Guided Reading Questions for Into the Wild

For each chapter of the book, you will complete the questions for that chapter. Each
will count as a homework assignment and the whole will count as a quiz grade for
this term. Reading schedule and due dates are attached.
You may hand write or type your answers but make sure they are legible. If you
type, you will be required to turn in the entire assignment at the end of the book on
turnitin.com so do not delete or lose it!
After we complete the book, you will write an 800-1000 word essay about Chris
McCandless motives for his actions and/or causes of his death. If you do the HW
assignments well, this should be very easy!
For each vocabulary word write down the sentence or clause in which it appears and
define it in your own words from the context. There will be a vocabulary quiz at the
end of the book as well.
Ch. 1
1. Who is Jim Gallien and how does he meet Alex (aka Chris McCandless)?
2. Write down two quotations which reveal something about Alexs personality.
Explain in a sentence or two what each tells you about Alex.
3. Vocabulary in context:
p. 4: unsullied, sonorous
p. 5: congenial, dissuade
Ch. 2
1. Jack London is mentioned on p. 4 of ch. 1 and a Jack London quotation begins
this chapter as well. What does Jack London have to do with Alexs story?
Have you ever read anything by Jack London?
2. Why do you think the author begins each chapter with a quotation? Do you
think they will help you understand the story better?
3. Who found Chris McCandless remains and how?
4. What probably caused Chris death? What evidence was found?
5. Vocabulary in context:
p. 10: amalgam
p. 11: contumacious
Ch. 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

How might the Tolstoy and Stegner quotations which begin this chapter
relate to Chris story?
What are rubber tramps and leather tramps?
How did Wayne Westerberg meet Alex/Chris McCandless?
Give two quotations from Wayne that characterize Alex.
Give two details revealed by the author about Chris past (prior to his last
journey west) that reveal something about his personality and possible
motives for his actions. Explain what each detail reveals.
Vocabulary in context:
p. 18: mien

p. 22: onerous
Ch. 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Why does the author tell the story of the park ranger sent to find the bear
paw poppy?
What does Chris abandonment of his car show us about his personality?
Explain.
What do Chris parents learn about his disappearance and what do they do
about it? What does this show us about them?
Describe Alex/Chris canoe adventure. How/why does it end? What does it
tell you about his personality?
What does Alex/Chris do after ditching the canoe?
Vocabulary in context:
p. 28: egress, queries, flout

Ch. 5
1.

What can you infer about Chris personality based on his work at McDonalds?
Cite evidence to back up your statements.
2. What can you infer about Chris based on his weeks with Jan Burres and Bob
at the Slabs? Cite evidence.
Ch. 6
1. What do Chris outbursts with Franz (p. 52) suggest about Chris? Explain
2. Reread the last two paragraphs of p. 60. What do you think of what Franz
does? Do you feel sorry for him? Do you blame Chris? Explain.
3. Vocabulary in context:
p. 52: fulminate
p. 55: unalloyed
Ch. 7
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

What do you think of Krakauers analysis of Alexs sex life? How might it
relate to the quotation from Storr at the chapters beginning?
What do you learn about Chris relationship to his family?
On p. 67, Chris tells Wayne, Flying would be cheating. It would wreck the
whole trip. What does this tell you about Chris character?
What do you think of Alexs cryptic cards to Wayne Westerberg and Jan
Burres? Did he believe he was taking a big risk or is he just being dramatic?
Vocabulary in context:
p. 61: maw
p. 62: surfeit
p. 66: succor

Ch. 8
1. Do you agree with the statements from readers which Krakauer records on
pp. 71-72? Why or why not? Why does the author include them?

2. In your opinion, is Chris more like Gene Rosellini, John Waterman, or Carl
McCunn? Explain.
3. Why does Krakauer include these tangents about other individuals who
have lived in the wilderness?
Ch. 9
1.

Reread Ruess excerpted letters on pp. 91-93. Choose one line you can
relate to, agree or disagree with and explain why.
2. Why do you think Ruess and McCandless used pseudonyms?
3. Do you agree with Krakauers assessment in the last paragraph? Are you
moved by their courage, their reckless innocence, and the urgency of their
desire? Explain.
4. Vocabulary in context:
p. 87: scant
p. 88: dessicated
p. 95: veracity

Ch. 10-11
1.

Why do you think Chris highlighted the passage from Dr. Zhivago which
begins Ch. 11 and what do you think his marginal note means?
2. What evidence are we given in ch. 11 that Chris actions are part of his
NATURE? Give 3 different pieces of evidence and cite page numbers.
3. Vocabulary in context:
p. 103: taciturn
p. 105: mercurial
p. 107: rancor
p. 114: ceded
p. 116: morass

Ch. 12
1.

Give 3 pieces of evidence and cite page numbers that Chris actions were
more a result of NURTURE.
2. After finishing these chapters, do you think Chris actions are more nature or
nurture?
3. Vocabulary in context:
p. 122: sanctimonious, lenity
p. 125: purportedly

Ch. 13
1.

Why does Krakauer wait till more than halfway through the book to recount
the familys reaction to Chris death?
2. Does this chapter change your reaction to what Chris did? Why or why not?

Ch. 14
1. Does Krakauers description about why he climbs make sense to you?
Does it shed light on McCandless journey into the wilderness? Explain.
2. Why does Krakauer include this chapter about himself? Do you think its
effective? Explain.
3. Vocabulary in context:
p. 136: demarcates, inveigled
p. 140: nixing
Ch. 15
1. Why does Krakauer use the same chapter title for both ch. 14 and 15?
2. Reread page 142. Can you relate to the description of the focus it takes to
climb as Krakauer does? Have you ever experienced anything which was so
absorbing that everything else became unimportant or even unnoticeable?
3. Reread page 155. Do you think his desire to climb the Devils Thumb was
similar to McCandless desire to survive alone in the Alaskan wilderness? Do
you relate to their ambitions at all? Why or why not?
4. Vocabulary in context:
p. 148: hectored, supplanted

Assigned reading
Ch. 1, The Alaska Interior, pp. 3-7
Ch. 2, The Stamped Trail, pp. 9-14
Ch. 3, Carthage, pp. 15-23
Ch. 4, Detrital Wash, pp. 25-37
Ch. 5, Bullhead City, pp. 38-46
Ch. 6, Anza-Borrego, pp. 47-60
Ch. 7, Carthage, pp. 61-69
Ch. 8, Alaska, pp. 70-85
Ch. 9, Davis Gulch, pp. 87-97
Ch. 10, Fairbanks, pp. 98-102
Ch. 11, Chesapeake Beach, pp. 103-116
Ch. 12, Annandale, pp. 117-126
Ch. 13, Virginia Beach, pp. 127-132
Ch. 14, The Stikine Ice Cap, pp. 133-144
Ch. 15, The Stikine Ice Cap, pp. 145-156
Ch. 16, The Alaska Interior, pp. 157-171
Ch. 17, The Stampede Trail, pp. 172-186
Ch. 18, The Stampede Trail, pp. 187-199

Due Date for Guided reading

questions
Tues., Jan. 7
Thurs., Jan. 9
Fri., Jan. 10
Mon., Jan. 13
Wed., Jan. 15
Fri., Jan. 17
Tues., Jan. 21
Wed., Jan. 22
Read in class by Fri., Jan. 31
(exam week)
Read in class by Fri., Jan. 31
Read in class by Fri., Jan. 31
Tues., Feb. 4
Wed., Feb. 5
Fri., Feb. 7
Mon., Feb. 10
Tues., Feb. 11
Wed., Feb. 12
Fri., Feb. 14