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1.
In Chapter 10 (101), a detective from Fairfax County, Alaska
tracks down one of McCandless’s W-4 forms in Westerberg’s files. For
his name McCandless writes “Iris Fucyu. Address: ‘None of your damn
business.’ Social Security number: ‘I forget.’” Make some inferences
about what you think McCandless’s relationship was with the US
government.
2.
Discuss the impact of McCandless’s discovery that his father,
Walt, had led a double life several years earlier in California.
3.
At the end of Chapter 13, Krakauer eloquently writes about
Billie, Chris’s mother:
[S]he
breaks down from time to time, weeping as only a mother who has outlived
a child can weep, betraying a sense of loss so huge and irreparable that
the mind balks at taking its measure. Such bereavement, witnessed at
close range, makes even the most eloquent apologia for high-risk
activities ring fatuous and hollow. (132)
Discuss
what Krakauer is trying to say about the relationship between parents
and children. Consider the actual case of McCandless contrasted
with the ideal relationship.
4.
Krakauer begins in Chapter 14 to tell us of an early mountain
climbing venture he fulfilled at the age of 23. Discuss what he is
trying to accomplish by telling us about his life when this book is
supposed to be about the life of Chris McCandless.
5.
On page
142 when Krakauer is describing his ascent up Devils Thumb, he begins to
write in the second person (using “you”). Discuss why he does this and
what you think he gains from doing so.
6. Comment on the development of the
themes we identified the first week. How are additional examples of
those patterns or motifs developed in Krakauer’s narrative?
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