles he faced.
TIP: Extremist: a person who goes to extremes, especially in political matters.
Aesthetic Voyager: concerned with the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.

11. On p. 12, Krakauer delves into the final moments of Chris’s journey. Do you think that Chris was truly ready to go home? What do you think he meant by the entry “Family happiness”?

12. Toward the bottom of p. 12, Krakauer explains Chris’s decisions and the notion of him being extremely obsessed with the idea of being self-reliant. Do you think that Chris took this idea to the extreme? Why or why not?

13. On p. 13-14, Krakauer explains Chris’s final days, and his succumbing to starvation. Look again at the verses of the poem that Chris tore out of his book. Why do you believe he focused on these specific lines? What do they mean?

Question

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18-01-2023
English

Answered

Into the Wild
Enrichment OUTSIDE article
Death of an Innocent : How Christopher McCandless Lost His Way in the Wild

Learning Focus: I can independently read and comprehend grade-level texts [CCSS.ELA.11-12.RI.10]
Directions: The article you are about to read is what inspired Jon Krakauer to write the novel, Into the Wild. This article, when published, developed and inspired more mail and response than any other article had in the magazine’s history. Krakauer felt such a connection to Chris that he traced his journey for a year, turning it into a national bestseller that has inspired audiences since its publication in 1996. As you read the article, complete the chart below, using evidence to support your claims.

Question/ Commentary
Your Answer
1. James Gallien is not the first person to meet Alex (aka Chris) on his journey, but he is the man that brings him to the final destination of his journey where Chris’s body is later found. He noticed that Chris did not fit the typical look of a hitchhiker, and seemed to have an educated air about him. What worries Gallien about Chris? Why does he try to dissuade him from beginning his journey?

2. On p. 2, Krakauer provides some insight into Chris’s character and personality. What type of ‘young man’ was Chris? What inspired him to begin his journey? What were his goals?

3. On p. 3, Krakauer provides insight into the day that Chris was found in the bus. In paragraph 19, Westerberg states that he believed that Chris “did too much thinking”. Why do you think that Westerberg sees this as a bad thing? What does he truly mean by this statement?

4. On p.4, Krakauer provides us with clues about Chris’s character. What do these clues tell us about Chris? What is your opinion of him, & what did he believe was important in life?
TIP: Leo Tolstoy is a Russian author who wrote the novels Anna Karenina & War and Peace. He was a moral thinker, social reformer, and a believer of a literal interpretation of social values.

5. On p. 5-6, Krakauer discusses the final postcard that Chris sent Westerberg. Do you believe, as some people did, that Chris really entered the wild with the intention of dying? Why/ why not? Also, what was the relationship between Chris and Westerberg?

6. On p. 5-6 Krakauer makes a personal connection to Chris. Explain it. What does he mean when he states “That’s a very different thing from wanting to die”? (paragraph 39)
TIP: Hubris is the Greek word for excessive pride. This is often found as one of the qualities of a tragic hero according to the Greek philosopher Aristotle.

7. On p. 7, we are given more information about Chris as a teenager, and how his cross-country teammates respected him. What did his workout ‘Road Warriors’ foreshadow about his future life and travels?

8. On p. 8, Krakauer discusses how Chris changed in college. What do you think drove Chris to become an introvert? What aspects of college life changed Chris, and how did this impact him in his future choices?
TIP: Introvert: a person characterized by concern primarily with his own thoughts and feelings

9. On p. 10, Krakauer compares Chris to monks. What similarities does he believe Chris shared with them? What does this illustrate about Krakauer’s opinion of Chris as an individual?

10. On p. 11, Krakauer describes Chris’s first days after arriving in Alaska. Briefly describe his first weeks in seclusion there, and the obstacles he faced.
TIP: Extremist: a person who goes to extremes, especially in political matters.
Aesthetic Voyager: concerned with the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.

11. On p. 12, Krakauer delves into the final moments of Chris’s journey. Do you think that Chris was truly ready to go home? What do you think he meant by the entry “Family happiness”?

12. Toward the bottom of p. 12, Krakauer explains Chris’s decisions and the notion of him being extremely obsessed with the idea of being self-reliant. Do you think that Chris took this idea to the extreme? Why or why not?

13. On p. 13-14, Krakauer explains Chris’s final days, and his succumbing to starvation. Look again at the verses of the poem that Chris tore out of his book. Why do you believe he focused on these specific lines? What do they mean?

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