Honors American Literature/Contemporary Comp: Into the Wild

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Into the Wild

We will soon read an excerpt from Walden by Henry David Thoreau in which he recounts the two years he spent living in a cabin in the woods. Chris McCandless, the protagonist in Jon Krakauer's true story Into the Wild, is a sort of modern-day Thoreau.

As you read the book, you will keep a dialectical (the art or practice of arriving at the truth through logical argument) journal. This is a double-entry journal in which you write a passage from the book (include page number) in the left column and your response in the right column. Do two entries per chapter.

When you finish the book (on or before Monday, Nov. 26) you will make an appointment with me during nutrition, lunch or after school to explain your journal to me. I will listen and ask questions. It will take about 15 minutes. Then I will give you a grade on the spot and you keep your journal. You do not have to wait until Nov. 26th. If you finish sooner, you may make an appointment sooner.

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Quotation

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?...
Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you....
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson

About this class

This is a survey course of American literature which includes speaking, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. The objectives are: to examine the development of American literary themes from pre-colonial times to the present; to develop an awareness of literary genres; to enhance student skills in the analysis of literature.

Students will present oral recitations of poetry and participate in class discussions and small-group activities. Students will read numerous excerpts from American literature as well as at least one novel and one play. Students will write essays responding to literature and analyzing major literary works. Finally, students will develop critical thinking skills by analyzing tone, style and theme to compare and contrast various works of American literature.