Lesson Overview
This interdisciplinary unit uses Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer as a central text to explore themes of identity, idealism, risk, and American individualism. Students will analyze the text through multiple critical lenses—literary, psychological, sociological, and philosophical—while comparing the original book with its film adaptation and a variety of media texts. Through reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities, students will develop critical thinking and media literacy skills. The unit culminates in a series of analytical essays and reflective blog posts that allow students to synthesize personal and academic insights about one of the most controversial and mythologized figures in recent American literature: Christopher McCandless.
Background
Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild is a nonfiction account of Christopher McCandless, a young man who abandoned his affluent life in pursuit of a transcendentalist ideal of freedom and solitude. After donating his savings, changing his name to “Alexander Supertramp,” and cutting off contact with family and friends, McCandless traveled across the American West before ultimately dying in the Alaskan wilderness in 1992. Krakauer weaves together McCandless’s journey with broader questions about modern society, identity, and the meaning of freedom.
The story has been the subject of widespread fascination and criticism, spawning a 2007 film adaptation directed by Sean Penn and inspiring debates about privilege, recklessness, and heroism. More recently, interest in McCandless’s story has been rekindled by articles about dangerous pilgrimages to the infamous “Bus 142,” and the implications of mythologizing his life and death.
Grade Level and Subject
- Grade Level: 11–12 (Advanced 10th grade with scaffolding)
- Subject: English Language Arts (Interdisciplinary options with Media Studies, Psychology, or American Studies)
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze Into the Wild through literary, psychological, sociological, and philosophical lenses.
- Evaluate how real-life narratives are adapted into film and media, with attention to bias and tone.
- Develop informed opinions about risk-taking, privilege, and romanticism in the American psyche.
- Engage with ethical questions around responsibility, fame, and individualism in contemporary society.
- Synthesize and articulate ideas through multiple formats, including journals, blogs, discussions, and essays.
- Demonstrate media literacy by comparing Krakauer’s narrative with modern articles and filmic representations.
Pre-Reading Activities
Book Access & Introduction
- Ensure all students have a copy of the book (physical or digital). Book summary here.
- The teacher provides an overview of the book’s nonlinear structure and explains its genre as a blend of biography, memoir, and investigative journalism.
- Emphasize that the story is real and introduce the basic facts of McCandless’s life and death.
Author Background
- Watch a short YouTube interview with Jon Krakauer discussing why he wrote the book and how he relates to McCandless.
- Task: Students take notes on Krakauer’s journalistic approach, noting any biases or personal connections to the story.
Film Context
- Screen Into the Wild (2007), directed by Sean Penn.
- Task: Students reflect in writing on how the film’s tone compares to the book. Discussion prompt: Does the film romanticize McCandless more than Krakauer does?
Actor’s Perspective
- Watch or read an interview with Emile Hirsch about his portrayal of Chris McCandless.
- Task: Students write a reflection on how actors influence public perception of real-life individuals.
While-Reading Activities
Double-Entry Journal (Thematic Focus)
Students maintain a double-entry journal organized by five themes:
- Relationships (family, friends, mentors)
- Conflicts (internal and external)
- Adventure (allure and consequences)
- Self-Realization (philosophical/spiritual insights)
- Overarching Theme (student’s personal interpretation)
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Instructions: For each theme, students select a representative paragraph and write a detailed analytical response. The teacher models at least one example.
Post-Reading Activities
Media Literacy & Critical Reading
Students read and analyze two current media articles:
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“‘Into the Wild’ Bus Tragedy Sparks Rescue Missions” – The Guardian
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“Chris McCandless’s Final Photo Resurfaces” – LADbible
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Task: Comparative analysis essay or structured paragraph response addressing:
- How McCandless is remembered and why.
- Ethical implications of his mythologization.
- Differences in tone, bias, and intent across media outlets.
- Real-world impact (e.g., increased search and rescue operations in Alaska).
Discussion Topics (Socratic Seminar or Literature Circles)
- Why did McCandless reject his parents’ lifestyle? Was it justified?
- What are your thoughts on McCandless’s decision to erase his identity?
- Can Krakauer’s biography be trusted? Where do you detect bias?
- Is McCandless courageous, reckless, or both?
- How does his story reflect broader American values of individualism and self-reliance?
- What connections can be drawn between McCandless and transcendentalist thinkers like Thoreau, Emerson, or Whitman?
Assessment
Formative
- Double-entry journals: Assessed for depth of thought, connection to themes, and text evidence.
Summative
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Group Discussion: Graded via a rubric for preparation, engagement, use of evidence, and respectful dialogue.
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Analytical Essay (choose one of the following):
Essay Question 1
To what extent does Into the Wild present Chris McCandless as a hero, a cautionary tale, or a complex mixture of both?
- Analyze Krakauer’s narrative strategy and sources.
- Discuss the impact of the film adaptation and media coverage.
- Address themes of privilege, idealism, and transcendentalism.
Essay Question 2
What does Into the Wild reveal about the tension between individual freedom and social responsibility in contemporary American culture?
- Explore McCandless’s pursuit of autonomy and the consequences.
- Reference evidence from the book, film, and recent articles.
- Connect to broader American cultural myths.