Into the Wild

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Background information about the authors: Go to Grolier Passport or ProQuest Literature on the Alberta Learning Online Reference Centre.

Quotations from the authors: go to Bartelby.com.

Into the Wild                                                                                         Mr R

Jon Krakauer’s account of Christopher McCandless’ journey and subsequent demise has inspired millions of people around the world to re-examine their own lives and what is important to them.  Why would an intelligent, athletic, outgoing person from a privileged background renounce all of his belongings, titles and family in search of something more?  What was it that inspired him to take the many risks that he did? 

In his attempt to explain these seemingly incongruous actions, Krakauer includes many references, both direct and indirect, to authors that McCandless studied and loved.  Figures such as Thoreau, London and Tolstoy (among others) are famed authors and philosophers and their words spoke strongly to Chris.

   

 

Your task is to research one of these authors, focusing on the connections between their thoughts and McCandless’ actions.  

Leo Tolstoy                Jack London                 Henry David Thoreau

 

 One day will be provided in the library and the next class you will present your findings to your classmates in groups of three.

You will need to provide:

        - a brief summary of the author’s life

        - a discussion of their main philosophical ideas and works (with important quotations)

        - a discussion of how these ideas influenced Chris

A comprehensive one-page handout of your information will be given to both Mr R and each of your group members (3 in total).

Paramount Vantage's

 

Key words: allusion, philosophy, renounce, archetype, ascetic, simple, escape…

This site is the property of M. E. LaZerte High School, Edmonton Public Schools. While you are most welcome to use this site, its organization, all annotations, and most activities are copyrighted, and permission must be sought for their reproduction. E-mail questions to C. Peterson, M.E. LaZerte High School Teacher Librarian, at cynthia dot peterson at epsb dot ca (replace the word "at" with the @ symbol; "dot" with a period). Last updated Last updated Feb. 19/08.