1. English 1 Daily Journals

2. - Daily Journal: - According to Krakauer, “Chris made an indelible impression on a number of people during his journey, most of whom only spent a few days with him”. Why do you think Chris made this kind of impression? What kind of impressions do you make on others?

3. -Daily Journals:
(1) In a letter to Ron Franz, McCandless wrote, “nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure” (56) Was Chris right? Why or Why not?
(2) How does your reading of Into the Wild influence your goals for high school, and plans for life after high school?

4. Daily Journal
What draws people to participate in dangerous, high risk activities? Explain. Do you think it is fair to the loved ones of the individuals who participate in these high-risk activities?

5. Daily Journal
Walt McCandless couldn’t understand “what kind of kid, with so much compassion, could cause his parents so much pain. Why was Chris’ relationship with his family so rocky? Why are relationships between parents and children in general rocky at times?

6. Daily Journal
Henry David Thoreau wrote, “rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth” Chris highlighted this passage and wrote “truth” above it. Why do you think McCandless identified with this quote?

7. Daily Journal
Is McCandless truly a compassionate person, as he is often described?

8. Daily Journal
Why does Krakauer include his experience of climbing Devil’s Thumb in the book? Why did he set out to climb Devil’s Thumb? How does this help support our understanding of Chris?

9. Daily Journal
Krakauer wrote that McCandless ”overestimated his resilience, but was sufficiently skilled to last for sixteen weeks on little more than his wits and ten pounds of rice”. Was Chris prepared or not prepared in your opinion? Why or why not? Was he aware of the struggles he would face in the wild?

10. Daily Journal
Write about the importance of independence and adventure for youth. Was Chris’ behavior unusual or typical for his age?
Do you think Chris would have been surprised at the success of Into the Wild? What would Chris think of the book?

11. Daily Journals
What is the most dangerous sport/game/activity you can think of? Explain your answer.
What is the most daring thing you’ve ever done? Explain. It can be as extreme as bungee jumping or as simple as a rollercoaster ride.
What are your general views on hunting? Some people hunt for sport and not just food. In other words, they hunt for fun and to practice their skills. What is your opinion about this?

12. Daily Journal
Is there a difference between hunting humans and animals? Explain why or why not. Could a situation like the one in “Most Dangerous Game” happen in our world today? Why or why not?
Zaroff stopped hunting animals because they lacked “instinct and reason”. How did Rainsford demonstrate both of these qualities throughout the story?

13. Daily Journal
What are some expectations that people, including yourself, have of you? In as much detail as possible, describe these expectations. The following questions might help you start:
Who expects things of me?
What kinds of things do they expect?
What do I expect of myself?

14. Daily Journals (Do both)
How does pride feature into “The Scarlet Ibis”?
How do the narrator’s feelings for Doodle change over time?

15. Daily Journal
Is the narrator of Scarlet Ibis a dynamic or static character? How do you know? Use examples from the text for support.

16. Daily Journal
Make a list or a diagram of the things that make up your “culture”, and briefly explain each. (Must have at least 3-5). There is no right or wrong answer to this, much like the definition essay. In other words, what things are essential to defining and ultimately understanding your culture?

17. Daily Journal
What are some major differences between Native American and Catholic/Christian cultures that are present in “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”? How does the author highlight these differences?