American Studies English
Dr. Struzziero
Study Guide: Into the Wild
Chapter 1
1)What does Jim Gallien give Chris (a.k.a. Alex) to help him with his trek into the wilderness of Alaska?
2)What is your opinion of Chris’s (a.k.a. Alex’s) decision to journey into the Alaskan Wilderness? Is this heroic or foolish?
Chapter 2
3)Please summarize what six people found inside the Fairbanks City Transit System #142 bus that was abandoned on the Stampede Trail.
4)An epigraph is a quote that introduces a work of literature or a chapter in a work of literature. How does the Jack London epigraph connect to Chapter 2?
Chapter 3
5)Describe the relationship between Wayne Westerberg and Chris McCandless.
6)Where is McCandless from?
7)Where did Chris attend college?
8)What happened to Westerberg?
Chapter 4
9)Where did Chris McCandless abandon his car?
10)Why did Chris abandon his car?
11)How did JanBurres help Chris?
12)At the end of Chapter 4, how does Chris feel about his adventure?
13)Do you agree with Chris’s opinion of his journey?
Chapter 5
14)What did Chris do in Bullhead City, Arizona?
15)Do you agree with Charlie’s evaluation of Chris McCandless?
16)According to Chris, why did he leave Bullhead City?
17)What is the Slabs?
18)What is the significance of Chris’s obsession with Jack London and Jack London’s hypocrisy?
19)Who is Tracy?
20)How does Chris react when JanBurres tried to help him?
Chapter 6
21)What did Ronald Franz do when he found out that Chris McCandless had died?
22)Where did Chris meet Ronald Franz?
23)Describe Ronald Franz.
24)Please explain the significance of the quote, “…you don’t need to worry about me.”
25)What does Chris ask Franz to do?
Chapter 7
26)According to Westerberg, McCandless lacked______.
27)Describe Gail Borah.
28)What do readers learn about Chris’s family life in this chapter?
29)What trait of Chris’s fascinated Mrs. Westerberg?
Chapter 8
30)Please evaluate the following statement: “Why would anyone intending to live off the land for a few months forget Boy Scout rule number one: Be prepared? Why would any son cause his parents and family such permanent and perplexing pain?”
31)Please evaluate the following quote: “McCandless was something else-although precisely what is hard to say. A pilgrim, perhaps.”
Chapter 9
32)Describe Everett Ruess.
33)How does Everett Ruess connect to Chris McCandless?
Chapter 10
34)Westerberg was able to help police identify Chris McCandless by giving them_____.
35)Who positively identifies Chris for the police?
Chapter 11
36)According to his parents, Chris’s favorite part of childhood was______.
37)What sports was Chris good at?
38)Describe Chris’s struggle with capitalism.
39)What insights do you gain about Chris by learning about his childhood?
Chapter 12
40)What did Chris learn about his father?
41)Please explain the significance of Billie McCandless’ dream.
Chapter 13
42)Describe Carine McCandless.
43)Summarize how she reacts to his death.
44)How has this chapter informed you about Chris’s heroism or foolhardiness?
Chapter 14 (no questions)
Chapter 15
45)Summarize Krakhauer’s relationship with his own father.
46)Please explain how the two epigraphs in Chapter 15 connect to the narration in the chapter.
Chapter 16
47)Summarize Chris’s relationship with Stuckey.
48)Please explain the significance of the excerpt from Tolstoy.
49)Why doesn’t Chris try and cross the river?
Chapter 17
50)What is ironic about how Krakhauer gets to the bus?
51)How does the author conclude that McCandless was arrogant?
52)At the end of the chapter, what other conclusion does Krakhauer draw about McCandless?
Chapter 18
53)Krakhauer asserts that McCandless died from eating moldy seeds (swainsonine poisoning). Please summarize the effects of swainsonine poisoning.
54)What does the last picture that McCandless takes of himself reveal about him?
Epilogue
55)What is Billie’s opinion of Chris’ adventure in Alaska?
56)How did Walt react to visiting the bus?
57)Was Chris a hero or a fool?
58)What did Chris teach you about what it means to be American?