what happens in chapter 8 of into the wild

What happens in Chapter 8 into the wild? In Chapter 8 of Into the Wild, author Jon Krakauer

tells us about the influx of mail he received from readers after his initial story about Chris McCandless was published in Outside magazine. They thought that Krakauer was glorifying McCandless when he was more deserving of a scolding.

Full Answer

What are the major themes of Chapter 8 and Chapter 9?

Chapters Eight and Nine present several characters with whom Jon Krakauer explicitly compares Christopher McCandless in a further attempt to solve the mystery of his psychology. These chapters are thus largely argumentative or expository, though both contain significant amounts of storytelling in a biographical vein.

What is the appeal of McCandless in into the wild?

The positioning of Ruess’s story within Into the Wild also broadens the appeal of McCandless’s story. Through its telling, Krakauer makes the implicit claim that McCandless’s death represents a particularly rich and ambiguous modern example of an enduring type.

What does Chris search for in the wild?

His self-preservation suggests that Chris searches for life in the wild, not death. Krakauer next moves to the story of Carl McCunn, an affable and absentminded Texan who hires a pilot to drop him in a remote region of the Alaskan bush, where he plans to camp for the summer.

Who is the mayor of hippie Cove in Chapter 8?

Mayor of Hippie Cove. In Chapter 8, Krakauer tells us about one of these other explorers: the Mayor of Hippie Cove. His real name was Gene Rosellini. Like Chris, Gene was a well-educated man from a wealthy family who had many talents and prospects. Also like Chris, Gene abandoned a promising life for a wandering journey in the wilderness.

What happened in chapter 8 in into the wild?

In Chapter 8 of Into the Wild, author Jon Krakauer tells us about the influx of mail he received from readers after his initial story about Chris McCandless was published in Outside magazine. Many readers were incensed that Chris's story was getting so much press.

What is the purpose of Into the Wild chapter 8?

This chapter offers context for, and thus perspective on, McCandless's situation. By quoting from some of the many outraged responses to his article, Krakauer shares with the reader the typical reaction to McCandless's story: smug superiority laced with disbelief that anyone could be so foolhardy.

What is the purpose of chapter 9 in into the wild?

This is a second consecutive chapter in which the author attempts to illuminate McCandless's character by comparing and contrasting it to those of his predecessors. In doing so, Krakauer further convinces the reader that although McCandless was unique, the impulses that drove him were not unprecedented.

What happened in chapter 9 of Call of the Wild?

John Thornton uses his winnings to finance an expedition to the east to look for a fabled lost mine. After much searching, the group finds a river valley rich with gold. Buck ranges farther and wider into the wild, meeting and befriending a wild wolf before returning to the camp.

Why did Krakauer interrupt McCandless story with chapters 8 and 9?

Why did Krakauer interrupt the McCandless story with Chapters 8 and 9? Similar to the last questions, it allows readers to gain new perspective on why Chris acted the way he did. Were you surprised that McCandless left trails so that the authorities could find out who he was?

How did Ron meet Chris?

Ronald Franz Meets Chris In January 1992, Chris was on his way back to camp from a supply run when an old man asked if he needed a ride. This man was Ronald Franz. Hitchhikers and transients weren't unfamiliar for Ronald.

What happened in chapter 10 of into the wild?

In Chapter 10 of Into the Wild, Krakauer describes the long and drawn-out process it took to discover Chris McCandless's identity after his body was found in the Alaskan wilderness. Chris had died while wearing a sweatshirt bearing the logo of a Santa Barbara towing company. The police used this as their first lead.

What happens in chapter 12 of into the wild?

Summary: Chapter 12 The search for the rationale behind McCandless's trip into the wild leads Krakauer to provide a series of anecdotes. After his high school graduation, McCandless takes an extended trip through the American West. Before he leaves, he gives his father a gift of an expensive telescope.

How does the author think McCandless died?

"In all likelihood McCandless mistakenly ate some seeds from the wild sweet pea and became gravely ill," Krakauer wrote in the January 1993 issue. In "Into the Wild," his best-selling 1996 book, Krakauer said McCandless died from eating poisonous seeds of the wild potato, not from starvation.

How many chapters are in Cotw?

The Call of the Wild has 7 chapters and a total of 232 pages in the original publication. This novel, written by Jack London, was published in 1903.

What happened in Chapter 7 call of the wild?

Buck spends more time in the woods where he makes a transformation, or a big change, into a fierce hunter, but keeps coming back because he loves John Thornton. When Thornton is killed by a group of Yeehats, Buck kills one of Thornton's attackers and goes to live in the wild with the wolves.

Who did buck save from Call of the Wild?

ThorntonBuck becomes devoted to Thornton, and he even saves Thornton from drowning. One day, Thornton brags that Buck can pull a thousand-pound load and bets more than a thousand dollars on him.

When people read about Chris McCandless's death What was their reaction?

Krakauer notes the lack of sympathy Alaskans felt for McCandless when they read the article Krakauer wrote about his death. Many felt that he was a foolish child, who arrogantly attempted to brave the Alaskan wilderness.

What did people think about Alex when he turned up dead in Alaska?

What did people think about Alex when he turned up dead in Alaska? Many people concluded that the boy must have been mentally disturbed.

Who was Chris McCandless compared to?

Yet another man who people have compared McCandless to is Carl McCunn. As a worker on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the 70s, McCunn was in Alaska already and in 1981 requested to be flown to a remote lake above the Coleen River.

Why did Krakauer write into the wild?

Jon Krakauer's purpose for writing "Into the Wild" was to explain exactly what happened to Chris on the trail and find a motive for why Chris decided to do this. Jon Krakauer intended to motivate young readers to shed society's materialism and do what makes them happy by providing justification for Chris's actions.

How long does Chris live in the wild?

While Waterman actively embarks on a journey of self-destruction, Chris shows more stamina for living by surviving on his own in the wild for 113 days and by seeking out help when he needs it most. His self-preservation suggests that Chris searches for life in the wild, not death.

What does Jans characterize in the book Chris?

By likening Chris’ death to an environmental disaster, Jans characterizes Chris’ actions as arrogance in the face of nature. Krakauer, through his book, seems to argue differently, to cast Chris as not simply arrogant but part of a tradition of people moved to extreme action, often in connection with nature.

What would have happened if McCunn had raised two arms?

If he had raised two arms he would have signaled for help. McCunn continues to fantasize about being rescued, but overwhelmed by starvation and the cold he ultimately shoots himself in his tent. Alaska State Troopers discover his body two months later.

What did Nick Jans write about Chris?

In one long letter, Nick Jans’ rails against Chris’ ill preparedness, ignorance of the land, and aesthetic values, comparing his death to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Chris’ identity is refashioned post-mortem by the media and critics.

What is the name of the canyon in Chapter 9?

Summary: Chapter 9. Krakauer opens the chapter by describing a Southwestern canyon called Davis Gulch, a watershed in the midst of the desert. Davis Gulch contains petroglyphs left behind by the Anasazi people, as well as a carving left in 1993 by a young man named Everett Ruess, who, like Christopher McCandless, disappeared into the wild.

What chapter does Jon Krakauer start?

Summary: Chapter 8. Jon Krakauer picks up the explanation of the reception of his 1993 Outdoor magazine article about McCandless’s death that he began in Chapter Six. He quotes a number of letters the magazine received criticizing McCandless, particularly those from experienced campers and Alaska residents, who see the young man’s trip as ...

What chapter does Jon Krakauer compare Christopher McCandless?

Chapters Eight and Nine present several characters with whom Jon Krakauer explicitly compares Christopher McCandless in a further attempt to solve the mystery of his psychology. These chapters are thus largely argumentative or expository, though both contain significant amounts of storytelling in a biographical vein.

What is the chapter 8 of Into the Wild about?

Chapter 8 of Into the Wild by John Krakauer gives us a look at some readers' responses to Chris McCandless's story. Most people thought he was irresponsible and stupid, maybe even a little crazy. In this chapter, Krakauer also tells us about the Mayor of Hippie Cove, Gene Rosellini, and Carl McCunn, two other Alaskan explorers who lost their lives in the wilderness. Krakauer uses these and other explorers to provide some context for Chris's story. Krakauer asserts that Chris was not stupid or completely unprepared, like Carl McCunn, who forgot to arrange a ride home for himself. Krakauer defends Chris and his adventure and then leaves us to make up our own minds.

What chapter does Jon Krakauer tell us about the wilderness?

This lesson provides an overview of Chapter 8 of Jon Krakauer's 'Into the Wild'. In this chapter, Krakauer tells us about some other cases of lone explorers who wandered into the wilderness of Alaska.

What chapter does Krakauer present Chris's story?

In Chapter 8 , Krakauer presents us with a sampling of the reader responses to Chris's story. The general consensus is that Chris ''was simply one more dreamy half-cocked greenhorn who went into the country expecting to find answers to all his problems and instead found only mosquitoes and a lonely death.''

Who was the explorer who lived off the land in Alaska?

Carl McCunn was another explorer whose life was claimed by the Alaskan wilderness. Like Chris, Carl planned to spend a few months living off the land in Alaska. He gathered supplies and arranged a plane to fly him in to his chosen remote location. One small thing, though -- he forgot to arrange a ride home for himself! ''I think I should have used more foresight about arranging my departure,'' he wrote at one point in his journal. Now there's an understatement!

What was Gene's goal?

and it was his goal to return to a natural state.'' He eventually decided this ''natural state'' was not actually attainable. His new goal, he decided, was to walk around the world. He set about making plans for the new journey, but instead of leaving as he had planned, he was found on the floor of his cabin with a knife in his heart. Medical evidence suggested that the wound was self-inflicted.

Summary

The chapter opens with Krakauer citing parts of letters from readers, many of them Alaskans, responding to his article about McCandless in Outside magazine. They resoundingly criticize his "glorifying" McCandless and his Alaskan quest.

Analysis

The author counters the harsh criticisms in response to his January 1993 article, "Death of an Innocent," in Outside magazine on McCandless's journey, by analyzing the stories of three other men enamored of the Alaskan wilderness.

Who was the vagabond who walked into the desert?

In his continuing efforts to better understand the workings of the vagabond mind as exhibited by Christopher McCandless, the author turns finally to the case of Everett Ruess, a young man who "walked into the desert (in southern Utah) and never came out." Ruess was born in Oakland, California in 1914, to a family which was very "tight-knit," but which relocated frequently. Ruess attended high school in Southern California and went on to study at the Otis Art Institute, and throughout those years embarked on a number of solo trips, first hitchhiking up the California coast, and then tramping alone through desolate areas of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Through his writings, Ruess communicated a "craving for connection with the natural world," and an almost euphoric joy in the freedom to wander at will. He adopted a series of new names for himself, including the moniker "Nemo," and pushed his body to the limits of its endurance on his solitary ventures. He was last known to have been camped among the ancient Anasazi ruins in desolate Davis Gulch, Utah. There is much speculation about what happened to him then: some believe he fell to his death while climbing the canyon walls, while others suggest that he was murdered, or went on to live somewhere else under an assumed identity. Whatever the case, Ruess, for all intents and purposes, disappeared at the tender age of twenty and, as far as anyone knows for sure, was never seen again.

What is the relationship between Christopher McCandless and Everett Ruess?

It is in uncovering the parallels between Christopher McCandless's life and that of Everett Ruess that Krakauer seems to come closest to reaching an understanding of the driving force that compelled both men to forsake society and immerse themselves repeatedly in the natural world alone. Wanderlust was a part of both men's makeup from their mid-teen years on. Both were romantics, envisioning nature as sublime and becoming exhilarated in its proximity, and both cared little about their own physical comfort and well-being, as long as they were free to roam according to the dictates only they could hear. Both men adopted pseudonyms that were expressive of their life philosophies, with McCandless calling himself Alexander Supertramp in a salute to his vagabond life, and Ruess taking the name Nemo, Latin for "nobody," which might underline his awareness of his own insignificance before the vast majesty of nature. Finally, both men ceased to be, overcome or swallowed by the wilderness they loved so much, after living only a little more than two short decades.