Analysis of Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild

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Chapter 1 (Language/ Techniques used to create tone)

In the first chapter of Into the Wild, Krakauer is able to establish the tone by using certain words and techniques to further punctuate it. By the way he writes, it is clear that the tone is objective. He shows this by not inputting any of his own opinion or beliefs in the first chapter. Instead, he just went with the facts. In addition, his word choices show that the tone can also be classified as serious. “He persuaded the young hitchhiker to take the food as well” (7). Instead of “persuaded”, he could have simply used the word “offered” but he wanted to get it across clearly that Gallien really wanted him to accept the food and other equipment because he knew with the stuff Alex had that he would not make it out in the wilderness. This shows the seriousness of the situation. With careful word choices and techniques, Krakauer was able to set up the tone of the first chapter.

Chapter 3 (Logic/support of Krakauer’s viewpoint/perspective)

In chapter three of Into the Wild, Krakauer made a fascinating point about McCandless that he himself supports. “If McCandless felt estranged from his parents and siblings, he found a surrogate family in Westerberg and his employee” (18). The information Krakauer presents is true because McCandless seemed to be fond of Westerberg and the people in Carthage. As a parting gift for when McCandless first left, he gave Westerberg his “treasured 1942 edition of Tolstoy’s War and Peace” (19). Also, McCandless often wrote to Westerberg but never wrote to his family, his sister being the only exception. It was also said in one of his letters to Westerberg that he was a “great man” (69) while in another letter to his sister, he talks about his parents angrily, stating, “I’m going to divorce them as my parents once and for all” (64). From all the evidence provided, it is clear that Westerberg and the people in Carthage were more of a family to McCandless than his real family was.

Chapter 10 (Predict events or changes in relationship)

In the end of chapter ten, Krakauer explains how Sam McCandless is given the misfortune of telling his father and Billie that Chris is dead, but does not further explain their reactions to the news, giving an opportunity to infer their reactions. The first reaction Chris’s parents must have felt was shock and disbelief.

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