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| Chris McCandless in Alaska |
It's the holiday season and just when you thought you could relax now that those college essays are done I say gleefully: Who's ready to read? It seems totally apropos to read Into the Wild because you are going on your own journey of sorts. You are asking the age old questions "Who am I? What do I stand for? and What do I want to accomplish with my life?" These are difficult questions to answer as an adult so when you're transitioning from teen to adult your head can swim with all the possibilities that life offers you. Good news is I'm not expecting answers that I will hold you to for forever---I'm merely asking you to think about them.
However, before we can 'officially' start looking into the journey of Christopher McCandless aka Alexander Supertramp we must look into ourselves because we all have a little Alexander Supertramp in us. We need to explore three HUGE ideas or philosophies that reside in this chronicle of McCandless' life. As a class we will need to discuss and define what existentialism is, what a romantic hero looks like (not just in appearance) and the pull that leads many to search out a life of transcendentalism.
First though, let's deal with one of the most complex topics: existentialism. Click on the Existentialism explained link. This link will take your group to a quick three minute video explaining the idea in it's most simple form. After watching it as a group try to define it in your own words on your note card. Be prepared to share your definition by the end of class.
Secondly, we must explore the idea of Romanticism and the romantic hero. Does that mean that this 'book' is chick lit? Um, no. Wrong definition of Romantic. Check out this very brief (like a minute or so) video The Romantics look over your handout and tap that prior knowledge--that's the stuff you learned about last year. After discussing what you've read and what you've watched come up with a working definition that you can share with the class.
Lastly, we'll deal with the idea of Transcendentalism. I promise you get to watch a video too. I wouldn't leave my Emerson people out of the loop, but seriously you're going to have to start relying on yourself soon <--this is funny joke--you'll see in just a minute. Watch what Shmoop has to offer up about Transcendentalism then come up with a working definition as a group to share with the class.
After the class has explored in their home groups, and as a whole, let's think about what each set of ideals has in common and what type of person is attracted to each of these philosophies. In class I will share an Into the Wild ppt with you. I encourage you to look at McCandless' life not through your own eyes, but someone who was searching for more than they ever thought they could be.
