English 11

Ms. Kirk

Name: ________________________ Block: _______

Into the Wild Film Study and In-Class Composition

Over the next few classes we will be watching the film Into the Wild, based on the novel
by John Krakauer, based on the real-life story of Chris McCandless. Just as you are reading
novels that follow a dynamic character, this movie follows the changes in Chris as he finds
himself, while getting lost.
History behind the story:
Into the Wild tells the true story of Chris McCandless, a young man from a troubled
family who was enraged by the moral lapses of his mother and father and their multiple failures
as parents. McCandless also had a love of nature and adventuring in the wild. Upon graduating
near the top of his class from college, McCandless cut himself off from family and friends to go
solo adventuring in the Western United States. His last trip was to the Alaskan wilderness
where he has time to reflect on his life and ideals. The movie tells the story of the events at
home, McCandless' love of nature, his wanderings in the West, the people that he met, and, in
the final weeks, his epiphany of forgiveness and realization of the importance of human
relationships. McCandless' journey was investigated by John Krakauer, a writer for Outdoor
Magazine, who tracked the young man's travels seeking understand his motives for his
infamous journey.

Composition topics:
Choose one of the following topics to discuss in a multi-paragraph composition.
We will be working on our thesis statements and organization as a group later in the week.
Topics:
A) How is McCandlesss difficulty forgiving a driving force in his journeys? Explain how
forgiveness is an important aspect of character.
B) McCandless often considered himself to compassionate, but the opposite can also be
argued. Explain how McCandlesss quest for ultimate freedom is inherently selfish.
D) Jon Krakauer admits that Chris McCandless was rash, but he insists he "wasn't a nutcase, he
wasn't a sociopath, he wasn't an outcast. McCandless was something else -- although precisely
what is hard to say. A pilgrim, perhaps" (85).
What precisely was McCandless? Use one of Krakauer's terms or invent your own term.