Into the Wild Lesson Plan

At the end of chapter 13 Krakauker wrote that Billie's bereavement "makes even the most eloquent apologia for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow." Then in chapter 14 he arguably glorifies his own experiences mountain climbing. Does Krakakuer inappropriately glorify high-risk activities?

Students will have various opinions about this. Focus on the passage in chapter 14 that describes the kind of meditative calm that overtakes one when climbing. Krakauer describes an "overpowering clarity of purpose...and...seriousness of the task at hand." Yet Krakauer is quick to note that it is unsafe to lean too hard on this emotion of "something resembling happiness." The...