Describe a time that you felt like walking/driving away from all of your stresses. Where would you go? Why are you leaving?

INTO THE WILD MODULE: Reading in 4 class periods (fast!) Analyzing character development and our interpretation and opinion of Chris McCandless End assessment – a literary analysis paper discussing Chris/character/our opinions as they developed through the story

Jon Krakauer Author of Into the Wild

 Born in 1954  Grew up in Corvallis, Oregon  Father introduced him to mountaineering as an 8-year-old  So he was very passionate about the outdoors from a very young age.  Graduated from Hampshire College in 1976

Krakauer: Post-College After college he traveled around Colorado, Alaska, & the Pacific Northwest After college he traveled around Colorado, Alaska, & the Pacific Northwest Worked primarily as a carpenter and commercial salmon fisherman Worked primarily as a carpenter and commercial salmon fisherman Spent all his free time outdoors Spent all his free time outdoors

ADVENTURES 1977 Traveled alone to the remote Stikine Icecap in Southeast Alaska  Went three weeks without encountering another person  Climbed a new route on an intimidating peak called the Devil’s Thumb Devil’s Thumb

ADVENTURES (cont.) 1992 Climbed the West Face of Cerro Torre in the Patagonian Andes 1992 Climbed the West Face of Cerro Torre in the Patagonian Andes  A mile-high spike of granite, Cerro Torre was once considered the most difficult mountain on earth May 1996 Climbed Mt. Everest May 1996 Climbed Mt. Everest  A snow storm hit during his team’s descent from the summit, killing 4 of his 5 teammates  Wrote Into Thin Air about his experience

Other Publications Has been published in:  Outside  Rolling Stone  TIME  The New York Times  National Geographic  Many others… #1 New York Times Bestseller 1998 Pulitzer Prize

1.In the opening, Krakauer says McCandless went into the wilderness seeking a “transcendent experience.” Think back to your Junior year and transcendentalism. Using prior knowledge define “transcendent experience.” 2.Krakauer says that the wilderness has a grip on the American imagination. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? 3.Krakauer also states that “young men of a certain mind” are more prone to high-risk activities. What does he mean by this? Do you agree? And is it only men? 4.After reading the author’s note, do you believe Krakauer will be able to accurately tell Chris’s tale, given his admitted bias? Why or why not?

Into the Wild