From this journey, Krakauer uncovered that
1. Chris lacked a good map.(p.174) If Chris has a good accurate map he could navigate himself around the Teklanika river safely.
2. Chris came into the country with "insufficient provisions and lacked certain pieces of equipment deemed essential by many Alaskans:a large-caliber rifle, map and compass, an ax."(p.180)
3. Chris did not bother to master the crucial skills you need to survive in the wilderness for an extended period of time.(p.182) If he practiced what he needed to learn to live by himself before his went on his journey, maybe he would walk out alive.
4. Chris was quick to engage in "risky behavior" and took it to a "logical extreme"(p.182). If Chris was more cautious and planned out his journey in more detail he may have survived.
5. "McCandless distrusted the value of things that came easily. He demanded much of himself-more, in the end, than he could deliver"(p.184). If Chris was not so hard on himself, I think he could have survived.
Similarities between Sir John Franklin and McCandless
1. They both starved.(p.181)
2. They both were perceived to have lacked a requisite humility.(p.181)
Differences between Sir John Franklin and McCandless
1. "McCandless's arrogance was not of the same strain as Franklin's. Franklin regarded nature as an antagonist. Chris went too far in the opposite direction"(p.181). Chris embraced nature and lived entirely off the country.
2. John Franklin had people with him on his journey into Alaska. McCandless was alone.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Question 47: Chapter 13
Compare and Contrast Chris and his sister, Carine. Include how their lives evolved in reaction to their parents' situation. List 3-4 for each
Comparisons between Chris and Carine
1. They were about the same height and they looked a lot alike.(some asked if they were twins).(p.128)
2. They are both energetic and self-assured.(p.129)
3. They are both high achievers and quick to state an opinion.(p.129)
4. They both clashed fiercely with Walt and Billie as teenagers.(p.129)
Differences between Chris and Carine
1. Carine made peace with her parents shortly after Chris disappeared and Chris never made up with them.(p.129)
2. Carine is much more diligent than Chris and would never off into the wilderness alone.(p.129)
3. Carine has no objection to wealth. Whereas Chris, liked to live without wealth enjoying his life by living simply.
Comparisons between Chris and Carine
1. They were about the same height and they looked a lot alike.(some asked if they were twins).(p.128)
2. They are both energetic and self-assured.(p.129)
3. They are both high achievers and quick to state an opinion.(p.129)
4. They both clashed fiercely with Walt and Billie as teenagers.(p.129)
Differences between Chris and Carine
1. Carine made peace with her parents shortly after Chris disappeared and Chris never made up with them.(p.129)
2. Carine is much more diligent than Chris and would never off into the wilderness alone.(p.129)
3. Carine has no objection to wealth. Whereas Chris, liked to live without wealth enjoying his life by living simply.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Question 46: Chapter 16
To prepare for his journey, Chris is taken by Stuckey to the grocery store to buy a big bag a rice for his food. Then he goes to the University of Alaska campus where he finds a field guide to edible plants, and he also bought a used gun for the trip.
Personal Philosophies Chris learned
1. That butchering is extremely difficult.(uncovered when he killed the moose.)
2. Do not cross the Teklanika river at during rough currents because you can die.(Chris learned the hard way when he nearly drowned.)
3. Chris declares, "Deliberate Living: Conscious attention to the basics of life, a constant attention to your immediate environment and its concerns"(p.168)
4. Chris learns the meaning of life as he states, "The Great Holiness of FOOD, the Vital Heat., Positivism, the Insurpassable Joy of the Life Aesthetic., Absolute Truth and Honesty., Reality., Independence., Finality-Stability-Consistency"(p.168).
5. After the remorse Chris felt about not being able to preserve some of the remains of the moose, he states, "Henceforth will learn to accept my errors, however great they be"(p.167).
Personal Philosophies Chris learned
1. That butchering is extremely difficult.(uncovered when he killed the moose.)
2. Do not cross the Teklanika river at during rough currents because you can die.(Chris learned the hard way when he nearly drowned.)
3. Chris declares, "Deliberate Living: Conscious attention to the basics of life, a constant attention to your immediate environment and its concerns"(p.168)
4. Chris learns the meaning of life as he states, "The Great Holiness of FOOD, the Vital Heat., Positivism, the Insurpassable Joy of the Life Aesthetic., Absolute Truth and Honesty., Reality., Independence., Finality-Stability-Consistency"(p.168).
5. After the remorse Chris felt about not being able to preserve some of the remains of the moose, he states, "Henceforth will learn to accept my errors, however great they be"(p.167).
Question 45: Chapter 16
I believe that Stuckey should have gotten Chris's parents phone numbers. I think that it would be a good idea to have their numbers in case Chris informed Stuckey about his whereabouts. If Stuckey had called Chris's parents things would not change much. Chris's parents would definitely become worried for their son and drive over to try and find him. They might have even called a search in that area. I believe that if they got a hold of Chris that he would refuse to go home and it would make everything even worse.
Question 44: Chapter 15
1. In comparison, Chris and Krakauer both traveled to Alaska to perform their experimental journeys.(p.136)
2. In contrast, Chris never informed anyone about exactly what he was planning on doing in his journey. On the contrary, Krakauer told his friends and family about his journey to climb the Devil's Thumb and they all doubted him.
3. Chris and Krakauer had very similar motives for their journeys. Krakauer writes, "When I decided to go to Alaska that April, like Chris McCandless, I was a raw youth who mistook passion for insight and acted according to an obscure, gap-ridden logic. I thought climbing the Devil's Thumb would fix all that was wrong with my life. In the end, of course, it changed almost nothing."(p.155)
2. In contrast, Chris never informed anyone about exactly what he was planning on doing in his journey. On the contrary, Krakauer told his friends and family about his journey to climb the Devil's Thumb and they all doubted him.
3. Chris and Krakauer had very similar motives for their journeys. Krakauer writes, "When I decided to go to Alaska that April, like Chris McCandless, I was a raw youth who mistook passion for insight and acted according to an obscure, gap-ridden logic. I thought climbing the Devil's Thumb would fix all that was wrong with my life. In the end, of course, it changed almost nothing."(p.155)
Question 43: Chapter 14
Krakauer states in his writing, "Like McCandless, figures of male authority aroused in me a confusing medley of corked fury and hunger to please. If something captured my undisciplined imagination, I pursued it with a zeal bordering on obsession, and from the age of seventeen until my late twenties that something was mountain climbing"(p.134).
Five Similarities
1. They both had a bad relationship with their fathers.
2. They both followed their dreams and journeyed to Alaska.
3. They both went on their journey alone.
4. They both lived simply and without technology.
5. They both climbed mountains at one point in their journey.
Five Differences
1. I feel that Krakauer planned out his journey more that Chris did.(p.140)
2. Krakauer realizes that his father was only strict to look out for him and prepare his son to become successful. Chris never realizes that about his father.
3. Krakauer informed many people about his plan to climb the Devil's Thumb. Chris didn't really inform people about his plan.
4. The obvious fact that Krakauer makes it out of his journey alive. Unfortunately, Chris does not make it out of the wild alive.
5. Krakauer paid someone to fly him supplies on his journey. Chris did not rely on anyone for anything on his journey.
Five Similarities
1. They both had a bad relationship with their fathers.
2. They both followed their dreams and journeyed to Alaska.
3. They both went on their journey alone.
4. They both lived simply and without technology.
5. They both climbed mountains at one point in their journey.
Five Differences
1. I feel that Krakauer planned out his journey more that Chris did.(p.140)
2. Krakauer realizes that his father was only strict to look out for him and prepare his son to become successful. Chris never realizes that about his father.
3. Krakauer informed many people about his plan to climb the Devil's Thumb. Chris didn't really inform people about his plan.
4. The obvious fact that Krakauer makes it out of his journey alive. Unfortunately, Chris does not make it out of the wild alive.
5. Krakauer paid someone to fly him supplies on his journey. Chris did not rely on anyone for anything on his journey.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Question 42: Chapter 12
From what I have read thus far, I believe that Chris took those kind of chances because he wa overconfident. He believed that he could do anything without getting hurt.I think that he left behind his family because of the mistake his father made when he secretly balanced his two loves, Marcia and Billie. I believe that Chris knew that Carine would understand why he left. He trusted her to believe in him and the way he wanted to live his life.
I would definitely not be able to understand the situation if I was part of Chris' family. I would be drastically hurt and emotional.
If I were Carine before Chris left for his trip, I would urge him to use precaution and insist that I knew he didn't like to take advise or orders from anyone. But, I would tell him that I believe in him and that I love him dearly. I would also tell him to try his best to keep in contact with me.
I would definitely not be able to understand the situation if I was part of Chris' family. I would be drastically hurt and emotional.
If I were Carine before Chris left for his trip, I would urge him to use precaution and insist that I knew he didn't like to take advise or orders from anyone. But, I would tell him that I believe in him and that I love him dearly. I would also tell him to try his best to keep in contact with me.
Question 41: Chapter 12
While on his first road trip after high school, Chris learns that long after he was born, his father was secretly talking to his ex-wife, Marcia. Walt was trying to balance both Marcia and Billie at one time. When Chris caught wind of this, he was extremely upset. He did not tell anyone that he knew, but, his parents certainly noticed a change in their son. Chris basically withdrew from his parents without telling them why. He was kept to himself and was arrogant especially toward his father. I believe that this incident pushed Chris to venture on his trip to Alaska because he felt that his "entire childhood seemed like a fiction". (p. 123)
Question 40: Chapter 11
f Chris just transferred to St. Mary High School half way through his Freshman year, plan out what he would do over the course of his four years at St. Mary. What would he participate in? What sports, school oriented clubs, etc.
If Chris just transferred to St. Mary High School half way through his Freshman year, I believe that he would be on the Cross Country team and maybe the tennis team. Since we do not have a band at our school, Chris would either join Drama to play an instrument for the show or he may join a band in the town of Westfield. I think Chris would definitely succeed academically because he maintained all A's throughout his high school experience. Chris would also join journalism because he enjoys literature and he would be very interested with Transcendentalism and the works of Thoreau. I also believe that Chris would not follow every rule at Saint Mary High School simply because he does not like to be restricted.
If Chris just transferred to St. Mary High School half way through his Freshman year, I believe that he would be on the Cross Country team and maybe the tennis team. Since we do not have a band at our school, Chris would either join Drama to play an instrument for the show or he may join a band in the town of Westfield. I think Chris would definitely succeed academically because he maintained all A's throughout his high school experience. Chris would also join journalism because he enjoys literature and he would be very interested with Transcendentalism and the works of Thoreau. I also believe that Chris would not follow every rule at Saint Mary High School simply because he does not like to be restricted.
Question 39:Chapter 11
Chris McCandless
1. When he was only two years old, in the middle of the night, Chris made it past his parents and went to his neighbor's house to raid the candy drawer.(p.106)
2. Chris was a lot like Billie's father, Loren Johnson. He loved hunting.(p109)
3. When Chris was eight years old, Walt took him on his first overnight backpacking trip.(p.109)
4. Chris played the guitar, piano, and the French horn.(p.110)
5. Chris loved Tony Bennett the musician. (p.110)
6. As a teen, when Chris was a French horn player, he was a member of the American University Symphony.(p.110)
7. Chris would use spiritual aspects to try and motivate his running team when he was the captain. (p.112)
8. As an eight year old, Chris grew vegetables in his yard and would go around to his neighbors and sell them. (p.115)
9. In 1985 after his junior year at Woodson, Chris was hired by a local building contractor. The owner loved how handy Chris was.
10. Chris was born on February 12, 1968.
Walt and Billie
1. Walt was NASA's project manager for a pioneering Seasat launch. (p.104)
2. Walt grew up in Greeley, Colorado. It was an agricultural town. (p.105)
3. Walt won an academic scholarship to Colorado State University in Fort Collins. (p.105)
4. Walt was a very talented musician. I can now see where Chris and Carine get their musical talents from. (p.105)
5. Walt had a previous marriage with a woman named Marcia and he had four other children with her. (p.106)
6. After his separation with Marcia, Walt started dating Billie who was a secretary.
7. Billie's real name was Wilhelmina Johnson.
8. Walt was a serious racquetball player. (p.111)
9. Walt and Billie worked extremely long hours. (p.107)
10. After Chris was born, Walt was still secretly talking to Marcia, while dating Billie. When this information leaked many were hurt. (p.121)
From my reading of this chapter, I could see that during Chris' high school years, his relationship with his parents was normal. They got along most of the time, and fought other days. It progressively got worse after he found out that his father was secretly talking to his ex-wife. Chris basically withdrew from his parents and started to act rude and not talkative. His parents never found out why because he didn't tell them that he found out about that scandalous information.
1. When he was only two years old, in the middle of the night, Chris made it past his parents and went to his neighbor's house to raid the candy drawer.(p.106)
2. Chris was a lot like Billie's father, Loren Johnson. He loved hunting.(p109)
3. When Chris was eight years old, Walt took him on his first overnight backpacking trip.(p.109)
4. Chris played the guitar, piano, and the French horn.(p.110)
5. Chris loved Tony Bennett the musician. (p.110)
6. As a teen, when Chris was a French horn player, he was a member of the American University Symphony.(p.110)
7. Chris would use spiritual aspects to try and motivate his running team when he was the captain. (p.112)
8. As an eight year old, Chris grew vegetables in his yard and would go around to his neighbors and sell them. (p.115)
9. In 1985 after his junior year at Woodson, Chris was hired by a local building contractor. The owner loved how handy Chris was.
10. Chris was born on February 12, 1968.
Walt and Billie
1. Walt was NASA's project manager for a pioneering Seasat launch. (p.104)
2. Walt grew up in Greeley, Colorado. It was an agricultural town. (p.105)
3. Walt won an academic scholarship to Colorado State University in Fort Collins. (p.105)
4. Walt was a very talented musician. I can now see where Chris and Carine get their musical talents from. (p.105)
5. Walt had a previous marriage with a woman named Marcia and he had four other children with her. (p.106)
6. After his separation with Marcia, Walt started dating Billie who was a secretary.
7. Billie's real name was Wilhelmina Johnson.
8. Walt was a serious racquetball player. (p.111)
9. Walt and Billie worked extremely long hours. (p.107)
10. After Chris was born, Walt was still secretly talking to Marcia, while dating Billie. When this information leaked many were hurt. (p.121)
From my reading of this chapter, I could see that during Chris' high school years, his relationship with his parents was normal. They got along most of the time, and fought other days. It progressively got worse after he found out that his father was secretly talking to his ex-wife. Chris basically withdrew from his parents and started to act rude and not talkative. His parents never found out why because he didn't tell them that he found out about that scandalous information.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Question 38: Chapter 10
I believe that Chris' second W-2 Form that he filled out for Wayne had all of his legitimate information because Chris trusted Wayne and got to know him on a personal level before filling out the form for the second time. Chris did not really care what he wrote the first time on that form because he did not get to know the Westerbergs and therefore had no concern if they received the right information.
Question 37: Chapter 9
1. Chris and Everett Ruess wanted to live differently than everyone else. They were sick of the normal and tedious life that people live.
2. Chris and Everett both act on what they believe. They do not simply hold onto their thoughts and love, they explore and venture out to find the pure truth in their life.
3. Both Everett and Chris enjoy the wonderous wildness and everything it has to offer.
4. Everett and Chris both enjoy the exciting and different aspects of the wild which one does not get the chance to see in the everyday society.
5. In these quotes Everett says "I prefer the saddle to the streetcar and star-sprinkled sky to a roof ". This reminds me a lot of Chris because Everett is basically stating the he would choose nature over the domestic lifestyle any day.
6. Chris and Everett both enjoy the satisfaction they recieve when they do not know what to expect. They are both intrigued by the spontaneous lifestyle of the wild
7. Everett and Chris are both excited by the same thing.. the WILD! From what I have read about these two men thus far, I have inferred that these two men are more alike then different.
8. Chris and Everett both change their identity and I can definitely point out the parallelism between the two. They love the idea of finding their true self in solitude and really appreciate their journeys into the wild.
2. Chris and Everett both act on what they believe. They do not simply hold onto their thoughts and love, they explore and venture out to find the pure truth in their life.
3. Both Everett and Chris enjoy the wonderous wildness and everything it has to offer.
4. Everett and Chris both enjoy the exciting and different aspects of the wild which one does not get the chance to see in the everyday society.
5. In these quotes Everett says "I prefer the saddle to the streetcar and star-sprinkled sky to a roof ". This reminds me a lot of Chris because Everett is basically stating the he would choose nature over the domestic lifestyle any day.
6. Chris and Everett both enjoy the satisfaction they recieve when they do not know what to expect. They are both intrigued by the spontaneous lifestyle of the wild
7. Everett and Chris are both excited by the same thing.. the WILD! From what I have read about these two men thus far, I have inferred that these two men are more alike then different.
8. Chris and Everett both change their identity and I can definitely point out the parallelism between the two. They love the idea of finding their true self in solitude and really appreciate their journeys into the wild.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Question 36: Chapter 8
Differences between Chris and Rosellini
1. Gene Rosellini came from a wealthy, welll-known family. Chris came from a middle class family.
2. Gene devoted his life to an ambitious anthropological experiment. Chris decided to venture into the wild and put his beliefs and wishes into reality.
3. Rosellini exercised compulsively. Chris spend his time reading and hunting.
4. Rosellini purgeed his life of everything ,except for the the most essential tools, which he created from native materials with his own hands. Chris had a gun and a backpack.
5. Rosellini comitted suicide by stabbing himself in the heart. Chris was found dead in a bus in the wilderness.
Similarities between Chris and Rosellini
1. Rosellini and Chris both recieved very good grades
2. Rosellini and Chris were both good athletes.
3. Rosellini and Chris both experimented by separating from the society.
4. Rosellini and Chris were both "seekers and had an impractical fascination with the harsh side of nature"(p.85).
5. Rosellini and Chris did not believe in using modern technology.
Differences between Chris and Waterman
1. Waterman's parents were divorced. Chris's parents werenot divorced.
2. Waterman worked out excessively. Chris did not work out excessively.
3. Waterman climbed Mt. McKinley at age 16. Chris climbed it when he was older.
4. Waterman had a notebook and took notes at every chance he could. Chris mostly read rather than took notes about what people were saying.
5. Waterman is described as "mentally ill"(p.85) and Chris was not mentally ill.
Similarities between Chris and Waterman
1. Chris and Waterman were both raised in the Washington suburbs.
2. Both Chris and Waterman did not have good relationships with their parents.
3. Chris and Waterman were not prepared enough to embark on cold journeys such as climbing mountains.
4. Chris and Waterman were both "seekers and had an impractical fascination with the harsh side of nature"(p.85).
5. Chris and Waterman both "displayed a staggering paucity of common sense"(p.85).
Differences between Chris and McCunn
1. McCunn killed himself. Chris did not commit suicide.
2. McCunn hired a bush pilot to drop him off for his journey. Chris hitchhiked and walked to the start of his journey.
3. McCunn said that his main reason for his trip was to take pictures of the wildlife. The reason for Chris's journey was to find his true self by following Thoreau's writtings by living in complete solitude.
4. McCunn was 35 years old when he embarked on his journey. Chris was 19 years old when he embarked on his journey.
5. McCunn went into the wild "assuming someone would automatically appear to save him before he came to grief"(p.85). Chris fended for himself in the wild and did not rely on anybody else.
Similarities between Chris and McCunn
1. They both journeyed into the wild.
2. They both brought a gun to aid in survival on their journey.
3. They both "displayed a staggering paucity of common sense"(p.85).
4. Chris and McCunn both ventured to cold areas.
5. They were both unprepared for the cold journey they faced.
I believed that Krakauer incorporated these stories into this novel because he wanted the readers to gain insight into the journey of Chris by studying stories that may be along the same lines. We could gain ideas and information from other stories and apply it to the information we previously learned about McCandless.
Similarities between Chris and Rosellini
1. Rosellini and Chris both recieved very good grades
2. Rosellini and Chris were both good athletes.
3. Rosellini and Chris both experimented by separating from the society.
4. Rosellini and Chris were both "seekers and had an impractical fascination with the harsh side of nature"(p.85).
5. Rosellini and Chris did not believe in using modern technology.
Differences between Chris and Waterman
1. Waterman's parents were divorced. Chris's parents werenot divorced.
2. Waterman worked out excessively. Chris did not work out excessively.
3. Waterman climbed Mt. McKinley at age 16. Chris climbed it when he was older.
4. Waterman had a notebook and took notes at every chance he could. Chris mostly read rather than took notes about what people were saying.
5. Waterman is described as "mentally ill"(p.85) and Chris was not mentally ill.
Similarities between Chris and Waterman
1. Chris and Waterman were both raised in the Washington suburbs.
2. Both Chris and Waterman did not have good relationships with their parents.
3. Chris and Waterman were not prepared enough to embark on cold journeys such as climbing mountains.
4. Chris and Waterman were both "seekers and had an impractical fascination with the harsh side of nature"(p.85).
5. Chris and Waterman both "displayed a staggering paucity of common sense"(p.85).
Differences between Chris and McCunn
1. McCunn killed himself. Chris did not commit suicide.
2. McCunn hired a bush pilot to drop him off for his journey. Chris hitchhiked and walked to the start of his journey.
3. McCunn said that his main reason for his trip was to take pictures of the wildlife. The reason for Chris's journey was to find his true self by following Thoreau's writtings by living in complete solitude.
4. McCunn was 35 years old when he embarked on his journey. Chris was 19 years old when he embarked on his journey.
5. McCunn went into the wild "assuming someone would automatically appear to save him before he came to grief"(p.85). Chris fended for himself in the wild and did not rely on anybody else.
Similarities between Chris and McCunn
1. They both journeyed into the wild.
2. They both brought a gun to aid in survival on their journey.
3. They both "displayed a staggering paucity of common sense"(p.85).
4. Chris and McCunn both ventured to cold areas.
5. They were both unprepared for the cold journey they faced.
I believed that Krakauer incorporated these stories into this novel because he wanted the readers to gain insight into the journey of Chris by studying stories that may be along the same lines. We could gain ideas and information from other stories and apply it to the information we previously learned about McCandless.
Question 35: Chapter 8
1.“Personally I see nothing positive at all about Chris McCandless’s lifestyle or wilderness
doctrine. Entering the wilderness purposefully ill-prepared, and surviving a near-death
experience does not make you a better human, it makes you damn lucky.”
-resident of Healy, Alaska
I definitely disagree with this quote because this resident says he sees nothing positive at all about Chris McCandless. Yes, Chris seems ill-prepared at times but, he chose to live in solitude. He wanted to explore his inner self and I find that inspirational. Chris is courageous and has a lot of moral enthusiasm. I believe that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and ways of life. I certainly would not do what Chris did, but, I find his experience in the wild fascinating!
2.“It should not be denied…that being footloose has always exhilarated us. It is associated in our minds with escape from history and oppression and law and irksome obligations,with absolute freedom, and the road has always led west.”
resident of Healy, Alaska
I agree with this quote because having freedom is an amazing feeling. We can all see that Chris did not like to be held down by anyone or anything. Chris escaped from his life and created a completely new identity for himself. He paved a new life for his individual self as well. Thoreau was a man that Chris looked up to due to his writtings. He took Thoreau's words literally and escaped from society to live in solitude. When I see this quote, I think of Chris and his urge to create a new life.
doctrine. Entering the wilderness purposefully ill-prepared, and surviving a near-death
experience does not make you a better human, it makes you damn lucky.”
-resident of Healy, Alaska
I definitely disagree with this quote because this resident says he sees nothing positive at all about Chris McCandless. Yes, Chris seems ill-prepared at times but, he chose to live in solitude. He wanted to explore his inner self and I find that inspirational. Chris is courageous and has a lot of moral enthusiasm. I believe that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and ways of life. I certainly would not do what Chris did, but, I find his experience in the wild fascinating!
2.“It should not be denied…that being footloose has always exhilarated us. It is associated in our minds with escape from history and oppression and law and irksome obligations,with absolute freedom, and the road has always led west.”
resident of Healy, Alaska
I agree with this quote because having freedom is an amazing feeling. We can all see that Chris did not like to be held down by anyone or anything. Chris escaped from his life and created a completely new identity for himself. He paved a new life for his individual self as well. Thoreau was a man that Chris looked up to due to his writtings. He took Thoreau's words literally and escaped from society to live in solitude. When I see this quote, I think of Chris and his urge to create a new life.
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