
Compare and contrast the character and personality of McCandless and Krakauer as young men. Discuss the motif of the allure of the wilderness on the American imagination, citing historical examples from the book and showing how it affected Chris McCandless. Potential Student Struggles With Into the Wild What Your Students Will Love About Into the Wild He decided to live in the wild, away from society, and he stayed in a bus with only rudimentary supplies and his diary until hikers stumbled upon his remains.Ĭontent Warning: Into the Wild contains some strong language, drug references, and brief sexual content. Along the way, he met and interacted with many people but never stopped wandering. After graduating from Emory University, McCandless donated all his savings, abandoned his possessions, broke contact with his family, and hitchhiked to Alaska. Into the Wild recounts the true story of Chris McCandless, who journeyed into the Alaskan wilderness in search of enlightenment. And if the retail value of your order is at least $2,500, you'll save 35% on all your paperbacks. If the retail value of your order is at least $500, you'll save 30%. You'll always save at least 25% on any paperback you order.
Students can discuss views, both positive and negative, on consumer culture and material possessions. McCandless's failed attempt to inject himself totally into the natural wilderness also raises questions about the drawbacks of a society immersed in consumerism.
This theme prompts class discussion on whether one should find oneself through isolation in nature and how such actions conflict with being an active member in society. Into the Wild and these referenced authors deal heavily with the individual's place in or apart from society. Transcendentalism also influenced McCandless, so students should learn about the philosophical and spiritual movement. These authors' works can be assigned in conjunction with this text. McCandless's journey was inspired by the writings of Jack London and Henry David Thoreau. The form of this book is a good way of introducing students to compelling nonfiction while raising questions about the ethics and practices of literary nonfiction and journalism. Into the Wild Into the Wild is a journalistic, narrative-driven nonfiction work that explores the adventurous and tragic life of Chris McCandless.