As with I, John Baptist De La Salle, it is up to you to find your own meanings in reading the text. The only way for a story to become relevant, after all, is for you to fully invest yourself into it as if you were an archeologist trying to uncover some long buried secret about existence.
Anyhow, you create the questions and so you answer ONE of the following in a WELL-DEVELOPED paragraph (or two or three) that quote(s) from the text for support (for formatting guidelines see earlier posts where I explain it.) Your questions should focus on discovering and explaining the literary techniques we discussed in class earlier this week as they are revealed in one of the chapters between four and nine.
This blog response is Due Wednesday, April 8, 2009 by class-time on blog (or typed, hard copy if you cannot log-in).
Please follow proper heading format:
Your Name
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April 8, 2009
The questions:
- What characteristics does Christopher McCandless share with other famous explorers as told to us in chapters eight and nine?
- On page 71 of chapter eight, many harsh criticisms are written of McCandless' story. Symbolically, what is this similar to in peoples' faith experiences?
- Why do you think that McCandless keeps moving around, not staying in one place for a very long time? What does this suggest about his spirit?
- In chapter eight, Krakauer discusses the philosophies of Rosselini and Wateman. Why does he do this? How do these stories help characterize McCandless?
- Why do you think Christopher refers to himself in third person when he writes in his journal? (see chapter four)
- In chapter four, what do you think the epigraph suggests about the upcoming events? Be sure to refer to the events that are described in detail in the chapter, summarizing and explaining them as they apply to the epigraph.
- Why, if McCandless is trying to find spiritual importance in nature, would he make his final trip into the wilderness one that takes place in Alaska (considering its harshness)? (see chapter seven)
- In chapter seven there is a lot of detail about the people he meets in Carthage. How do the relationships he builds on this trip effect him?
- What did McCandless tell Franz to do with his life when he left Franz's house? Why did he tell him this? How can this apply to your life? (see chapter six)
- How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
25 comments:
What did McCandless tell Franz to do with his life when he left Franz's house? Why did he tell him this? How can this apply to your life?
Erich Harkema
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April 8, 2009
Christopher McCandless told Ronald Franz that he, for one, should not let Chris' absence depress him because the only joy in life does not reside in human relations. He says the joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and that there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon.
He also scolds Franz for going straight home after dropping Chris off and not going to see the Grand Canyon, something Chris thinks every American should see. Chris thinks that people shouldn't sit around and go over the same routine every day for the rest of their life, but make each day unqiue and to be nomadic. He attempts to convince Franz to packup and go out to see the world and go and see the American West and that the west would make him a better man. Krakauer writes: "The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life, Ron, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty. And so, Ron, in short, get out of Salton City and hit the Road. I guarantee you will be very glad you did" (Kraukauer 57).
mcandless by burmimg all of his money is trying to make the statement that he does not need material goods to satisfy himself.It his way of telling the world that the people are obsessed with having material goods rather than a free spirit.He says this quote which reaffirms his reaffirms his point "so many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the intiative to change thier situation becausee they are conditioned to a life of security,conformanism, and conservatism,all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing more damaging to the human spirit."(pg 57) This is a perfect example about the way he feels about mainstream society
James May
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April 8, 2009
What characteristics does Christopher McCandless share with other famous explorers as told to us in chapters eight and nine?
There seems to be many underlying themes to the life and mindset of these explorers and vagabonds. McCandless has a very high level of intelligence, yet he does not harness it as many people would. In fact, it is almost an excuse for him to ignore it, that his knowledge is one of the reasons he searches for a sort of liberation. This is very similar to Rosellini.
Also similar to Rosellini is their deaths. Krakauer writes, "...Rosellini was discovered lying facedown on the floor of his shack with a knife through his heart. The coroner determined that the fatal wound was self-inflicted" (Krakauer 75). Now this is not to say that McCandless was suicidal; it more suggests that, for these explorers, death was well worth their experience, and why live after you've been through what they view as the best thing in the world, being one with nature?
Less specifically, McCandless and other explorers seem to have this characteristic of a slightly odd, awkward social personality. Not necessarily that they have a social disorder, but that they are not huge fans of people. There is also a common theme of physical suffering and endurance in order to achieve incredible feats, which McCandless shares in particular with John Waterman. Krakauer writes, "...as a sixteen-year-old, John climbed Mt. McKinley... becoming the third-youngest person to stand atop the highest platform on the continent" (Krakauer 76). These explorers seemed to be driven by determination to prove to themselves that they are the best, sometimes to the point of death.
Deandre White
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April 8, 2009
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
His action were reckless but it was for a good cause. Except for the part when he burns it. His statement that he is making is that money doesnt help you life or doesnt bring happiness. Plus other people need to use it more than him like the charity. Also he could of used the extra money so if he pass a gas station to get food and a drink.But he probably wants to use his surroundings to make food. That is my explaination.
Logan Dietz
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April 8, 2009
What characteristics does Christopher McCandless share with other famous explorers as told to us in chapters eight and nine?
Christopher McCandless had some similarities with Everett Reuss, who tramped in the early 1930's. Krakauer writes, "'Everett was strange,' Sleight concedes. 'Kind of different. But him and McCandless, at least they tried to follow their dream. That's what was great about them. They tried. Not many do'" (Krakauer, 96). McCandless also had some similarities with some other men: Gene Rossellini, John Waterman, and Carl McCunn. Krakauer writes, "There are similarities between Rossellini, Waterman, McCunn, and McCandless. Like Rossellini and Waterman, McCandless was a seeker and had an impractical fascination with the harsh side of nature. Like Waterman and McCunn, he displayed a staggering paucity of common sense" (Krakauer, 85). McCandless was not the first person in America to abandon everything he had, including his family, and live out in the wilderness. However, he was one in a few that did it the way he did.
Rick Fish
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April 8, 2009
Christopher McCandless( Alex Supertramp ) had some similarities with other men that are famous for there expeditions one man is Everett Reuss, he tramped in the 1930's. Krakauer writes, "'Everett was strange,' Sleight concedes. 'Kind of different. But him and McCandless, at least they tried to follow their dream. That's what was great about them. They tried. Not many do'" (Krakauer, 96). McCandless also had some similarities with some other men like Gene Rossellini, John Waterman, and Carl McCunn. Krakauer writes, "There are similarities between Rossellini, Waterman, McCunn, and McCandless. Like Rossellini and Waterman, McCandless was a seeker and had an impractical fascination with the harsh side of nature. Like Waterman and McCunn, he displayed a staggering paucity of common sense" (Krakauer, 85). McCandless was not your normal person and you may also not agree with what he did because he left his parents with no answers on why he threw everything that he had away and went and tried to live on his own in the frigid region of Alaska. Chris was a very blessed kid who did very well in school and was also an athlete and your probably wondering why he would throw that away and we'll never know that answer but all I know is that he followed his dream and did what made him happy.
Wyatt Gasparik
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April 8, 2009
Chris McCandless tells Franz that he is leaving and not to be saddended their departure. Chris said it will be very long until they see one another again if at all. Chris said he will seek him out if he gets through this ordeal in one peice. Chris also gives Franz some advice. Chris says, "'My point is that you do not need me or anyone else around to bring this new kind of light in your life. It is simply waiting out there for you to grasp it, and all you have to do is reach for it. The only person you are fighting is yourself and your stubborness to engage in new circumstances.'" (57,58) In short Chris is telling Franz to not be afraid to make a change in your life, you just have to ride the wave and not resist it. I can apply this in my own life by not being afraid to do something just because it is off my routine, to try new things in life and face it with an open mind.
The Vincenzo Merante
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April 8, 2009
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
-When alex supertramp gave all of his money to charity and burns the remains of any possible wealth he may have, i thought it spoke volumes about him as an individual. heres a man, whose unhappy with where hes at in his life. he believes hes living a selfish and pointless life. so he does something drastic. the money for his college tuition goes to the charity and his own money magically turns into ashes. when i read these statments, i was just awed by it. i couldnt believe someone in their right mind would do this. i could see someone donating money to charity, but thats only if they have money to spear. chris is one of the higher middle class civilians and he gives up his education for someone elses well being. most people would think this is a bone head move, but all i see is humility. this man believes in the direction hes going in and by donating he feels like the road is getting even broader. it also took the main symbol of this book to complete this task: courage
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
Dan Pickle
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April 8, 2009
Christopher McCandless, or Alexander Supertramp, makes many statements when he gives his savings to charity and burn the money he has on him. First, I feel like Alex is liberating himself. When he burns all of his money he is taking away one of the last possesions he has, completely detaching himself from material possesion and it's importance to mostly every person, which money represents. Second, Alex desires to completely go into the wild and live a life with, as Krakauer writes quoting Alex's letter, "an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."(57). By burning his money he is almost rendering himself helpless if he ever needs money but also ensuring he lives a different way, a new way, everyday. He is also making the statement of proving material possesion is not the only way to be happy. The way he lives is a perfect example of how someone can find peace and happiness in pure nature, with limited possesions. Alex does not get caught up in what he has or does not have but simply "lives in the now"(Bro. Peach, class). I find how he simply does not burn or destroy all of his money but gives his savings to charity to be respectable and also show a lot of strength to do because that is all he has. In short I find Alexander Supertramps actions of burning his money and giving the rest to charity, not ridiculous, but bold and kind.
Michael Klim
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8 April 2009
What did McCandless tell Franz to do with his life when he left Franz's house? Why did he tell him this? How can this apply to your life?
McCandless leaves a lasting effect on his friend Ronald Franz in many ways. In a letter McCandless tells Franz that he should leave his boring life in Salton City behind and to travel the country as a tramp like he is doing. Franz takes this advice to heart and buys a motor home and moves out to the campsite where McCandless once resided. I believe McCandless gives this advice to Franz because he truely believes that life should be an adventure and that each day should be lived to its fullest. This can apply to me because though I don't plan on running away from socicity his advice on living life to its fullest is very good.
Michael Pompa
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April 8, 2009
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
when Alex gave his money away to charity i thought it was good but bad. i would not call it burn because people need that money to survive. he problem saved many poor homeless people out there. also i think he would think that he had a pointless greedy life so he gave it all away. i think the statement is that all people should not hold there money give some of it, not all of it, away. the reason anly give a little because we need to survive to in this world. thats the bad thing about the givig away of all the money. thank you bye.
Rob Scholle
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April 8, 2009
I think that McCandless chose to go to Alaska to see death up close. Not nesesarily to die but to come close-to really be at the edge of death. In his last letters to Jan and Bob, McCandless writes,"This is the last communication you shall recieve from me. I now walk out to live amongst the wild. Take care, it was great knowing you,"(Krakauer, p69). This letter indicates that he believes that he is going to die, but he seems cheerful about it. This may seem to be contradictory but not if you anylize McCandless' philosophy about life. He believed in the extreme, and he lived it. He believed that you needed to take every opprotunity for anventure. This is an all or nothing philosophy. I beleive that he travelled to Alaska because he wanted to expirience the ultimate adventure-death. He wanted to meet death head to head. Either he would beat death, or it would take him. To McCandless, this may have seemed the most exciting adventure of all.
Osas Malkin
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April 8, 2009
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
By giving all his money to charity and burning the rest of the money that was in his wallet,i think that McCandless is trying not to have anything to do with material things or anything of "The World". By doing this he tries to live everything behind so as not to have any form of distraction, and so he could keep his mind clear of any materialized things which in my opinion was the main reason why he went "Into The Wilderness".
Joe Fennimore
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April 8, 2009
On page 71 of chapter eight, many harsh criticisms are written of McCandless' story. Symbolically, what is this similar to in peoples' faith experiences?
Many people were undecided about Chris McCandless because they felt that they couldn't fully understand him, relate to his ambitions, or admire him because of his eventual fate. In response to their confusion and fear, they tried to label him, relate him to things and people that they knew, and criticized him for being foolish with his life. Krakauer writes of Nick Jan's criticism, "
Same story: idealistic, energeti young guys who overestimated themselves, underestimated the country, and ended up in trouble" (71). Their criticisms of Alex are very similar to people's doubts in their faith. During times of trial, when people ask God questions like, 'Why is this happening to me?' they receive no answer, and they become frustrated by that. Then, some people even become so frustrated with God that they begin to use their unanswered questions as personal proof that there is no God. Similarly, Nick Jans asked questions in his complaint that could no longer be answered by McCandless, and he used them both as evidence to what he was trying to say, and he used them as means of discrediting any possitive reputation anyone else may have given him. It's important with regard to peoples' faiths, to keep and open mind, and to seek answers for ourselves rather than expect them to be answered for us just because we think life is tough. Nick Jans should have tried to think about what realistic motives McCandless may have had for going out into the wild. If he'd realized that he was doing it for spiritual exploration, he would have had a very different perspective on the story. However, most people usually cannot find these answers on their own. They must have faith and always keep seeking the answers even if they never present themselves.
Eric Gemmell
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April 7th 2009
Why do you think that McCandless keeps moving around, not staying in one place for a very long time? What does this suggest about his spirit?
I believe that McCandless is really living the leather tramp lifestyle. He moves from place to place, walking endless miles in barren deserts, through high peaks, and fertile river valleys. I believe he keeps moving around like this to live life to the fullest, and experience the wilderness that God created. He just loves the way he is living. Alex doesn't really mind the hardships that he suffers along the way. He meets new people and does different things. After learning about him, I truly believe that this lifestyle suits him. His actions suggest that he has a free spirit. Whether he was a religious person or not, he was definately closer to God during his experienc, and even though ulitimately it killed him, I believe he became a better person from it.
Graham Sides
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April 8, 2009
On page 71 of chapter eight, many harsh criticisms are written of McCandless' story. Symbolically, what is this similar to in peoples' faith experiences?
On page 71, multiple people criticize Chris for evacuating his original life of happiness for the misery of wandering around Alaska. One critic writes, "Same story: idealistic, energetic young guys who overestimated themselves, underestimated the country, and ended up in trouble." (71) This is similar to the situation with some people and God. Some people who believe in God ask him questions and hope he can fix their problems, but when God does not, they believe that they have to take matters into their own hands and completely forget about God. This is similar to the Israelites, who doubted God when they were in the exile. However, the Israelites in their time of need pleaded to God for help and he did. I believe that once Chris realised that he was dying and not going to make it that he should of tried to survive instead of accepting death.
Jake Rostek
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April 8, 2009
Why do you think that McCandless keeps moving around, not staying in one place for a very long time? What does this suggest about his spirit?
McCandless keeps moving around because he wants to explore more of the world and experience as much of God's creation as he can. I think he believes that there is so much out there that he is wasting his time by staying put and seeing the same scenery day after day. He wants to get more in touch with his feelings and his heart.
He is a free spirit who craves new adventures, new experiences and new ideas. McCandless writes in a letter to Ron Franz: "The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun".(57)
Thomas O'Connor
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April 8, 2009
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
I would charactize the actions of Chris McCandless as bold and meaningful. By giving up his moneey and possesions, he is showing his strong rejection for materialism and the money-centered culture that he finds repulsive. Burning his money shows clearly that he thinks it is useless. Also, it represents that he is leaving all aspects of Chris McCandless behind, and becoming Alexander Supertramp. Another reason is he loves having a challenge for survival, and having money would allow him to buy things that would aid his difficult existence. Most importantly, I think this action was a statement that rejected the materialistic culture in America.
What characteristics does Christopher McCandless share with other famous explorers as told to us in chapters eight and nine?
Guthrie Renwick
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4/8/09
Chris McCandless was eerily similar to Everet Ruess and John Krakaur. Ruess and Chris both left on adventures right after school and changed their names multiple times. Ruess changed his name to “Nemo” which in latin means nobody. I believe he picked Nemo because he didn’t want to stand out and people not to take note of him. All three of them were not bothered or effect by pain. They had the attitude of “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. People who heard of Chris McCandless thought he was crazy, same with Ruess, but john Krakaur explains that he was just determined and if said he was really like people would think he was crazy.
Tanner Dent
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4/8/09
I think that the bad things that people are saying about Chris story can be wrong or right but in my case wrong. The reason i say wrong is because he trying to start a better life for himself by going into the wild. This also resembles with the Church because he has a free sprit and he is also trying to get all of the stressful things out of his life.
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
Christopher McCandless's actions were kind of crazy but they were for what he believed in. The statement he tried to make is that life is not all about money. It was a good thing that he gave his money to charity, but he should have saved some so that he could buy provisions to survive in the wilderness.
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
Christopher McCandless's actions were kind of crazy but they were for what he believed in. The statement he tried to make is that life is not all about money. It was a good thing that he gave his money to charity, but he should have saved some so that he could buy provisions to survive in the wilderness.
Ben Mickens
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April 8, 2009
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
I think that when McCandless gives all of his money to charity it shows a characteristic of unselfishness. If he wanted to go die in Alaska that was his problem, but at least he gave his money to a good cause instead of it going to waste.
Tyler Zymroz
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April 8, 2009
How would you characterize McCandless' actions when he gives his money to charity and burns all of his money? What kind of statement is he making? Explain.
When alex supertramp gave all of his money to charity then burnt the rest of any possible money he may still have. This made me think that it spoke volumes about him as an individual. He is a man, whose unhappy with where he is at in life. He thinks he is living a selfish life. So he does something drastic,he gives the money for his college to a charity and burns his money into ashes. I was just awed by it. i couldnt believe someone would do this. chris is one of the higher middle class civilians and he gives up his education for someone elses well being. this man believes in the direction he is going in and by donating it makes him feel his road is getting bigger. This is the main symbol of this book, which helped him complete his tasks: COURAGE
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