As you are making the transition from poetry back to prose... remember to focus on Jon Krakauer's writing practice... the way he writes... and what is the effects of his writing choices on the meaning of the book. Things to be thinking about as you are studying this piece of writing:
How does Krakauer choose to characterize C.M? Is this a journalistic representation of this young man's experience or an editorial view?
How does Krakauer treat time in this story? Why does he choose a non-linear plot? How does this serve his purpose for this book? What effect(s) does this organization have?
What is the impact of the different mediums used in this book? Maps, journal entries, epigraphs? How do they support JK's goals for this text? How are they supportive of the subject matter?
What is the effect of JK selecting certain events of CM life and building a complete narrative around these events? What does the reader need to remember about these choices?
How do the Transcendental ideals influence JK's creation of CM? (notice what I said there.... our author.. not our character).
How does the characterization of supporting characters work in association with CM? Why these individuals? What roles do they serve JK's narrative?
What is revealed in the author's note? What clues are we given as to JK's purpose?
Reading/Upcoming Schedule:
Tuesday, Dec. 15: chs. 10-15 due
Friday, Dec. 18: 16-afterword due
Mon., Dec. 21: practice test due and beyond notes due; update world issue chart
Dec. 22: ITW test due
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1. LIT HIIT: ITW
In the opening pages of Into the Wild, John Krakauer chooses to represent Jim Gallien's initial impressions of the hitchhiker he picks up in the following way:
The sun came up. As they rolled down from the forested ridges above the Tanana River, Alex gazed across the expanse of windswept muskeg stretching to the south. Gallien wondered whether he'd picked up one of those crackpots from the lower forty-eight who come north to live out ill-considered Jack London fantasies. Alaska has long been a magnet for dreamers and misfits, people who think the unsullied enormity of the Last Frontier will patch all the holes in their lives. The bush is an unforgiving place, however, that cares nothing for hope or longing.
What is the authorial purpose of starting Into the Wild with these specific initial impressions?
2. Learner's Portfolio expectations: IB LP- ITW
3. Allusion Chart- Due by Monday, December 21st.
4. Transcendentalism questions- How does Krakauer use the Transcendental writers and subject matter as a way to characterize Chris McCandless.
5. Epigraphs- ITW
6. Snippet discussion-
- Your goal is to demonstrate that you can ANALYZE author choices. What is a choice that JK makes in this book that is somewhat unique to other books that you have read? (Shake free from the plot and intrigue with McCandless... what has JK DONE to involve you? Obsess you?)
- You need to CLEARLY name this choice. (I need to feel that you have command over literary jargon and techniques)
- Present its context in relationship to the meaning you will discuss.
- Clearly explain how this choice affects the meaning of the work.. or the experience that the reader has.
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