INTO THE WILD- Jon Krakauer - DOC - DOC

							               INTO THE WILD- Jon Krakauer
                       Novel Study
CHAPTER 1:
Vocabulary-
  1. Unsullied (pg.4)-
  2. Sonorous (pg.4)-
  3. Congenial (pg.5)-

Questions-
  1. What was Jim Gallien’s initial impression of McCandless? Did it
      change at all by the time he dropped him off? (pg. 4)




   2. What did Gallien tell Chris to try and dissuade him from going off
      into the wilderness? (pg.5-6)




   3. When Gallien asks Chris if he has a hunting licence, how does Chris
      reply? What does this say about his opinions of authority figures?
      (pg. 6)




   4. Why did Chris insist that Gallien take his watch and all of his money?
      (pg. 7)




   5. Describe Krakauer’s tone in the first chapter. Do you think he is
      sympathetic towards Chris?
  6. The story starts out describing the death of the protagonist, Chris
     McCandless, and then goes back in time to account the journey of
     how he ended up in the Alaskan wilderness. Why do you think the
     author decided to write in this fashion instead of starting from the
     beginning of Chris’s travels in chronological order?

CHAPTER 2:
Vocabulary-
  1. Ominous (pg. 9)-
  2. Mirthless (pg.9)-
  3. Infallibility (pg.9)-
  4. Futility (pg.9)-
  5. Escarpments (pg.10)-
  6. Amalgam (pg.10)-
  7. Meandering (pg.10)-
  8. Antimony (pg.10)-
  9. Obliterated (pg.10)-
  10. Derelict (pg.10)-
  11. Incongruously (pg.10)-
  12.Anomaly (pg.11)-
  13. Contumacious (pg.11)-
  14. Cursory (pg.13)-
  15.Environs (pg.13)-
  16.Enigmatic (pg.13)-
  17. Subcutaneous (pg.14)-

Questions-
  1. How did Bus 142 get on the Stampede Trail? (pg.10)



  2. What did the note say that the men found on the bus? (pg.12)



  3. What did the autopsy conclude was the result of Chris’ death? (pg.14)
   4. Explain how the quote at the beginning of the chapter is important to
      what Krakauer discusses in this chapter. (pg.9)




CHAPTER 3:
Vocabulary-
  1. Oppression (pg. 15)-
  2. Irksome (pg. 15)-
  3. Tendrils (pg. 16)-
  4. Hyperkinetic (pg. 16)-
  5. Itinerant (pg. 16)-
  6. Emotive (pg. 16)-
  7. Convivial (pg. 18)-
  8. Enamored (pg. 18)-
  9. Plebian (pg. 18)-
  10.Mien (pg. 18)-
  11.Contrite (pg. 19)-
  12.Altruistic (pg. 19)-
  13.Admonish (pg. 21)-
  14.Unencumbered (pg. 27)-
  15.Emancipated (pg. 27)-
  16.Abstraction (pg. 27)-

Questions-
  1. Describe the town of Carthage. Why was Alex so attracted to the
      town? (pg.15-16; 18)



   2. What are “rubber tramps/leather tramps”? (pg. 17)




   3. How does Westerberg describe Alex? (pg. 18)
  4. What did Alex give Wayne before he left Carthage? Why? (pg. 19)


  5. Describe Chris’ life prior to traveling. (pg. 20)


  6. What is the issue with Chris’ car? What does this say about his
     opinion of his parents? (pg. 20)


  7. What did Chris change his name to? Why do you think he did this?
     (pg. 23)




CHAPTER 4:
Vocabulary-
  1. Austere (pg. 25)-
  2. Esthetics (pg. 25)-
  3. Inimical (pg. 25)-
  4. Interdiction (pg. 27)-
  5. Egress (pg. 28)-
  6. Flout (pg. 28)-
  7. Brackish (pg. 31)-
  8. Emasculated (pg. 32)-
  9. Indolently (pg. 32)-
  10.Saguaros (pg. 33)-
  11.Confounded (pg. 35)-
  12.Contemplative (pg. 35)-
  13.Perfunctory (pg. 35)-
  14.Precipitous (pg. 36)-
Questions-
  1. Who found Chris’ car? Where was it found? (pg. 25)
   2. Did Chris intentionally mean to leave his car abandoned in the desert?
      (pg. 28)




   3. What did Chris do immediately after abandoning his car? (pg. 29)



   4. Who did Chris meet up with in the Redwood forests of California?
      (pg. 30)



   5. What prompted Chris’ parents to send out a private investigator after
      him? (pg. 31)



   6. Why do you think Alex writes in his journal in third person? Is this
      normal? (pg. 34-37)



   8. Why didn’t he go to LA as planned? (pg. 37)



CHAPTER 5:
Vocabulary-
  1. Primordial (pg. 38)-
  2. Idiom (pg. 39)-
  3. Ideologue (pg. 39)-
  4. Bourgeois (pg. 39)-
  5. Affinity (pg. 39)-
  6. Garrulous (pg. 40)-
  7. Denuded (pg. 41)-
  8. Fatuous (pg. 44)-
  9. Espoused (pg. 44)-
  10.Denizens (pg. 45)-
Questions-
  1. Why does Krakauer believe Alex fell in love with Bullhead City?
  (Pg. 39)




   2. What did the other McDonald’s employees think of Chris? (pg. 40-41)




   3. Why did Chris like the author, Jack London, so much? What is ironic
      about Jack London’s actual life? (pg. 44)




   4. Explain what Chris’ stay in Niland was like. (pg. 43-46)




   5. Jan Burres thought that Alex would be alright in Alaska because of all
      the other adventures he had lived through, such as canoeing to
      Mexico, hopping trains, camping in the desert and living in the inner
      city with virtually no resources. Do you think the Alaskan wilderness
      is similar to his other excursions? Compare/Contrast.
CHAPTER 6:
Vocabulary-
  1. Intangible (pg. 47)-
  2. Anachronistic (pg. 47)-
  3. Indelible (pg. 48)-
  4. Hegira (pg. 48)-
  5. Unabated (pg. 49)-
  6. Prodigious (pg. 49)-
  7. Inundating (pg. 49)-
  8. Desiccated (pg. 49)-
  9. Nexus (pg. 49)-
  10.Indigent (pg. 50)-
  11.Sedentary (pg. 50)-
  12.Harangues (pg. 50)-
  13.Fulminate (pg. 52)-
  14.Endemic (pg. 52)-
  15.Unalloyed (pg. 55)-
  16.Meticulously (pg. 55)-
  17.Burgeoning (pg. 56)-

Questions-
  1. Describe Ronald Franz. (pg. 47)




   2. How does Alex react when Ronald approaches him about his living
      situation? (pg. 51)




   3. In a letter to Jan Burres, Alex describes his “new” mode of
      transportation. What is it and what experiences does he draw from it?
      (pg. 53)
  4. What does Franz request of Alex? How does Alex react? (pg. 55)




  5. In the letter to Ronald Franz, Alex mentions that “…providing he get
     through his Alaskan adventure…” he would contact Franz. Alex also
     uttered a similar line in a letter to Wayne Westerberg saying “…if this
     adventure proves to be fatal…” This is not said in his letters
     documenting other adventures. Do you think Alex purposely meant to
     push himself to the extreme in the Alaska trip? Do you think he really
     intended to make it out alive? (pg. 56)




  6. What does Alex insist that Franz do with his life? What is ironic
     about the advice that Alex is giving? (pg. 57-58)




  7. How does Franz react to Alex’s death?




CHAPTER 7:
Vocabulary-
     1. Bereavement (pg. 61)-
     2. Pathological (pg. 61)-
     3. Canted (pg. 61)-
     4. Surfeit (pg. 62)-
     5. Conjecture (pg. 64)-
     6. Astute (pg. 64)-
     7. Hypocrisy (pg. 64)-
     8. Tyranny (pg. 64)-
     9. Immoderation (pg. 64)-
     10.Rapport (pg. 65)-
      11.Tittilated (pg. 66)-
      12.Leer (pg. 66)-
      13.Corollary (pg. 66)-
      14.Purports (pg. 66)-
      15.Ambivalence (pg. 66)-
      16.Sojourn (pg. 66)-

Questions-
  1. Westerberg comments that Alex lacked common sense. Are there any
      other situations where you think his lack of common sense lead to
      poor decisions? Do you believe his death was a direct result of this?
      (pg. 62-63)




   2. We learn a bit more about Chris’ relationship with his parents. What
      does he plan to do about his parents in the letter he writes to his sister,
      Carine, and what does this say about him as a person? (pg. 64)




   3. Why does Krakauer comment on Chris’ sexual orientation and
      behavior? What significance does it have to understanding his
      character? (Pg. 65-66)




   4. What hint of foreshadowing did Gail Borah notice as Alex was
      leaving? (pg. 68)
   5. Up to this point, Alex has impacted many people in his travels. Note
      what impression he left and how he impacted each of the following:
            Jan Burres-


            Wayne Westerberg-


            Gail Borah-



            Ronald Franz-


CHAPTER 8:
Vocabulary-
  1. Opprobrium (pg. 71)-
  2. Epistle (pg. 71)-
  3. Requisite (pg. 72)-
  4. Recondite (pg. 72)-
  5. Eremitic (pg. 73)-
  6. Banalities (pg. 73)-
  7. Dogged (pg. 74)-
  8. Equanimity (pg. 75)-
  9. Posit (pg. 77)-
  10.Copious (pg. 78)-
  11.Affable (pg. 80)-
  12.Bravado (pg. 81)-
  13.Posthumously (pg. 81)-
  14.Emaciated (pg. 84)-
  15.Paucity (pg. 85)-

Questions-
  1. The Edward Hoagland quote at the beginning of chapter 8 comments
      on the romantic view that writer’s often give the wilderness. What
      point is he trying to make in his quote? (pg. 70)
   2. Describe the following people and explain how their stories
      compare/contrast to McCandless’. Krakauer offers his explanations
      on how they relate, but also include your own opinions:
            Gene Rosellini (pg. 73-75)-



            John Waterman (pg. 75- 80)-




            Carl McCunn (pg. 81-84)-


   3. Unlike the other examples he uses, Krakauer refers to McCandless as
      a pilgrim. Is this title accurate?




CHAPTER 9:
Vocabulary-
  1. Ephemeral (pg. 88)-
  2. Plaintive (pg. 88)-
  3. Eminent (pg. 90)-
  4. Esthete (pg. 90)-
  5. Atavistic (pg. 90)-
  6. Incendiary (pg. 91)-
  7. Penchant (pg. 94)-
  8. Veracity (pg. 95)-
  9. Insolence (pg. 95)-
  10.Picaresque (pg. 95)-

Questions-
  1. Describe the story of Everett Ruess. Compare/Contarst to
      McCandless. (pg. 89-)
  2. What did Everett Ruess carve into the wall of the Davis Gulch? What
     did it mean and what novel is it in reference to? (pg. 93-94)




  3. Who are the papar? (pg. 97)




CHAPTER 11:
Vocabulary-
  1. Taciturn (pg. 103)-
  2. Rapt (pg. 104)-
  3. Imperceptibly (pg. 104)-
  4. Arcane (pg. 104)-
  5. Cadence (pg. 105)-
  6. Mercurial (pg. 105)-
  7. Volatility (pg. 105)-
  8. Chastened (pg. 105)-
  9. Rancor (pg. 107)-
  10.Ostensibly (pg. 108)-
  11.Panache (pg. 110)-
  12.Rudimentary (pg. 111)-
  13. Gregarious (pg. 115)-
  14.Incorrigible (pg. 115)-
  15.Morass (pg. 116)-
Questions-
  1. Why is Walt McCandless’ profession so crucial to the story? Do you
  think people would approach Chris’ story differently if his parents
  weren’t so high profile? (pg. 104)




   2. What is the importance behind the Gianni guitar? (pg. 106)




   3. Why did Chris’ parents push the subject of education and money so
      much? What were Chris’ reactions to these issues?

CHAPTER 12:
Vocabulary-
  1. Obsequious (pg. 117)-
  2. Cynical (pg. 120)-
  3. Sanctimonious (pg. 122)-
  4. Indignation (pg. 122)-
  5. Idiosyncratic (pg. 123)-
  6. Lambasted (pg. 123)-
  7. Castigated (pg. 123)-
  8. Extemporaneous (pg. 124)-
  9. Pellucid (pg. 124)-

Questions-
  1. Carine comments that after Chris arrived home from his first
      transcontinental trek that “he was so thin he looked like those
      paintings of Jesus on the cross.” What is ironic about this reference?
      (pg. 118)
   2. Chris went behind his parents back to canvass old neighborhood
      friends on his father’s secret “relations”. Why do you think he went
      to these lengths to find out about his father’s past? Do you think his
      anger was justified? (pg. 121)




   3. Why do you think Chris was able to forgive and even idolize other
      men with faults much greater than his father’s?




   4. What are your opinions of Walt and Billie McCandless?




   5. Krakauer is not a psychologist, yet he focuses on the strained
   relationship between Chris and his father, as well as his other examples
   (John Waterman) and the father-son rift as a catalyst behind young men
   going on life-threatening expeditions. To what extent do you think a
   failed father-son relationship impacted Chris or others to “live on the
   edge’?




CHAPTER 13:
  1. We can assume that Chris refused to contact his parents because of the
     rift between them, but why do you think he alienated Carine, a person
     whom he professed as the only one he loved and could talk to about
     his problems?
CHAPTER 14:
Vocabulary-
  1. Sublime (pg. 133)-
  2. Zeal (pg. 134)-
  3. Existential (pg. 134)-
  4. Sinister (pg. 135)-
  5. Demarcates (pg. 136)-
  6. Inveigled (pg. 136)-
  7. Desideratum (pg. 137)-
  8. Labyrinth (pg. 137)-
  9. Crampons (pg. 138)-
  10.Penitent (pg. 138)-
  11.Mundane (pg. 138)-
  12.Comelier (pg. 138)-
  13.Phantasmagoria (pg. 139)-
  14.Tumult (pg. 139)-
  15.Recumbent (pg. 140)-
  16.Dearth (pg. 142)-

Questions-
  1. What did Jon Krakauer plan to accomplish when he went to Alaska?
      (pg. 134-135)




   2. What has Krakauer’s experience on the ice-cap been like up to this
      point? What emotions have been most prominent?




CHAPTER 15:
Vocabulary-
  1. Contingent (pg. 145)-
  2. Conflagration (pg. 147)-
  3. Acrid (pg. 147)-
  4. Autocratic (pg. 147)-
  5. Progeny (pg. 147)-
  6. Insurrection (pg. 148)-
  7. Deity (pg. 148)-
  8. Ambulate (pg. 149)-
  9. Formidable (pg. 149)-
  10.Metastasized (pg. 150)- to
  11.Volition (pg. 151)-
  12.Calamitous (pg. 152)-
  13.Abated (pg. 152)-
  14.Reprise (pg. 153)-
  15.Patina (pg. 153)-
  16.Malevolent (pg. 153)-
  17.Hubris (pg. 155)-

Questions-
  1. What happened to Krakauer’s tent? (pg. 146-147)




  2. What was Krakauer’s relationship with his father like? How did this
     contribute to his decisions to partake in extreme excursions? What
     prompted Krakauer to eventually reconcile in the end? (pg. 148-149)




  3. What did Krakauer realize when he finally got back to the village of
     Petersburg? (pg. 154)



  4. Upon pondering his excursion, Krakauer realizes why he wanted to
     climb the Devil’s Thumb. What reason does he give? (pg. 155)



  5. Krakauer says, “The fact that I survived my Alaska adventure and
     McCandless didn’t was largely a matter of chance.” Do you agree
     with this statement? (pg. 155)
CHAPTER 16:
Vocabulary-
  1. Divest (pg. 157)-
  2. Factitious (pg. 157)-
  3. Laconic (pg. 162)-
  4. Rubicon (pg. 163)-
  5. Blithely (pg. 163)-
  6. Reverie (pg. 164)-
  7. Perambulation (pg. 164)-
  8. Counterintuitive (pg. 164)-
  9. Axiom (pg. 164)-
  10.Ruminates (pg. 167)-
  11.Repugnance (pg. 167)-
  12.Idyll (pg. 168)-

Questions-
  1. Who gives Alex a ride while hitch-hiking? Why do you think he was
      so open with a stranger about his family problems when he refused to
      speak about them with anyone in the past 2 years? (pg. 159)




   2. What does Alex’s journal entry on pg. 163 reveal about how he
      perceives his adventure?




   3. In reality, was Alex “lost in the wild” at Bus 142?




   4. What obstacle prevented McCandless from hiking back down the
      Stampede trail? (pg. 170)
CHAPTER 17:
Vocabulary-
  1. Miasma (pg. 175)-
  2. Supplanted (pg. 176)-
  3. Unequivocally (pg. 177)-
  4. Tableau (pg. 179)-
  5. Hauteur (pg. 180)-
  6. Sobriquet (pg. 181)-
  7. Humility (pg. 181)-
  8. Perilously (pg. 182)-
  9. Grandiose (pg. 182)-
  10.Ramparts (pg. 183)-
  11.Modicum (pg. 184)-
  12.Dubious (pg. 184)-
Questions-
  1. How do Krakauer and his party get across the Teklanika River? Why
      couldn’t McCandless have used this method? (pg.173-174)



   2. Describe Krakauer’s tone throughout this chapter.




   3. Who was McCandless compared to in this chapter? Why? (pg. 180-
      181)



CHAPTER 18:
Questions-
  1. What did Krakauer suggest as the possible causes of Chris’ rapid
      decline? How does this differ from the results of the autopsy? (pg.
      190-194)
2. Why do you think Krakauer stresses the fact that Chris’ “minor”
   mistake in plant identification cost him his life?




3. McCandless states in his journal that he has “literally become trapped
   in the wild.” How does this statement contrast what he initially states
   at the beginning of his trek? Describe the irony of this statement.




4. McCandless wrote in one of his books: “HAPPINNESS ONLY REAL
WHEN SHARED.” What is so tragic about this quote?