Into the Wild Chapters 11-13

Objective: Determine why Krakauer chooses to include elements of McCandless’ childhood

later in the book. Identify passages that have changed in meaning, or are deeper in
meaning, with the revelations in chapters 11-13. Explain how these revelations affect our
interpretations as readers.

Select 2 moments from chapters 11-13 that give us information on how McCandless was
growing up/in college (paraphrasing is fine, but be detailed).

1 Failing physics, his reasoning being he doesn’t like the format

2 colleagues deemed him as brilliant

Identify 2 moments from earlier sections that can be read differently with the information
above (paraphrasing is fine, but be detailed).

1 Chris gave 2 middle fingers to all of t;he advice he was given earlier in the book, this
shows he has always found his own way better than the format he was set in, he didn't like
society, so he left it. Just like him failing physics simply because he didn't like the format.

2 He knew he was brilliant, in his mind every choice he made was the right one, and having
his colleagues see this as well through his work almost made him feel as though wherever
he stepped was superior to others. That’s why he embarked on such a journey with minimal
fear.

Select and Explain: Choose one of the examples above and explain the effect on the
reader when gaining new information (3-6 sentences)

Mccandless’s ideals for himself above others was something I always was confused about, because
after all his life he ends up defying the society he lives in. After learning about his rebel against
physics in school and his brilliance when things went the way he wanted them too, I can now
understand why it was so simple and easy for him to run off against society simply because he
didn't like it. He wanted change so he can live accustomed to his likings, and took any risk for it