Transcendentalist connections to Into the Wild

What connections do you see to some of the main ideas of Transcendentalism? What connections do you see between specific lines, scenes, reflections, or incidents in the book Into the Wild and some of the quotes from the Transcendentalism packet?

Each time a section of reading is assigned, go back to the book and identify a connection. Write about those connections and post those reflections here. Write about specific lines, scenes, incidents, and/or details in the book and their connections to the ideas of Transcendentalism and/or specific quotes from the Thoreau/Emerson packet.

* SO, for chap. 1-3 you should have one post. For chap 4-7, you should have one post.

MAIN TRANSCENDENTALIST VALUES

The importance of living simply and as close to nature as possible.

The importance of living in the moment, keeping the senses aware of the present moment.

The need to get rid of the distractions in life that take away from our ability to live mindfully and meaningfully.

The value of non-conformity – questioning authority and traditional ways of thinking.

The quest for true self-knowledge – creating time and space for honest introspection.

The rejection of the materialism and traditional measures of success.

The importance of individual conscience vs. society’s laws or expectations.

Spirituality means connecting with the divinity in all living things.

The Puzzle of Chris McCandless

Go back through the reading and connect details in the text to essential questions below. Write your comment below the question you are choosing.

In your comment,

1) identify the textual detail -- either a quote or a paraphrase of an incident from the book.

2) explain how that detail connects to the question you are responding to -- what insight into the question does analysis of that piece of text provide.

DO ONE COMMENT FOR CHAP 1-3
DO TWO COMMENTS FOR CHAP 4-7