Into the Wild chapters 10-12 review

Chris tried a lot of sports and was good at them all. What kept him from getting really good?

A wall went up when someone tried to coach him and help him improve. Her resisted instruction of any kind.

What family member did Walt compare Chris too, and how were they so much alike?

Billie's father (Chris's grandfather) He didn't fit into society, had a backwoods savvy, an affinity for the wilderness...and they adored each other

What was special about the blue sleeping bag Chris was wrapped up in?

Billie, his mom, had made it for him from a kit.

How did things change in Chris's family when his dad left his corporate job and started his own business?

Both parents worked all the time. There were at home, but they were always in the study working.

Carine, Chris's sister said he always liked to be alone. Did she describe this as a good or bad thing?

Good--he had friends too. She said he could be alone without being lonely.

Walt was known to have a temper and a dark, moody side. How did this change after Chris disappeared?

He became softer and more tolerant

Chris was a good student, always making A's. Why did he make an 'F' in physics?

He didn't follow the rules the teacher made for writing lab reports, so he failed him.

Chris left to drive across the country on his own after his father's birthday. What happened near the end of the trip that almost cost him his life?

He got lost in the Mojave desert and almost perished from dehydration.

Name 2 things Chris did to help the homeless.

He took them food. He let a homeless man live in his parents' airstream trailer...and they never knew.

When Walt tried to offer some advice to Chris about being more careful on his trips, how did Chris react?

He was angry at this little bit of advice.

How was Sam able to verify that it really was Chris?

He went to the local police station and they showed him an 8x10 photo. Chris's hair was long and he hadn't shaved, but Sam knew it was him.

What did Walt say would have happened if Chris had been older, 14 or 15? What comments did Walt make about Chris being fearless?

He'd have gone on to the top anyhow. Chris was fearless. He didn't think the odds applied ot him. "We were always trying to pull him back from the edge."

Chris could play the piano, guitar and french horn. Why did he quit playing the french horn in high school?

It was partly because he didn't like the rules imposed by the band leader. Mainly, it was because his sister was better and beat him out for 1st chair.

Who first saw the article about the dead hiker in Alaska and gave Troopers a clue as to who it was?

Jim Gallien (the man who dropped him off at the trail)

Chris kept this information to himself, but he brooded over it and let the bad feelings build and build. Chris held himself and his parents to a high moral code. Was he consistent in this? Explain?

No. One man he was friends with was a drunk who regularly beat up his girlfriends. He also overlooked the faults of his literary heros London and Tolstoy.

who did the authorities contact when they called McCandlesses the area of Virginia where Chris was from?

Sam McCandless--his older step brother (His parents had moved to Maryland.)

Chris began to complain about all the rich kids at Emory and started a young republicans club.His political position was best summed up in this statement: "That government is best which governs least." Which author he liked said this?

Thoreau

What was so special about the guitar that was found in the Datsun Chris deserted in the desert?

Walt had given it to Billie when Chris was born and she played it and sang lullabies to him.

When Chris was 12, Walt took all of his children to climb Longs Peak in Colorado. What happened at 13,000 feet?

Walt, his youngest son from his first marriage and Chris made it that far, but Walt was feeling the altitude and told the boys they couldn't go higher. Chris was unhappy because he wanted to go on to the top himself.

Things seemed to deteriorate between Chris and his parents after his summer drive across the country. What caused this?

When he was in California, he found out Walt had continued seeing his ex-wife after he moved in with Billie, and even fathered a child with her when Chris was 2 years old.

What information did Wayne have that helped state troopers in Alaska to identify Chris?

a W-4 form with Chris's real name and social security number

Chris fixated on his father's behavior and soon judged his father as:

a sanctimonious hypocrite

After high school graduation, what gift did Chris give his father for his birthday?

a very expensive telescope He said very nice things about his dad and got really emotional.

When Chris was 8, he and his father began a yearly tradition. What was it?

climbing to the summit of Old Rag mountain

what did Chris do in 3rd grade after qualifying for and being placed in a gifted class?

he tried to tell teachers and principal it was a mistake; he didn't want to be in the class. He didnt want to do more work! One teacher described him as walking to the beat of a different drummer.

What is the greatest paradox about Chris that the author writes about?

his feelings about money He was embarrassed by all the 'things' his family had. Paradox: he was a natural born captitalist..and had an easy time making money. Ex: age 8-pulled a wagon around the neighborhood and sold vegetables age 12-neighborhood copy business

What is a characteristic that the writer notes that Chris shares with his father, Walt?

his intensity

What natural talent did Walt have that Chris also had?

musically inclined--both were talented musicians

What kind of childhood had Walt had?

poor--grew up on the 'wrong side of the tracks' great student--got a scholarship to college

What political issue did Chris become obsessed with his senior year?

racial oppression in South Africa

What sport did he finally take up and do really well at?

running--cross country He was team captain and pushed himself and the team. He came up with the 'Road Warriors' training--long killer runs

Chris considered running a very ____ affair. He was also very competitive. What happened when Chris lost?

spiritual He wouldn't talk about it. He internalized his disappointment and would go off by himself.

Walt said that Chris was good at almost everything he tried, causing Chris to be:

supremely overconfident

How did Wayne Westerberg find out about 'Alex' possibly being the dead hiker?

the Paul Harvey radio show

What did Carine say made her and Chris so close to each other?

the tension and fighting that often happened between their parents as they were building the business.

What did they do as a family that Chris really liked?

took trips to hike and camp