Into the Wild Study Guide
All chapters and content may potentially appear on the final exam, excluding chapters 8, 9, 14, and 15. The final exam will be a combination of fill in’s, some multiple choice, true/false and matching.
Characters to Know: McCandless’ Family
What are they like? What do they say about Chris? What is their relationship like with Chris? How do they react to his death?
Christopher McCandless/Alexander SupertrampWalt and Billie McCandless
Carine McCandless
Sam McCandless
Loren McCandless
Characters to Know: Folks McCandless Encounters
Know that they say about McCandless, how they know him, describe their relationship, etc.
Jim GallienWayne Westerberg & Gail Borah
Ronald Franz
Jan & Bob Burress
Tracy
1. What does Chris take with him on his journey?
2. Aside from giving up everything to head into Alaska, what makes Chris unique? Describe events from his childhood and past (Chapter 12).
3. How does Chris interact with women? How does Krakauer explain this?
4. What is Chris’ life like before he leaves for Alaska?
5. Where does Chris go before Alaska? Who does he encounter?
6. What kinds of mistakes, mishaps, and “close-calls” happen to Chris on his adventure?
7. What is an epigraph?
8. What is hubris?
9. What are different examples of Chris traveling by car, foot, and canoe?
10. What are Walt and Billie like? What is their marriage like?
11. What is found with Chris in the abandoned bus?
12. How does Chris die?
13. What are the contents of his last two notes?
14. Who are some of Chris’ favorite authors?
15. What happens to Chris in Mexico?
16. Who is Leo Tolstoy? What is his connection to Chris?
17. Who finds Chris’ body?
18. Describe what happened after the Alaskan State Troopers discovered Chris’ body: How was Chris identified? What was found with him? Where was the story published?
19. At the conclusion of the novel, what does Krakauer seem to be arguing about the importance of community/physical & emotional contact with others?
20. What is Chris’ views on death? How do we know this? Support with examples from the text.
21. Know significance of:
a. Yellow Datsun
b. Emory University
c. Fairbanks City Transit System Bus 42
d. Camera/Self-Portraits
e. OXFAM
f. Leather belt made with Ron Franz
g. Marcia McCandless
h. Outside Magazine
i. Buckley
j. Chris’ Diary
k. Chris’ small caliber rifle
l. Potato seeds
m. Leo Tolstoy
n. Krakuer’s connection to Chris