Vocab List #3: Into the Wild 1. Affluent (adj)- wealthy 2. Emulate (v)- to strive to equal or surpass an example of something 3. Asceticism (n)- quality of depriving oneself of luxuries; simplicity; anti-materialism 4. Rendering (n) – creation; someone’s version of something 5. Convoluted (adj)- complicated; twisted 6. Unsullied (adj)- pure; not corrupted 7. Congenial (adj)- friendly; amiable; sociable 8. Meandering (v/adj)- wandering (v); something that has twists and turns (adj) 9. Derelict (adj/n) – in poor condition (adj); a very poor person who lives on the fringe of society (n) 10. Contumacious (adj) – disobedient towards authority 11. Cursory (adj) – basic; not detailed; hastily done 12. Enigmatic (adj) – mysterious; puzzling (usually describes people)
Vocab Activity 3.1 Using all the words on List 3, write sentences that relate to literature from the past: 9th-10th grade, or The Catcher in the Rye. If you see the opportunity to use more than one word in a sentence or to switch the part of speech if you know how, go for it!
Vocab List #3: Parts of Speech 1. Affluent (adj) affluence (n) 2. Emulate (v) emulation (n) 3. Asceticism (n) ascetic (adj/n); ascetically (adv) 4. Rendering (n) render (v) 5. Convoluted (adj) convolution (n); convolute (v) 6. Unsullied (adj) sully (v); sullied (adj) 7. Congenial (adj) congenially (adv); congeniality (n) 8. Meandering (v/adj) meanderer (n) 9. Derelict (adj/n) 10. Contumacious (adj) contumaciously (adv); contumaciousness (n) 11. Cursory (adj) cursoriness (n) 12. Enigmatic (adj) enigmatically (adv); enigma (n)
Vocab Activity 3.2 Using all the words from List 3, complete one of the following creative options: -An article about a crime that was committed -A story -A letter -A song or a poem ITW-related suggestions: -A song or a poem about Chris’s journey -An advertisement about traveling to Alaska
Santa letter Dear Santa, I have always fulminated about your enigmatic existence, and you could prove it to me if you bring gifts to the less affluent, more derelict people in society this Xmas. It would be quite congenial if you would do so. I myself do not need gifts because I am Jewish and celebrate Hanukkah. Also I am ascetic and don’t believe in extreme gift-giving. It is best to live in a cursory way, not bogged down by tons of material items. I hope this Xmas that you are able to render my idea for giving to those less fortunate, and do not become deterred by your meandering reindeer. Love, Ms. Bond PS. I heard that some of your reindeer were being contumacious towards Rudolph, and are trying to obliterate him. That is very sad and selfish, as he is an unsullied reindeer simply trying to emulate being helpful. I’m sorry reindeer politics are so convoluted.
Letter from Chris to his parents Dear Mom and Dad, I know you must be worried sick about me, fulminating about all the terrible things that could have happened to me, and I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch for so long, but the reasons why I left are quite convoluted. I’m not trying to be contumacious, but you are not the kind of people I want to emulate. Though you are congenial and caring, I’ve always felt that our family’s affluence has sullied our values. I need to meander the country, unattached to materials or social institutions, in order to render my own philosophy of life, different from yours. I have brought little with me, and am so far thinking that asceticism is the way to find meaning in life. You may determine at this point that I’m a derelict and that my actions have obliterated our relationship, but I hope when I return to civilization that we can find some common ground. I’m sure you will always find me enigmatic, but we may be able to resolve our differences nonetheless. I know this is only a cursory explanation of my choice to run away, but that’s all I care to say for now. Please don’t try to track me and down and deter me from my mission. Love, Chris
Vocab Activity 3.3 Using all the words from List 3, write sentences describing what you have read so far in Into the Wild or the texts about transcendentalism.