Chpt 11-13 (103-132): “Into the Wild”
Begin your day by writing the standard, Essential question, and “Do Now” on the board.
Standards
WFV 1.0, 1.1, 1.2
WS 1.7 – organize and record information
RC 2.2- analyze clarity of meaning- patterns of organization, hierarchical structure, repetition of main ideas, syntax, word choice...
Essential question(s)
How does the structure of Chpts 1-2 set up meaning for Into the Wild?
Materials:
Chpt 3 handout “Into the Wild” book
Do Now:
What is
Agenda:
Into the Wild: Chapter 11-13
Word
Taciturn
Mercurial
"from the wrong side of the tracks"
Murky convergence of chromosomal matter
"Marches to a different drummer"
Entrepreneurial ventures
Nuance
Inequities
Incorrigible ham
Small dollop
Monomania
Meaning
Dour, stern, inclined to silence
Changing, animated, lively, volatile
From the bad part of town
how chromosomes come together to mysteriously
form a child who is himself
Unique, not part of the crowd
Business adventures
Subtle difference or distinction
Inequalities
A joker beyond all reform
A small lump or blob
psychosis characterized by thoughts confined to one
idea or group of ideas. Obsessed with one thing
Clemency
Rigorous moral code
lenity
Choler of self-righteous indignation
Sanctimonious hyprocrite
Forgiveness, gentleness, mercifulness
Harsh, severe, demanding view of right and wrong
Mild or gentle towards others
Anger aroused by something unjust
Obliquely
Anomalous political position
Idiosyncratic logic
Extemporaneous
Insurrectionists
Indirect, evasive, or devious/misleading
Not fitting into a common or familiar type
Habit peculiar to an individual, quirk
w/out special preparation
Abbreviated trip
Recalcitrant squint
Delineating
Keening
Balks
Fatuous
Shortened trip
making a hypocritical show of religious devotion, piety,
righteousness
rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil
authority or an established government.
resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant
Describe, portray, trace the outline
Wailing lament for the dead
To stop, as at an obstacle
Foolish or inane
1. What is McCandless’s family history. His father cheated on 1st wife to make Christopher,
but then made another son w/ his 1st wife too, before divorcing her.
2. Does that change your view of him? No, I kinda see that there was a reason for his
attitude, but he was angry @ his parents long before he knew about Family #1.
3. Characterize each of McCandless’s family members. What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Mother: Billie, kind, compassionate. Dumb, emotional
Father: Walt: strong, determined. A cheater, not in tune with emotional needs
Sister: Carine: sensitive, kind, fun; no weaknesses that I can determine
4. Was McCandless reasonable in his reaction to his parents’ past? It seemed to me a
complete overreaction.
5. Should he have forgiven them? I think he should. We, as humans, only do the best we can.
6. How do you think the information about his parents affected McCandless? He became
more distant, and he felt worthless- like a bastard child, unwanted, like HE caused the
problems, at the same time he blamed his father for the hurts. But, as usual, he
internalized the pain.
7. Does his anger at them explain something about McCandless’s choices in life? Yes.
8. Chapter 12 ends with McCandless’s mother talking about a dream (nightmare?) that she
had. Have you ever had such a thing happen to you? Should we take dreams such as
these seriously? Why or why not?
Once, I dreamt that I was visiting my uncle in the hospital. He had just survived a heart
attack. When I woke up the next day, I was told that he was in the hospital in Wyoming
from a heart attack. Stranger still, the next time we met, he told me he dreamt that I was
there talking to him. Should we take that seriously? No, we should look at it as a gift if it
comes true, but if it does not, chalk it up to paranoia.
Stylistic Choices
Words
A few pages into Chapter 13, Krakauer describes McCandless’s sister’s behavior when she was
told about her brother’s death.
9. Why does he use the word “keening” instead of crying? It is less cliché and brings an
image of wailing painfully, instead of merely “crying” which means something different to
each of us.
10. What are the denotations and connotations of this word? What is its history?
keen (adj.)
[From Irish Gaelic caoineadh, from caoninim, I lament, from Old Irish caínim, coínim,
perhaps of Brittonic origin.]
O.E. cene "bold brave," later "clever, wise," from P.Gmc. *kan- "be able to" (see can).
Original prehistoric senses seem to have been both "brave" and "Skilled;" cf. O.N. kænn
"skillful, wise," M.Du. coene "bold," O.H.G. kuon "pugnacious, strong," Ger. Kühn
"bold, daring." Sense of "eager" is from c.1350. The meaning "sharp" is peculiar to Eng.:
of blades and edges c.1225, of sounds c.1400, of eyesight c.1720. A popular word of
approval in teenager and student slang from c.1900.
Sentences
Reread aloud the next-to-last paragraph in Chapter 13, where Krakauer powerfully describes
Billie’s grief.
11. Rephrase the paragraph and simplify it in your own words.
Billie, his mother, sits at the table, blindly reviewing the pictorial record of her son’s final
days. Every now and then, tears swell her eyes.
12. What makes Krakauer’s description powerful?
The choice of words to avoid the cliché, and bring us directly into the moment – requiring
us to feel her pain.
Structure of the Text
These chapters give us important background knowledge.
13. Would the book have been more effective if Krakauer had used a different organizing
strategy?
If he had told the story in chronological order, it may have given me more time to get to
know Chris, and come to love him, instead of causing me to judge him so soon.
14. What if the book had ended with McCandless’s death (i.e., moved chronologically)?
Argue for an organizing strategy (either Krakauer’s strategy or another one).
Homework
Re-read Chapters 14-15 (133-156)
For Monday/Tuesday: Extra Credit opportunities: do some research on fasting and report to the class
what you find or write a short report (15 points, due TUESDAY). Read and write chapter summaries
(and an analysis of how the book relates to Into the Wild) on Thoreau’s Walden – or Life in the Woods
(80 points due FRIDAY).
Handout Final Paper assignment