Lesson 22

Today’s Agenda

Into the WildChapters 8 and 9 ActivityHW: Read and annotate 10 for Lesson 23

OBJECTIVES

Students will examine how a writer weaves the narrative of multiple characters.

Students will understand how to develop; a subject through comparisons.

What is the purpose of using the stories of other people in chapters 8-9? What do you think is Krakauer’s reasoning behind this choice? Is he successful?

“Some insight into the tragedy of Chris McCandless can be gained by studying predecessors cut from the same exotic cloth” (85).

Compare and Contrast

Compare and Contrast Establish groups With your group, identify major events/characteristics

of your assigned person. With your group, determine what is revealed about

McCandless via your assigned person. What was Krakauer’s purpose for including the comparison in these chapters? Gene Rosellini

John Mallon Waterman

Carl McCunn

Everett Ruess

Papar—Irish Monks

Be prepared to share your findings with the class.

Gene Rosellini

The Mayor of Hippie Cove (Cordova, Alaska) Early history

Father was a Washington governor and mother was a restaurant owner Great student, master of martial arts, good athlete, never graduated college

Adult life Decided to try and live independent of technology Wondered if he could live off the land like a caveman, or if humans had

“evolved” too far He believed that the current brand of human being was inferior to

cavemen Wanted to return to humans’ “natural state” Determined that this was not possible (after 30 years) Committed suicide

John Mallon Waterman

Early History Son of a musician, writer, and mountain climber Third-youngest person to climb Mt. McKinley

Adult Life Went to University of Alaska Seemed weird to the other students there Mom and Dad split up; dad wouldn’t have

anything to do with him Brother took off and never was heard from again Lost eight friends to climbing accidents

John Mallon Waterman (continued) The Call to Adventure Climbs 14,573 ft. Mt. Hunter alone—145 days solo Three attempts to climb Mt. McKinley: 1) Got scared and backed

out; 2) Cabin burned down and lost his things, checked himself into a psychiatric hospital; 3) Starts at sea-level, which adds 160 miles to the trek

Attempt #4: Crosses paths with two people who think he’s underprepared (no sleeping bag, little food)

Gave away his radio, saying, “I won’t be needing this anymore.” Left a note that read, “3-13-81. My last kiss 1:42 PM” Waterman was never seen again. Probably broke through some

ice and fell into a crevasse.

Carl McCunn Carl McCunn arranged

to be dropped by plane in the Alaskan wilderness in March 1981 with supplies for the summer and 500 rolls of film. He planned to spend the season photographing wildlife. What he didn't plan, however, was his trip out again. He forgot to arrange for a plane to come and pick him up.

Carl McCunn (continued)

Flew into the country to take pictures of wildlife

Threw away most of his shotgun shells because he felt guilty for bringing so many

Flags down a plane, but it can’t land because it has wheels instead of floats. McCunn feels certain that they will send someone back to rescue him.

Carl McCunn (continued)

Without knowing it, McCunn had given the plane the sign of “All OK. No assistance needed.”

McCunn just assumed someone would realize he was gone and come save him.

He had a skewed

sense of reality. He actually thought

some beautiful woman

would drop everything

and go camping with him

out in the Alaskan wild. When he realized he

was going to die of starvation, He shot himself.

Everett Ruess

1934, 20 years old Childhood Dad was a minister, mom was a writer Moved around a lot Went to art school, began traveling

outdoors at 16 Decides he never want to return to

civilization, wants to live out in the wild for the rest of his life

Everett Ruess (continued)

Theories about death A fall while scrambling on a canyon wall Killed by cattle rustlers Escaped and began a new life under a pseudonym

Stories about Ruess marrying a Navajo woman and raising a family

Ken Sleight—investigator and outdoorsman Thinks Ruess drowned Ruess liked to be alone, but he also liked to be around

other people sometimes. He couldn’t have stayed hidden forever.

Papar—Irish Monks

Iceland, 500-600 AD The Papar crossed the treacherous ocean in small, open

boats. Many died Wanted to find isolation, peace, quiet, undisturbed land They decided Iceland was too overpopulated, so they got

back in their boats and rowed off to Greenland.

Why does Krakauer use these people for comparison? How do they add to your understanding of Christopher McCandless?5-7 sentences about how learning of

these people aided in your understanding of McCandless. Cite at least one specific example from your notes.

What is Krakauer’s attitude toward Chris’s endeavor? "Although he was rash," Krakauer summarizes,

McCandless "wasn't incompetent — he wouldn't have lasted 113 days if he were. And he wasn't a nutcase, he wasn't a sociopath, he wasn't an outcast. McCandless was something else. . . . A pilgrim perhaps."

Read and annotate chapter 10 for Lesson 23