Question B: Due Monday, November 17

Answer either question a or question b.

Question B:
In Chapter 11 "Chesapeake Bay" we finally meet Chris' parents and his sister and we learn about Chris as a child. What do you think about Chris' relationship with his father?

Krakauer introduces Chapter 12, which includes Chris McCandless’s discovery of his father’s infidelity, with a quotation from GK Chesterton: “For children are innocent and love justice, while most of us are wicked and naturally prefer mercy.” Who is guilty in this story (e.g. the book), if anyone? Do they deserve justice or mercy?

• Chris’s relationship with his father?

Question A: Due Monday, November 17

Respond to either question A or question B.

Question A:

Last week I asked you to think about ways that Chris was like the other Alaska adventurers. Only a few of you answered the question and we did not get around to talking about Chris' similarities and differences to the other adventurers in class on Thursday. For this post, think about the chapters on Waterman and Everett Russ and how they are described.

Do you think Chris was suicidal or mentally ill or both or neither? Why or why not? If not, how would you describe Chris' state of mind as he walked "into the wild?"

Project 3: What are you going to do?

You need to meet with me sometime before Thanksgiving (and preferably this week or next) about your project. Come prepared with a topic, an audience, and a project. You need to convince me this is a solid final project for the course. These meetings are mandatory. If you do not meet with me ahead of time I will not accept your final project.

After our meeting you will post your project and your plans to the class blog as a kind of contract between us that you understand the requirements of the assignment. The post will also let you and your classmates draw inspiration from one another.

Use the comment link below to post your project plans--be as specific as possible.

Question B: Due Wednesday, November 12

Pick either A or B.

Question B:
Chapter 8 focuses on other "Alaska Types" (71) such as Rosselli the Mayor of Hippie Cove and Waterman. What does it mean to be an "Alaska Type?" In what ways did Chris fit this mold? In what ways was Chris different than the other adventurers discussed in the chapter?

Use the comment link below to post your response.

Question A: Due Wednesday, November 12

Pick either Question A or B.

Question A:

Chapter 6 is devoted to the friendship between Ronald Franz and Chris McCandless. Why do you think the connected like they did? Why do you think was able to develop such strong relationships with other tramps or other "outsiders" such as Jan Burres and Wayne Westerberg? What do you these friendships or bonds tell you about Chris?

Use the comment link below to answer this question.

Question B: Due Monday, November 10

Answer either question A or B.

Question B:

Krakauer opens each chapter with an excerpt from another book--Alexander/Chris' journal, Tolstoy, London. Why does he quote from these books? What role do these excerpts play in the story Krakauer is telling? How do the excerpts set the scene/mood/tone of the chapter they introduce?

Please respond by adding in your comment below.

Question A: Blog Assignment for Monday, November 10.

Answer either question A or B:

Question A:
In Into the Wild John Krakauer opens the book with Alexander/Chris' entrance into the Stampede Trail followed by a chapter on finding Alexander/Chris' body. Why does Krakauer open the books with these scenes? How do these scenes introduce us to Alexander/Chris and what do they tell us, the reader, about him?

Please respond to this question by adding in your comment below.