{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"43181026","dateCreated":"1317061897","smartDate":"Sep 26, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"jendracostice","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/jendracostice","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/dracosticeenglish12.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/43181026"},"dateDigested":1532174289,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Quote (with page number) and response","description":"Type out a quote that speaks to you from the book. Then, respond to the quote in a substantial paragraph","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"43204690","body":"#thatawkwardmoment when you realize you didn't write enough
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\nOkay well to continue I went into the class feeling apprehensive and awkward, but all summer I had been really wanting to try out it (breakdancing) out. So I randomly Google searched a studio and ATL and next thing I know I'm on I-20 going to some place I've never been before. Keep in mind that I have never taking a dance class in my life, the extent of my knowledge comes from watching videos on Youtube. Long story short, things ended up going really well and I had a blast, not regretting the decision in the slightest. In this respect, Chris was right about about taking risks, they do pay off.","dateCreated":"1317085726","smartDate":"Sep 26, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"sang-holee","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/sang-holee","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43204770","body":"Page 107. "Even when we were little, he was very to himself. He wasn't antisocial-he always had friends, and everything liked him- but he could go off and entertain himself for hours. He didn't seem to need toys or friends. He could be alone without being lonely."
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\nThis is Carine speaking about her brother, Chris. This speaks to me for a few reasons. For the first, it's a sibling speaking on a matter that involves her brother. I feel as if my sister would say the same about me. I'd like to consider myself pretty social; however, there are times when I love being by myself. A lot of times I go sit on my backporch when things are too much and I just need a break. I can think out there without a lot of distractions and can talk to myself. There are two spots that I love to be by myself, the lake and my grandparents mountain house back porch. Both of these places provide solitude and quiet that I can get nowhere else. I feel as if Chris gets this quietness wherever he is in the wild and he loves that more than anything else. There's something about the quiet of the world, whether it be in my grandparents Alabama, or in the Alaskan wild that I think applies to both Chris and I.","dateCreated":"1317085792","smartDate":"Sep 26, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"chapmanwilkinson","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/chapmanwilkinson","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43204894","body":""He intended to invent an utterly new life for himself, one in which he would be free to wallow in unfiltered experience. To symbolize the complete severance from his previous life, he even adopted a new name...he was now Alexander Supertramp, master of his own destiny." (pg. 22-23).
\nPeople always talk about the \u201cwhat ifs\u201d in life. What if I took this path? What if for once I didn\u2019t try? What if I quit? What if I went off into the wild, changed my name, and tried to live off the land? That is kind of the ultimate what if. What if I got rid of everything I have ever known, everything that has ever been a constant in my life, everything that my society and family have told me is important. Whatever other things I feel about Chris, I cannot rag on his bravery. The pure courage it took for him to walk away from everything he knew. To him, though, it didn\u2019t take bravery. He wasn\u2019t scared of his new life; he embraced it. That\u2019s the reason he was able to do it, I think. Nothing, except maybe Carine, held him to his old life. There was nothing there that really mattered anymore. The adoption of a new name, which for some reason I find very presumptuous (especially one as grandiose as Alexander Supertramp), helped him to transform into a new person. It is the ultimate start over button. What strikes a chord with me is that he lived a pretty normal life up until then. With all his quirks and interesting view point, he was still a normal kid from a normal background. The start over button is possible. He tried it out, and even though it ended it easily could have not. He could have returned to South Dakota and lived the rest of his life with no constraints. He had the courage to do it so he did it.","dateCreated":"1317085915","smartDate":"Sep 26, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"mollykaplan","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/mollykaplan","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43206736","body":""My parents can't help wondering--and I admit that I can't either-- how things might have turned out different if Chris had taken Buck with him... There's no way he would have taken the same kind of chances is Buck had been with him." Carine McCandless p. 128.
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\nAs we know from reading ITW, Buck was Carine and Chris's dog. Chris and Buck went on long runs and it was a special type of bonding that happens between dog and man. This speaks to me because I have a dog myself. A big yellow lab that sometimes thinks he's the most comfortable lap dog on earth. Through the years, we've developed a special relationship similar to the one between Chris and Buck. It is one in which I have an unconditional love for him and he has an unconditional love for me. The point I'm making here is that what if I did a similar thing to my dog, Bingo, that Chris did to Buck. I personally would never purposely put my dog in danger, and to think of the fact that I left him for good is just unimaginable. I guess I will be reaching that point soon as I head off to college in the next year. My feelings and thoughts about this quote are very similar to those of Molly's: What if? What if I left my canine brother knowing that I would never see him again? What would I do if I took him with me? Right now, I am speaking through the strong emotions I have for my dog. I know he is the one that I can speak to about anything and he'll always have that warm response of love. I'll end by saying this, what if I or any of us left the thing we love the most, whether its a dog, an object, God, literally anything, to live a life of solitude in the wild? What if?","dateCreated":"1317087480","smartDate":"Sep 26, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"rmonasterski","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/rmonasterski","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43206770","body":""His name was printed wrong. The label said Christopher R. McCandless. His middle initial is really J. It ticked me off that they didn't get it right. I was mad. Then I thought, 'Chris wouldn't care. He'd think it was funny' " - Page 131 (Quote from Carine McCandless)
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\nThis quote from Carine that characterizes Chris really resonates with me. I think it's the fact that Chris doesn't really get bogged down with what other people say about him, or how people portray him. He is who he is, and feels that that should be enough for everybody else. It's easy to get caught up in looking out for our reputation. We all want to be recognized for our achievements, our victories and admirable personal qualities since we see that as a way of "keeping score" in our lives. Chris was able to move beyond that.
\n
\nI really admire that about Chris. I think that it's impressive that Carine would think that he would be able to laugh at the government officials mislabeling the box that contained his own ashes. I think that I would chuckle at it too, in fact. Not that I don't really care about what others think about me. The fact that I have paused and thought about what I'm putting up here proves that I do; however, I think that it's important not to take yourself too seriously. Honestly, I laugh more at myself than at anyone else. I mean, I'm a ridiculous person. I'm a mess. But, you know, you have to recognize your own shortcomings, or you'll never fix them. I think Chris was very in-tune with himself. I really respect that his family thinks he could joke about that.","dateCreated":"1317087517","smartDate":"Sep 26, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"triphenningson","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/triphenningson","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43265022","body":""Although a couple of times he mentioned wanting to get married and have a family some day. You could tell he didn't take relationships lightly." (65)
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\nYesterday in class we talked a little about how Chris seems to take relationships lightly--that he doesn't invest in them, and that he hides behind the facade of "Alex Supertramp." But I think he took relationships very very seriously and relished every one that he built. There were many stories that Krakauer, Jan Burres, Ron relate that show how lost\/consumed Chris gets in his relationships. Every scene involving Chris and someone else effects a sense of timelessness for me. Whether it was dancing with the Westerbergs, or chilling with Jan at the flea market, Chris\u2019s actions, responses, personality all came off as genuine when I read the book. I think Chris created Alex to keep his relationships from possibly hurting him. Hiding from relationships doesn\u2019t mean he didn\u2019t appreciate them. He wouldn\u2019t have been so hurt about his dad had he not been close to Walt before. I think Chris must\u2019ve, at one point, really respected and loved his father, and built a strong relationship, for the discovery of infidelity to have a huge effect on him. He didn\u2019t come out of the womb despising his father. I think Chris\u2019s contempt toward his parents is slightly fueled by an adolescent obligation to be rebellious, not just his ascetic ideals. I believe there was a relationship there between Chris and his parents. And that it wasn\u2019t so broken. Chris\u2019s sincere and complete adoration of Carine reflects the part of him that wants to maintain and have relationships with others. I think everyone he meets on the road is a Carine to him.","dateCreated":"1317167088","smartDate":"Sep 27, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"lostpeach","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/lostpeach","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1236304365\/lostpeach-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43269896","body":""You are wrong if you think Joy emanates only or principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us. It is in everything and anything we might experience. We just have to have the courage to turn against our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconventional living." Chris in his letter to Ron Page 57
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\nThis quote made me step back and reread it a few times the first time I read it through. I guess I never realized the real joy that I got out of everything that is around me, in this case the nature around me. I know that my favorite place on earth to be is the beach and when something is bothering me I find comfort just sitting on the dunes or near the ocean. But I also believe that joy emanates from human relationships. When I am with my friends or family those are some the best moments in my life that I have memories from. Sometimes though it is good to go beyond the habitual things that we are used to and do everyday. Every challenge makes us stronger and sometimes it is possible that if we go in with a good attitude the outcome won\u2019t only make us stronger but also make us happier. Like Chris said, we just need to have the courage to go beyond our norms and what we are used to because everything around us could be a new experience if we make it one. The main thing that Chris is trying to tell Ron in his letter to him is to not be afraid to step outside the box and try something new and not be afraid of the consequences.","dateCreated":"1317171159","smartDate":"Sep 27, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"margaretburrows","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/margaretburrows","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43272540","body":""Tramping is too easy with all this money. My days were more exciting whene I was penniless and had to forage around for my next meal" (pg 33) and "He was really into pushing himself...The whole idea was to lose our bearings, to push ourselves into unknown territory. Then we'd run at a slightly slower pace until we found a road we recognized and race home again at full speed. in a certain sense that's how Chris lived his entire life" (pg 112)
\nChris was always driven, apparent in his stellar academic record and his devilish cross country workout "Road Warriors". Where modern students characterize success as academics, athletics, or extracurriculars, Chris had other ideas. Monetary success never meant much to Chris. The success Chris strove for lived in the abstinence of affluence, as it were. Chris believed that happiness could come from a simplicity of life that most were afraid of. Norms stated that money equaled happiness, and Chris knew this wasn't true. Admirably, Chris knew where he needed to go, so he went there, unhindered by the apparent perils.
\nTo paraphrase a verse from James (1:2-4), rejoice in the many trials that test you, because out of these trials manifests perseverance. I know Chris wasn't a religious fellow, but the parallel to that verse and Chris' style of life is incredible. Chris knew what he wanted. He wanted a challenge, and he wanted to feel the pressures driving him towards success. He knew that his trials would test his beliefs and perseverance, but his joy was in overcoming such obstacles. His success was overcoming such obstacles that challenged his faith, and for that he was willing to give up all he had.","dateCreated":"1317173212","smartDate":"Sep 27, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"danieloglesby","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/danieloglesby","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43276314","body":""To resist takes a tremendous conscious effort; you don't dare let our guard down for an instant. The siren song of the void puts you on edge; it makes your movements tentative, clumsy, herky-jerky. But as the climb goes on, you grow accustomed to the exposure, you get used to rubbing shoulders with doom, you come to believe in the reliability of your hands and feet and head. You learn to trust your self-control." - 142
\nThe reason I chose this particular quote is because it pretty much sums up what I've felt in the last year. I even wrote it down when I first read the book... Of course, I'm not dealing with a life-threatening situation like the author was, but nevertheless it holds a lot of truth.
\nI\u2019ve learned, through my own experiences, that when I\u2019m in a very different place from where I\u2019m used to being, I automatically feel scared and in some ways insecure. It\u2019s a human instinct, or at least I think it is. I tend to conform to the average atmosphere in order to \u201cfit in\u201d better\u2026 I\u2019m not sure whether to say this is really beneficial or incredibly damaging. However, I last moved from Mexico City where things are ..very different from Atlanta. At first I was worried that I would \u201close\u201d touch with my worry-free, latina self and all my views that I had developed there. So my \u201cgenius\u201d solution was NOT to fit in. The first months here in Atlanta, I was invisible, resisting any type of change what so ever. In a way, I was kind of similar to Alex because he tried to avoid any type of affection with people he met in order to keep following his ascetic dream. I, on a similar note, was trying to avoid falling into the fixed mindset of a typical Westminster student, who primarily cares about school and grades. Finally, after a couple of months of getting used to Atlanta and thanks to a couple of friends here, I finally started to open up\u2026 without adjusting myself at all. I\u2019ve realized now that I understand what it means to adapt, it\u2019s very easy to lose your uniqueness when you are trying to mix in with the crowd. No one should have to adjust their views in order to fit in to a group. The trick is to trust yourself\u2026 Since I started to trust myself, I have a clearer picture of what I want my life to be like, something that used to haunt me a lot. For instance, I\u2019ve decided that instead of doing something that will secure my future and please my entire family, i.e. study law or medicine, I\u2019m going to study my passion, music. I\u2019m proud to say that despite the 3 times I\u2019ve had to start my life from scratch, I still am the person I want to be.","dateCreated":"1317176930","smartDate":"Sep 27, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"LauPereira","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/LauPereira","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1283016085\/LauPereira-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43279206","body":""Tramping is too easy with all this money. My days were more exciting when I was penniless and had to forage around for my next meal" (pg 33)
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\nWhen I first read this, I thought that he the life he has now is more than just traveling around. He has almost created a game in which he is trying to survive. I think that the only way that this sort of thinking could come around would be for him to either have found a way of life that truly does what he claims it accomplishes, or he just doesn't understand that he could die almost any day, like he ends up doing. The more that I think about this the more I want to try roaming the country with no worries. I think that what he did was definitely possible and probably would be fun and teach you a lot about yourself and people. I would like to see who would help you out and who's opinions would be completely off from what you truly are. I think that if I were to go out and do this people would have a similar opinion of me in the way that I got along with them quickly. But I wonder if people would expect this. I think my appearance would be one that entirely clashed with my actions. The one thing that I would like to see the most would be the changes in people's opinions of me. Most of the people said that they knew Chris and he would be remembered forever even though they only met him for a few hours. How can someone make such an impact in such a short time? I think it was the difference in his new occupation and the stereotypes of the people who fill that role.","dateCreated":"1317180516","smartDate":"Sep 27, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"blakeashley","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/blakeashley","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43354302","body":""The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences." \u2013Chris
\n This quote shows us one of Chris\u2019 most important beliefs. He believes that a person is what he experiences. I think this shows why Chris went to Alaska. He wanted to get down to his true self, the core of his spirit. Also Chris\u2019 experiences up this point to some extent have been controlled by his parents and not himself. His experiences are very similar to everyone around him. He does not really know himself and that is why he embarks on this adventure. He wanted to break the script and do something new. He thought he needed to get away from everyone and everything that he had known and just experience what he thought would show him his true self. I think that this quote shows us the main reason why Chris went to Alaska. He just wanted to discover himself.","dateCreated":"1317303333","smartDate":"Sep 29, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"Chcornell","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/Chcornell","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"43421386","body":"\u201cIf we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all possibility of life is destroyed.\u201d
\n\u201cI read somewhere\u2026how important it is in life not necessary to be strong, but to feel strong.\u201c
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\nSo I really liked both of these quotes and I feel like they can kinda go together so I\u2019m gonna go with it.
\nAlthough I don\u2019t particularly like Chris through a lot of the book, I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019ve given him enough credit cause he\u2019s actually pretty smart and intellectual.
\nThe first quote, \u201cIf we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all possibility of life is destroyed,\u201d I mean, this is so true. I always say that everything always happens for a reason, but that doesn\u2019t mean that these reasons can always seem very sensible. By saying \u201call possibility of life is destroyed\u201d For Chris, him wanting to \u201cescape\u201d into the wild and get away from the materialistic world and only depend on himself may not make sense to any outsiders. But these are the types of things that make us really think. Chris is explaining that if everything in life that happens made sense, we would all be lost. It is the mystery in life that figuratively keeps the world turning. The unknown is what inspires us, what puzzles us, but it is what truly makes us think. It is impossible to have all the answers and that is what makes us human. We are not meant to know why certain things play out the way they do. Like, for example, how I have know idea why I was supposed to tear my ACL. It really doesn\u2019t make any sense. I wish I knew why, but I\u2019ve just been told that God doesn\u2019t give us things we can\u2019t handle. Which brings in the other quote, \u201cI read somewhere\u2026how important it is in life not necessary to be strong, but to feel strong.\u201c This can be relative physically and spiritually\/mentally\/emotionally. What I think Chris is trying to say is that some of us will be inevitably weaker than others. Some of us can handle more than others, don\u2019t get knocked down as easily. Some of us have to work to get to that point. But feeling strong doesn\u2019t necessarily mean physically. It can. But it is more a willingness to push yourself through whatever is put in front of you, and feeling like you\u2019ll make it. When life presents us with our unavoidable troubles, we must feel challenged, but not defeated.","dateCreated":"1317386732","smartDate":"Sep 30, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"tehrani","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/tehrani","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":7}]},{"id":"42747378","dateCreated":"1316452998","smartDate":"Sep 19, 2011","userCreated":{"username":"jendracostice","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/jendracostice","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/dracosticeenglish12.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/42747378"},"dateDigested":1532174289,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"What did you think about the novel? Why?","description":"Please freewrite a response to these questions. You can refer to the text and to your own stories. You need to write a substantial paragraph in response. Adhere to the Rules for Writing Practice\/Freewriting.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[],"more":0}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}