Creative Project

Grace Leung

3/20/11

Creative Project

Ode to Chris

You were the older brother that I always adored,

It is sad to see you gone;

I will miss your smile forever and never let it be ignored,

Your spirit will live on;

You left without even a word said,

It hurts me beyond belief;

No contact meant that our friendship was dead,

It caused our family much grief;

I did not know where you would go or wander,

I just wanted to know that you would come home;

You had so much you needed to ponder,

Did your Odyssey take you to Rome?

I saw so much promise in all that lay before you,

You were always so brave and kind;

When I discovered you never made it through,

I just will not let you out of my mind;

I cried myself to sleep,

Shivering in my cold bed;

I could only weep,

I wished you had been fed.

Characterization Chart

English Character Chart

Author’s Note

1.     “He changed his name, gave the entire balance of a twenty four thousand dollar savings account to charity abandoned his car and most of his possesions, burned all the cash in his wallet.” (1)

-         In this quote it describes how Chris began his new life and entered the wild, without any materialistic things or destractions.

2.     “His name turned out to be Christopher John McCandless.” (1)

-         This quote is Jon Krakaeur talking about Chris’ real name, which later became important in the book.

Chapter 1

1.      “He didn’t appear very old: eighteen, maybe nineteen at most. A rifle protruded from the young man’s backpack, but he looked friendly enough;” (3-4)

-This is a description of Chris on the road, from a person who gave him a ride early on in his journey.

2.      “Five foot seven or five foot eight with a wiry build, he claimed to be twenty four years old and said he was from South Dakota.” (4)

-         This is another description of Chris as a hitchhiker trying to get a ride.

Chapter 2

1.      “It wasn’t until I walked around the other side and saw a head sticking out that I knew for certain what it was” (13)

-         This is a description of how Chris’ body was found in a sleeping bag.

2.     “this is Butch . You better call the troopers. There’s a man back in the bus by the Sushana. Looks he’s been dead for a while.” (13)

After the hunters found Chris’ body they called the troopers and estimated it had been there for a long time.

Chapter 3

1.      “McCandless was smallish with the hard, stringy physique of an itinerant laborer. There was something arresting about the yougnster’s eyes.” (16)

-         This is another description later on in Chris’ journey.

2.     “He was nearsighted and wore steel rimmed glasses. He looked hungry” (17)

Chapter 4

1.      “Ignoring posted warnings that off- road driving is strictly forbidden, McCandless steered the Datsun off the pavement where it crossed a broad, sandy wash.” (27)

This is describing what Chris did when he entered the Detrimental Wash area.

2.     “ He was wearing long shorts and a really stupid hat,” says Jan Burress , a forty one year old rubber tramp…”(30)

This is a description told by Jan Burress a person Chris befriended on his journey, who played almost a mother character to him later on.

Chapter 5

1.      “When his camera was ruined and McCandless stopped taking photographs, he also stopped keeping a journal, a practice he didn’t resume until he went to Alaska the next year.” (38)

-         This quote tells us that Chris’ journey was not all photographs and at a time was not even recorded in a journal.

2.     “When he first started working he was homeless and he’d show up for work smelling bad.  It wasn’t up to McDonald’s standards to come in smelling the way he did.” (41)

-         This quote is a description of Chris when he worked at a McDonalds for sometime, eventually he quit his job though.

Chapter 6

1.      “McCandless cut him off abruptly. “Look Mr. Franz,” he declared, “you don’t need to worry about me  I have a college education. Im not destitute. I’m living like this by choice.” (51)

-         Franz plays a very big part in McCandless journey and influences him a lot, this quote is an example of McCandless independence while he was on the road.

2.     “Don’t hesitate or allow yourself to make excuses. Just get out and do it. Just get out and do it. You will be very, very glad that you did.” (58)

-         This tells us that McCandless influenced Franz a lot in this letter he wrote to him.

Chapter 7

1.      “I guess I’m getting a little snarly it being so late in the season and all, and us being short-handed besides. We was counting on Alex being back at work by now.” Fifty days have gone by since McCandless ‘s body was discovered in Alaska on the Stampede Trail.” (62)

-         This is a quote from Wayne Westberg, another person Chris worked for and grew close to. He was expecting Chris to come visit, but was saddened by his death.

2.     “He was kind of shy at first,” says Borah. “He acted like it was hard for him to be around people. I just figured that was because he’d spent so much time by himself.” (63)

-         This is a description of Chris’ attitude and personality while working with other employ’s.

Chapter 10

1.      “A head shot . His hair was long and he had a beard.Chris almost always had short hair and was clean shaven. And the face in the picture was extremely gaunt. But I knew right away. There was no doubt. It was Chris.”(102)

-         Sam, a friend of Chris’ family realized the missing boy was Chris’ and realized he would have to bring home the horrible news about Chris’ death.

2.     "It didn’t occur to me that the hiking might be Chris. Never even crossed my mind. Its ironic because when I read the article I thought, ‘Oh my God what a terrible tragedy. I really felt sorry for the family of this guy, whoever they are. What a sad story.” (101)

-         Sam realizes that he needs to tell the family about his death.

Chapter 11

1.      “The hardest part is simply not having him around anymore. I spent a lot of time with Chris, perhaps more than with any of my other kids. I really like his company even though he frustrated us so often.”(104)

-         This is a quote from Chris’ dad on how he missed having him around.

2.     “Even when he was little,” says Carrine, who was born three years after Chris, “he was very to himself. He wasn’t antisocial he always had friends and everybody liked him…” (107)

-         Carrine, Chris’ younger sister is describing his personality throughout his life.

Chapter 12

1.      “Chris had tossed back a few drinks that night and was pretty blitzed. He got real emotional. He was almost crying. Fighting back the tears telling dad that even though they’d had their over the years, he was grateful for all the things Dad had done for him. Chris said how much he respected Dad for starting from nothing, working his way through college, busting his butt to support eight kids.” (118)

-         From this quote it is learned that even though Chris lost respect for his father, he did care about him and in some ways appreciated him.

2.     “I saw Chris at a party after his sophomore year at Emory” remembers Eric Hathaway, “and it was obvious he had changed. He seemed introverted, almost cold.” (120)

-         This is a description of Chris’ attitude during his last year in college, before he left for good, it is by an old friend.

Chapter 13

1.      “Whats amazing” says Carrine as she studies these images of her brother “is that even though the pictures were taken ten years apart, his expression is identical.” (128)

-         Carrine, tells of how Chris had mostly the same attitude throughout his life.

2.     “The label was printed wrong. The label said Christopher R. McCandless. His middle initial was really J. It ticked me off that they didn’t get it right. I was mad. Then I thought Chris wouldn’t care. He would think its funny.” (130)

-         This is a quote from when Chris’ ashes were taken home and how he would have found it funny that his name was spelled wrong because he had a sense of humor in hard times.

Chapter 18

1.     “He noted, happiness only real when shared.”(189)

-         These are some of Chris’ last words, showing that in some ways he regrets leaving people, like family behind.

2.      “Extremely weak fault of pot. seed. Much trouble just to stand up. Starving. Great Jeopardy.” (189)

-         These are words Chris wrote during his final days and the pain he endured.

After reading Into the Wild, I have come to the conclusion that Chris McCandless was an inexperienced and unprepared person to want to live in Alaska on his own. He made a very bad descision in doing so. Chris was very unprepared and had no idea what he was doing. This did not make Chris a hero and he shouldn’t have been recognized as that for doing this. 

Questions for Into the Wild

1. Chris McCandless was a boy who decided he wanted to live on the road after college, he had straight A’s and a pretty normal life.
2. In the author’s note Krakauer introduces several different theme’s. One is hardship’s, because from the start he tells how difficult it would be to live in the wild.

3. It is trying to describe what it would be like to live in the wild on the day Chris died. (3)

4. Alex is the fake name that Chris uses when he is on the road, so that he can ‘t be found. (4)

5. He is a union electrician, who sees Chris walking by himself and asks him if he wants a ride. (5)

6. Gallien though Chris was crazy for hitchhiking, he also felt bad for him. He thought he was stupid for being unprepared. (3 and 4)

7. Gallien tells Chris to caution because the terrain out there is tough. He also tells him he is unprepared for what he will experience. (5)

8.  Chris refuses his offer and finds his offer a little offensive. Gallien gave Chris lunch and rainboots his wife gave him. He also offered to buy him hunting gear and he also gave him his number. (7)

1.     

9. He decided not to alert the authorities, because he figured McCandless would be okay. He also thought that he would eventually give up and walk to the highway. (7)

2.       

10. It is ironic because Chris did not do what “a  normal person” would and instead went out and lived there without giving up. Also many people considered Chris abnormal and having odd behavior. 

           11.  Krakauer would include a quote from Jack London because McCandless idolized this famous author. Also McCandless got many ideas from him, he admired this author and strived to be like him.(9)

          12.  The purpose of the descriptions were to give the reader an insight to what it felt like for Chris.(9)

          13.  The considered cause of McCandless death was starvation because he was unprepared for his journey. He also was not healthy and ate little while living in the woods. (14)

14. 

Wayne is a bar owner in a small town called Carthage in South Dakota. Wayne and Chris got along because Wayne felt bad for him and wanted to help. He let Chris stay with him for a couple of days and employed him for a while. Wayne even kept Chris’ secret about his real name. (17)

15.   The terms “leather tramp” and “rubber tramp” qualify as examples of local color.  What culture do they describe, and what is the difference between rubber tramps and leather tramps?

The culture that they describe is the culture Wayne lives in, which is a town called Saco Hot Springs. A rubber tramp is a vagabond who owned a vehicle. A leather tramp is a person who did not have personal transportation; hitch hikers. (17)

16. 

The author said this because he almost lived there and the community took care of him. Also he was separated from his family, and he felt alone. He also felt very at home in Carthage, he enjoyed the town greatly.

17.  

McCandless left Carthage because he was growing close to the town and needed to explore or go out on his “odessey”.

18.  The reader knows because he loans Wayne a book called War and Peace. He also wrote a letter to Wayne about the book. (19)

19.  

His early years were normal, he got good grades and belonged to a wealthy family. His parents fought a lot and wanted a divorce. McCandles was a smart kid with an adoring younger sister. (20)

20. 

He drove an old car and enjoyed nature a lot. His parents even offered to buy him a new car, but he refused it. (21)

22.  This statement applies to Chris because he tries to find himself on his quest away from, family, friends and people who care about him. In his traveling he hopes to find his reality or life.

23.Jan Burres is a woman who traveled around with her husband, Bob. They met Chris in Arcata, California. Chris stayed with them for a little, they had a son his age. They stayed in touch with Chris after he left. (30)

24.   The trip was hard and confusing for Chris. There were many different paths, that were confusing and hard to read. He loved Arizona and the climate, though.(32- 35)

25. He also talks in third person a lot. 

26.  The existential conclusion Chris reaches is he realizes how lucky his is to be alive. (37)

27. The life that Chris lead was of a normal person, with a job and home. He even rented an apartment and got a job. His job was at a McDonalds, he even used his real name to apply for it. (39)

28.  Describe the conditions and the residents of the Slab.  Note some of the local color that makes this community memorable.

           The people who lived in the slab were very poor and most of them were drifters. (43)

29. She recounts that he was hard working and musically talented. (43)

30.  Jan figured that Chris would figure it out since he was tough and has done difficult things before. (46)

Who was Ron Franz, and how did he enter the story?  What does Krakauer think about the relationship between Franz and McCandless?

            31. Ron Franz was someone who wrote to Krakauer,  through  Outdoor magazine that Krakauer wrote for. He was brought into the story when Krakauer asks to write an article on Chris McCandless. (47)

32.   It is the state park McCandless is traveling to in this chapter, it is supposibly very hard to survive in. He also meets Franz’s there. (49)

33.   The tragedy was, when he was away in for the military his wife and only child died. (51)

34. He felt like Chris needed help and wanted to treat him like a son. (52)

35. Leathermaking was something that brought Chris and Ron together, it was something they had in common. Franz also taught Chris secrets of the craft and helped him improve his skills. (52)

36.  The author tells us that on that day Chris was dropped off, it was his twenty fourth birthday. The author also tells us that he was a little sad to go, as was Franz. (53)

37.  When Chris writes a letter from Carthage, he tells Franz that he needs to go out into the wild on his own and just live. Chris tells Franz of how exciting it is. Franz replies to this by actually taking Chris’ advice and leaving his belongings and going out into the wild. (56)

38.  Franz found out about McCandless death while talking to two other hitchhikers who had read Outdoor Magazine. Franz reacted by becoming an atheist, since he believed if there was a God that that would have never happened to Alex. (60)

39.  Wayne was annoyed because he did not have Alex’s extra hand to help him with the broken down machine, as he wished. (62)

40.  The author’s analysis of McCandless and his father was very difficult, because they were both stubborn and had strong personalities. McCandless only really talk about his sister Carrine, he called her “beautiful and said that many guys looked at her”.(64)

41.The purpose of Rossellini’s story was to show how he thought like Chris when he first entered the wild. He left his regular life, which was very similar to Chris. But then soon realized it was not worth it and he couldn’t depend on nothing. Rosselini’s story was sent to Krakaeur to show that Chris was wrong to go out into the wild unprepared and that is why he died. (85)

42.It was to tell us that Chris was not insane, because they both were very alike in home life and went into the wild at a young age.

43. He was a dreamer like Chris and where both very intelligent, he also went to live in the wild and they both would have died of starvation, but McCunn commited suicide. (85)

44.  Summarize the story of Everett Ruess and his fascination with the American West and natural beauty.

45. Ruess and McCandless were both dreamers and they were both very social. (96)

Questions for Into the Wild

1. Chris McCandless was a boy who decided he wanted to live on the road after college, he had straight A’s and a pretty normal life.
2. In the author’s note Krakauer introduces several different theme’s. One is hardship’s, because from the start he tells how difficult it would be to live in the wild.

3. It is trying to describe what it would be like to live in the wild on the day Chris died. (3)

4. Alex is the fake name that Chris uses when he is on the road, so that he can ‘t be found. (4)

5. He is a union electrician, who sees Chris walking by himself and asks him if he wants a ride. (5)

6. Gallien though Chris was crazy for hitchhiking, he also felt bad for him. He thought he was stupid for being unprepared. (3 and 4)

7. Gallien tells Chris to caution because the terrain out there is tough. He also tells him he is unprepared for what he will experience. (5)

8.  Chris refuses his offer and finds his offer a little offensive. Gallien gave Chris lunch and rainboots his wife gave him. He also offered to buy him hunting gear and he also gave him his number. (7)

1.     

9. He decided not to alert the authorities, because he figured McCandless would be okay. He also thought that he would eventually give up and walk to the highway. (7)

2.       

10. It is ironic because Chris did not do what “a  normal person” would and instead went out and lived there without giving up. Also many people considered Chris abnormal and having odd behavior. 

           11.  Krakauer would include a quote from Jack London because McCandless idolized this famous author. Also McCandless got many ideas from him, he admired this author and strived to be like him.(9)

          12.  The purpose of the descriptions were to give the reader an insight to what it felt like for Chris.(9)

          13.  The considered cause of McCandless death was starvation because he was unprepared for his journey. He also was not healthy and ate little while living in the woods. (14)

14. 

Wayne is a bar owner in a small town called Carthage in South Dakota. Wayne and Chris got along because Wayne felt bad for him and wanted to help. He let Chris stay with him for a couple of days and employed him for a while. Wayne even kept Chris’ secret about his real name. (17)

15.   The terms “leather tramp” and “rubber tramp” qualify as examples of local color.  What culture do they describe, and what is the difference between rubber tramps and leather tramps?

The culture that they describe is the culture Wayne lives in, which is a town called Saco Hot Springs. A rubber tramp is a vagabond who owned a vehicle. A leather tramp is a person who did not have personal transportation; hitch hikers. (17)

16. 

The author said this because he almost lived there and the community took care of him. Also he was separated from his family, and he felt alone. He also felt very at home in Carthage, he enjoyed the town greatly.

17.  

McCandless left Carthage because he was growing close to the town and needed to explore or go out on his “odessey”.

18.  The reader knows because he loans Wayne a book called War and Peace. He also wrote a letter to Wayne about the book. (19)

19.  

His early years were normal, he got good grades and belonged to a wealthy family. His parents fought a lot and wanted a divorce. McCandles was a smart kid with an adoring younger sister. (20)

20. 

He drove an old car and enjoyed nature a lot. His parents even offered to buy him a new car, but he refused it. (21)

22.  This statement applies to Chris because he tries to find himself on his quest away from, family, friends and people who care about him. In his traveling he hopes to find his reality or life.

23.Jan Burres is a woman who traveled around with her husband, Bob. They met Chris in Arcata, California. Chris stayed with them for a little, they had a son his age. They stayed in touch with Chris after he left. (30)

24.   The trip was hard and confusing for Chris. There were many different paths, that were confusing and hard to read. He loved Arizona and the climate, though.(32- 35)

25. He also talks in third person a lot. 

26.  The existential conclusion Chris reaches is he realizes how lucky his is to be alive. (37)

27. The life that Chris lead was of a normal person, with a job and home. He even rented an apartment and got a job. His job was at a McDonalds, he even used his real name to apply for it. (39)

28.  Describe the conditions and the residents of the Slab.  Note some of the local color that makes this community memorable.

           The people who lived in the slab were very poor and most of them were drifters. (43)

29.  What character traits and skills does Jan Burres recount about Chris in chapter 5?

 She recounts that he was hard working and musically talented. (43)

30.  What was Jan Burres’s assessment of Chris’s ability to survive in Alaska? (end of chapter 5)

Jan figured that Chris would figure it out since he was tough and has done difficult things before. (46)

Who was Ron Franz, and how did he enter the story?  What does Krakauer think about the relationship between Franz and McCandless?

            Ron Franz was someone who wrote to Krakauer,  through  Outdoor magazine that Krakauer wrote for. He was brought into the story when Krakauer asks to write an article on Chris McCandless. (47)

32.  What is Anza-Borrego?

            It is the state park McCandless is traveling to in this chapter, it is supposibly very hard to survive in. He also meets Franz’s there. (49)

33.  What was the tragedy of Ron Franz’s life?

            The tragedy was, when he was away in for the military his wife and only child died. (51)

34.  How did he feel about Chris and what request did he make of Chris?

He felt like Chris needed help and wanted to treat him like a son. (52)

35.  What role did leathermaking take in their relationship?

Leathermaking was something that brought Chris and Ron together, it was something they had in common. Franz also taught Chris secrets of the craft and helped him improve his skills. (52)

36.  The author gives a brief character analysis of McCandless after recounting that Franz dropped him off in Colorado.  What does the author say about McCandless?

The author tells us that on that day Chris was dropped off, it was his twenty fourth birthday. The author also tells us that he was a little sad to go, as was Franz. (53)

37.  When Chris sent Franz a letter from Carthage, what advice did Chris give to Franz and how did Franz respond to this letter?

When Chris writes a letter from Carthage, he tells Franz that he needs to go out into the wild on his own and just live. Chris tells Franz of how exciting it is. Franz replies to this by actually taking Chris’ advice and leaving his belongings and going out into the wild. (56)

38.  How did Ron Franz learn that McCandless had died and how did this death change Franz’s life?

Franz found out about McCandless death while talking to two other hitchhikers who had read Outdoor Magazine. Franz reacted by becoming an atheist, since he believed if there was a God that that would have never happened to Alex. (60)

39.  Why was Wayne Westerberg annoyed at the beginning of chapter Seven?

Wayne was annoyed because he did not have Alex’s extra hand to help him with the broken down machine, as he wished. (62)

40.  What is the author’s analysis of the relationship between McCandless and his father?  How did Chris feel about his sister Carine?

The author’s analysis of McCandless and his father was very difficult, because they were both stubborn and had strong personalities. McCandless only really talk about his sister Carrine, he called her “beautiful and said that many guys looked at her”.(64)

.  What is the purpose of including the full story of Gene Rossellini?

            The purpose of Rossellini’s story was to show how he thought like Chris when he first entered the wild. He left his regular life, which was very similar to Chris. But then soon realized it was not worth it and he couldn’t depend on nothing. Rosselini’s story was sent to Krakaeur to show that Chris was wrong to go out into the wild unprepared and that is why he died. (85)

42.  What motivated Krakauer to include the story of John Waterman?

            It was to tell us that Chris was not insane, because they both were very alike in home life and went into the wild at a young age.

43.  Finally, what is the purpose of including the story of Chris McCunn in the narrative?

He was a dreamer like Chris and where both very intelligent, he also went to live in the wild and they both would have died of starvation, but McCunn commited suicide. (85)

44.  Summarize the story of Everett Ruess and his fascination with the American West and natural beauty.

45.  What Ken Sleight’s conclusion about Ruess and McCandless?

Ruess and McCandless were both dreamers and they were both very social. (96)

Favorite Famous Quotes Assignment

:

-       

Three Author’s

-         Jack London

-         Wallace Stegner

-         Paul Shepard

Book’s mentioned by the authors:

·         White Fang by Jack London

·         The American West as Living Space

·         Man in the Landscape

Quotes:

    Quote 1: “ Dark spruce forest frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had been striped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost and they seemed to lean toward each other black and ominous in the fading light… It was the masterful and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life. It was the Wild, the savage, frozen Northland Wild.”Jack London (9)

     Quote 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 lead west”Wallace Stegner (15)

    Quote 3: The desert is the environment of revelation genetically and physiologically alien sensorily austere, estheticallt abstract, historically inimical… To the desert go prophets and hermits; through deserts go pilgrims and exiles. Here the leaders of the great religions have sought the therapeutic and spiritual values of retreat not to escape but to find reality.” Paul Shepard(25)

How the author connects this to Chris’ life:

1.     This author connected his quote to Chris’ life by creating an image of going into the wild. Jack London makes this relative to Chris’ life because he shows what the “wild” would be like and at this time in the book Chris is just entering his journey into the wild. (Quote 1)

2.     In this quote from Wallace Stegner it describes why someone would want to live in the wild. The reasons he states are the exact same reasons Chris wanted to enter the wild. The quote say’s that everyone wanted freedom and this is one main reason Chris chose to abandon his life and live in the wild. (Quote 2)

3.     In this quote by Paul Shepard, he talks about living in wild and how hard it can be. Shepard also mentions that people sometimes chose to live this way to find their “reality”. In this chapter Chris is walking through the Detrial Wash or desert. It is one of the hardest living conditions he has experienced and he finds it hard to live in it. (Quote 3)

My Favorite Quote:

My favorite quote is “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” by Emerson, I think Chris would understand this quote because it is saying to make your own future. Chris did this by going into the wild and “making his own trail”. I also think Chris would like this quote a lot because he is very independent and in his story he shaped his own life and “made his own trail”.

Pictures:  http://www.nndb.com/people/929/000031836/jack-london.jpg

Pictures: 

http://wallacestegner.org/images/wallacePortrait.jpg

Pictures: http://www.hcn.org/external_files/allimages/1999/apr26/graphics/990426.027.jpg