Which character in your novel do you identify with the closest, or which character do you have the hardest time identifying with? How does this influence your reading? What characterization led you to this conclusion?
Into Thin Air the main character of the book Jon Krakauer kind of reminds me of my Dad a little. I think this is pretty cool because I like my Dad a lot and how he loves to adventure and experience new things he’s never seen before just like Jon in the book that he likes getting new experiences and loves the mountain views same with my Dad. I also would relate myself to Jon Krakauer and my Dad also because me and my Dad like going hiking a lot and I like hiking with my Dad. Jon Krakauer is a hiker, but he is more than just a hiker,he is a mountain climber. “There were many, many fine reasons not to go, but attempting to climb Everest is an intrinsically irrational act-a triumph of desire over sensibility.”(Introduction XVII) What lead me to this is he hikes and me and my Dad do also, but not as extreme as what he is was doing in the book(climbing Mount Everest).
I can see how you can relate too Krakauer, I think it is really fun to try new things and to be adveturous. It is cool that you can also relate him to your dad and not just your self.
I like how you and your dad can relate climbing to him i think that is very cool but what else do you think you could relate. There are many more aspects of Jon then just his climbing.
I identify best with the main character, Jon Krakauer, because of his personality and motivations. Jon shares his background and the lifestyle he lives. His morals are very relatable and he seems like a very down to earth guy. On page 39, Jon says who he relates to best out of the climbers, because of their similarities, “Because I’d earned my living as a carpenter for eight years before becoming a writer-and because the tax bracket we shared set us conspicuously apart from the other clients-”. This influences my reading, because I can relate with the main character’s perspectives and outlook on situations throughout the story. It makes the story easier to understand, because Jon explains the rock climbing adventure so that anyone can understand where he’s coming from. Jon also shows humility on page 39 when he says, “But they seemed like nice, decent folks, and there wasn’t a certifiable asshole in the entire group-”. This is another example of Jon’s good hearted personality.
I like how you pointed out how his point of view makes the book easy to understand. He doesn't use a lot of unknown terminology and the way he goes about his situation makes it feel very relate-able. This is a good example for other authors to see how point of view impacts the story.
I liked how you said you can relate to the character's perspectives in the book and his outlook on situations because it can make it a whole lot easier to where he is getting at to his experience as a climber. This is also a good point of view for other authors to see what he is like in the story.
I agree with your point about how Jon being a down to earth average guy makes the story easier to understand because you can see where he is coming from. I also think it makes the audience more engaged because when you relate to a character you don't want something bad happen to them.
I can see how you would relate to Jon and why you would want to, I also agree that Jon is down to earth, as our book club called him "Neutral" yesterday. And I agree with max that when you relate to someone in the book that you don't want anything bad to happen to them.
One of the lead climbers in Jon's group is Hall, he is a very experienced climber and has overcome lots of challenges. Krakauer says: “Throughout his climbing career , but especially during those early years, he survived a number of frightening mishaps that by all rights should have killed him.” (Pg. 66) This quote shows Halls toughness and passion to keep climbing. Though he has had many life threatening moments he still continues to mountain climb because of his dedication and love for the activity. I can relate this to my life because when I got injured I didn’t want to quit running I wanted to keep going and keep doing what I love (obviously not as grand of a scale but still relate able). This could also be foreshadowing because so far he has been very lucky, will his luck run out when the storm strikes?
I can see how you relate to Hall Eric. I can relate to Hall in the same way with playing football. All of the tasks and challenges that Hall persevered through made him a stronger person. In the same way, many people become stronger or more well-rounded by getting through adversity.
I notice how you relate to Hall Eric. I can relate to in a way of how I pulled my hamstring in track and that I haven't given up and I'm doing the best I can to get back into shape after that happened to me. In the same way as Hall has passion to keep going and to keep getting stronger to what he likes doing. There is a lot of people that will do anything to doing things they love doing.
Same I can relate with all you guys and hall about not letting an injury stop you from doing something you are passionate about. Like when I broke my wrist last year before lacrosse season and just got good with one hand and watched film. I also agree with your prediction Eric that halls luck is bound to run out soon.
Going off of what max said i had the same thing happen to me when i broke my arm freshman hockey season and after that i was deciding if i wanted to keep playing or quit but i stuck with it and now am more than happy i didn't quit. Just like Jon in the book he doesn't give up
The character I identify closest with is Jon Krakauer. I can relate to him because he seems open to give new people a chance before judging them. “But they seemed like nice, decent folks”(Pg. 39) . I do this to and try and see the best in everyone. I also can relate to Jon’s hunt for adventure. Not to his extreme like free climbing sheer cliffs but I love anything that gets my adrenaline going. The thing I admire most of Jon, and hope I can do the same, is his ability to chase his dreams. He doesn’t care about money or his status. He just wants to do what makes him happy. “I lived to climb, existing on five or six thousand dollars a year, working as a carpenter and a commercial salmon fisherman(Pg. 23). He also never gave up on his dreams. When opportunity knocked he said yes even though the circumstances weren’t ideal. The quality of never giving up on your dream is one I aspire to have.
The character that I would identify with the closest would be Rob Hall. Hall is a very outgoing character who is courageous,determined, strong, and a good leader. I can relate to him because in the book hall had to prove that he was a good enough climber before he could become a leader and take people up on climbs. “ But he dealt with it very quietly. That was Rob’s way - to get on with things.” “Hall resolved to carry on alone with Adventure Consultants”(pg 36). This is after one of Rob's co workers died but yet Hall was able to stay strong and keep on going even though it affected him inside. He is a very outgoing character and thinks of others before himself. I would relate to him because i often tend to try and be the leader of many things and i'm very determined to achieve what i want.
I’ve decided that I relate most to Jon’s family. This is because I grew up with a parent in the military that went on two tours to Iraq, leaving us at home for years at a time. Although Jon is merely on a trip to Everest, he is still gone for a long period of time, in life threatening situations, and I completely understand how his family must have felt the whole time he was gone. This makes me truly realize that Jon has longed to go to Everest so badly for his whole life, and that’s why he decided to go. This also made me wonder how much he was being paid to go on this trip and if that was a factor in play or just a bonus. In my opinion, the money probably didn’t matter as much to Jon.
I agree that it would be very difficult for Jon's family with him putting his life in peril and not seeing him or communicating with him for long periods of time. Also I think that he said he could've actually made more money if he hadn't gone on the trip, meaning the money definitely isn't a significant factor for him.
I appreciate your parents service and could not understand what kind of atmosphere it is at home when having a parent away for long periods of time. I think it is very cool that you looked past the main character and author and thought of some of the very small characters that have been included. This is a very similar and solid relation to the story.
The character I relate to most would be Jon Krakauer, protagonist, and author of our story. Jon is a very observant and hard working guy. He is able to understand how things work and know how to accomplish them. Jon, like me, is very willing to do whatever it takes as seen when he writes “existing on five or six thousand dollars a year, working as a carpenter and a commercial salmon fisherman just long enough to fund the next trip” (Krakauer 23). Just like my goals for the game of football, I am willing to work hard and to do what’s best for me and for what I want to accomplish. The author includes the quotes from other authors and articles to give the reader a better idea of the struggles faced on this mountain. By focusing on Jon’s outlook for his life and how he wants to accomplish his goal, it’s easier to understand his reasoning behind climbing to the top. However, I feel like Jons goal is to extreme and dangerous. Although football is a dangerous sport, the odds are not as poor as climbing to the top of the tallest mountain in the world. I continue to wonder how someone gains interest in climbing mountains like this? I predict that the future of this story holds more loss and struggles on his journey, but more importantly, perseverance.
I agree with your connection to how he was willing to do anything to fuel his dream. If you really want to chase something like that, you'll scrape together whatever money you can to enable yourself. I also have trouble understanding why someone would want to have a hobby like this that is so dangerous, but I understand that all of us have passions for different things.
It’s most difficult for me to relate to Jon. I personally wouldn’t care enough about climbing Mt. Everest to leave my family and risk my life to climb the tallest mountain on earth. At the end of Chapter Two Jon states, “When he asked if I was sure I wanted to go through with this, I said yes without even pausing to catch my breath”(Krakauer, 28). It's unfathomable to me that he could make this decision without a second thought. Do any of you understand why this is such an easy decision for him? I understand that Jon has a passion for climbing, but it’s very difficult for me to understand why someone would do that. Because of my disagreement with Jon on this issue, I read this book with a much more critical lense of him. Almost as if anything bad that happens to his team and him, he should’ve been able to see it coming when he made the decision to climb the mountain. Do any of you share this viewpoint? I predict that after he is done with this journey and the misfortune of the storm, he is going to regret his decision to climb Everest in the first place. Also on an unrelated note, I wonder why he doesn’t use for descriptive language to describe the exact view of the environment around him. I feel like this book would be an awesome read if you could just envision the surroundings more based on what he gives you.
I can See how you disagree with Jon and Being honest I never even thought of Jon from this point of view. He did leave his family to climb a mountain and risk his life. I think he wont regret the climb because we saw earlier that he had always wanted to climb and now that hes given this opportunity he was going to take it. Wouldn't you take a shot at your dream if it was paid for and even if ti was dangerous wouldn't you want to try it? I also agree if he described more of the setting it would be more interesting
I can relate to you as well on decision making, and also agree that looking more into his actions and humble side shows more appreciation and interest for one of the main characters, and his characterization.
I identify closest to Jon. I can relate to Jon in many ways, from how he approaches tasks to how he handles situations. Jon states “It was titillating to brush up against the enigma of mortality, to steal a glimpse across its forbidden frontier. Climbing was a magnificent activity, I firmly believed, not in spite of the inherent perils, but precisely because of them.” which is very deep if you think about it, He is stating that climbing this high is for the experiences for the thrill the goal was not to get to the top but to see the world in a way he hasn't yet before. He also goes on to state “But at times I wondered if I had not come a long way only to find that what I really sought was something I had left behind.” Which to me I can connect with, I've made choices in my past that I've realized after the fact were wrong, and I had lost something that was great. And that's what I've seen throughout Jon. It influenced me to really dig deep into the things he was saying and to look at his actions. His humble yet courageous and adventurous side had made me interested in this book .
A character I can relate to the most is Jon Krakauer and his passion towards a hobby or lifestyle of his. Jon states “In those years I lived to climb, existing on five or six thousand dollars a year, working as a carpenter and a commercial salmon fisherman just long enough to fund the next trip”(Krakauer 23). I can also closely relate with some hunting opportunities I have had, as soon as I find out about a trip that I take interest in, most of my money goes into that trip, instead of putting money elsewhere. This positively influences my reading of the book because I understand the want to accomplish a trip or goal and the extremities that come with that mindset. Understanding his concepts enables me to apprehend what his thoughts or questioning might be. Jon’s characterization of determination to try something new, also perseverance and what he does to make his dreams or goals happen.
I fully agree, I can relate to Jon in the same way you can. I live on very little and put money into my possessions because that's what I enjoy. I also feel the same way when it comes to determination about determination to try something new, as well as perseverance to achieve a goal.
This is how I felt and what I included within my post. I deeply admire his passion for something he loves, and he has a very good mental drive and is willing to work hard for it as well. I related just how you did to this character and I feel a lot of people do as well. Perseverance is key to success.
I can identify myself closest to Jon Krakauer this is because of his motivated and hardworking personality. In this story Krakauer has many roles being the main character/ narrator. He expresses his hard work and perseverance throughout the book. He Elaborates and gives background on his climbing history and this demonstrates his perseverance in mountaineering. Jon shows this by investing every last cent and time into mountain climbing. “existing on five or six thousand dollars a year, working as a carpenter and a commercial salmon fisherman just long enough to fund the next trip” (23). The influence this has on my reading keep sme interested, it makes me enjoy reading and listening to what Jon has to say. I find myself thinking and relating when I read the text because of the similarities and morals we have. This relates to me and how when I set my mind to something that is all I focus on and everything goes towards that one thing. So I can identify similar traits and that's how I came to conclusion that I identify myself closest to Jon Krakauer.
Into Thin Air the main character of the book Jon Krakauer kind of reminds me of my Dad a little. I think this is pretty cool because I like my Dad a lot and how he loves to adventure and experience new things he’s never seen before just like Jon in the book that he likes getting new experiences and loves the mountain views same with my Dad. I also would relate myself to Jon Krakauer and my Dad also because me and my Dad like going hiking a lot and I like hiking with my Dad. Jon Krakauer is a hiker, but he is more than just a hiker,he is a mountain climber. “There were many, many fine reasons not to go, but attempting to climb Everest is an intrinsically irrational act-a triumph of desire over sensibility.”(Introduction XVII) What lead me to this is he hikes and me and my Dad do also, but not as extreme as what he is was doing in the book(climbing Mount Everest).
ReplyDeleteI can see how you can relate too Krakauer, I think it is really fun to try new things and to be adveturous. It is cool that you can also relate him to your dad and not just your self.
DeleteI like how you and your dad can relate climbing to him i think that is very cool but what else do you think you could relate. There are many more aspects of Jon then just his climbing.
DeleteI identify best with the main character, Jon Krakauer, because of his personality and motivations. Jon shares his background and the lifestyle he lives. His morals are very relatable and he seems like a very down to earth guy. On page 39, Jon says who he relates to best out of the climbers, because of their similarities, “Because I’d earned my living as a carpenter for eight years before becoming a writer-and because the tax bracket we shared set us conspicuously apart from the other clients-”. This influences my reading, because I can relate with the main character’s perspectives and outlook on situations throughout the story. It makes the story easier to understand, because Jon explains the rock climbing adventure so that anyone can understand where he’s coming from. Jon also shows humility on page 39 when he says, “But they seemed like nice, decent folks, and there wasn’t a certifiable asshole in the entire group-”. This is another example of Jon’s good hearted personality.
ReplyDeleteI like how you pointed out how his point of view makes the book easy to understand. He doesn't use a lot of unknown terminology and the way he goes about his situation makes it feel very relate-able. This is a good example for other authors to see how point of view impacts the story.
DeleteI liked how you said you can relate to the character's perspectives in the book and his outlook on situations because it can make it a whole lot easier to where he is getting at to his experience as a climber. This is also a good point of view for other authors to see what he is like in the story.
DeleteI agree with your point about how Jon being a down to earth average guy makes the story easier to understand because you can see where he is coming from. I also think it makes the audience more engaged because when you relate to a character you don't want something bad happen to them.
DeleteI can see how you would relate to Jon and why you would want to, I also agree that Jon is down to earth, as our book club called him "Neutral" yesterday. And I agree with max that when you relate to someone in the book that you don't want anything bad to happen to them.
DeleteOne of the lead climbers in Jon's group is Hall, he is a very experienced climber and has overcome lots of challenges. Krakauer says: “Throughout his climbing career , but especially during those early years, he survived a number of frightening mishaps that by all rights should have killed him.” (Pg. 66) This quote shows Halls toughness and passion to keep climbing. Though he has had many life threatening moments he still continues to mountain climb because of his dedication and love for the activity. I can relate this to my life because when I got injured I didn’t want to quit running I wanted to keep going and keep doing what I love (obviously not as grand of a scale but still relate able). This could also be foreshadowing because so far he has been very lucky, will his luck run out when the storm strikes?
ReplyDeleteI can see how you relate to Hall Eric. I can relate to Hall in the same way with playing football. All of the tasks and challenges that Hall persevered through made him a stronger person. In the same way, many people become stronger or more well-rounded by getting through adversity.
DeleteI notice how you relate to Hall Eric. I can relate to in a way of how I pulled my hamstring in track and that I haven't given up and I'm doing the best I can to get back into shape after that happened to me. In the same way as Hall has passion to keep going and to keep getting stronger to what he likes doing. There is a lot of people that will do anything to doing things they love doing.
DeleteSame I can relate with all you guys and hall about not letting an injury stop you from doing something you are passionate about. Like when I broke my wrist last year before lacrosse season and just got good with one hand and watched film. I also agree with your prediction Eric that halls luck is bound to run out soon.
DeleteGoing off of what max said i had the same thing happen to me when i broke my arm freshman hockey season and after that i was deciding if i wanted to keep playing or quit but i stuck with it and now am more than happy i didn't quit. Just like Jon in the book he doesn't give up
DeleteThe character I identify closest with is Jon Krakauer. I can relate to him because he seems open to give new people a chance before judging them. “But they seemed like nice, decent folks”(Pg. 39) . I do this to and try and see the best in everyone. I also can relate to Jon’s hunt for adventure. Not to his extreme like free climbing sheer cliffs but I love anything that gets my adrenaline going. The thing I admire most of Jon, and hope I can do the same, is his ability to chase his dreams. He doesn’t care about money or his status. He just wants to do what makes him happy. “I lived to climb, existing on five or six thousand dollars a year, working as a carpenter and a commercial salmon fisherman(Pg. 23). He also never gave up on his dreams. When opportunity knocked he said yes even though the circumstances weren’t ideal. The quality of never giving up on your dream is one I aspire to have.
ReplyDeleteThe character that I would identify with the closest would be Rob Hall. Hall is a very outgoing character who is courageous,determined, strong, and a good leader. I can relate to him because in the book hall had to prove that he was a good enough climber before he could become a leader and take people up on climbs. “ But he dealt with it very quietly. That was Rob’s way - to get on with things.” “Hall resolved to carry on alone with Adventure Consultants”(pg 36). This is after one of Rob's co workers died but yet Hall was able to stay strong and keep on going even though it affected him inside. He is a very outgoing character and thinks of others before himself. I would relate to him because i often tend to try and be the leader of many things and i'm very determined to achieve what i want.
ReplyDeleteI’ve decided that I relate most to Jon’s family. This is because I grew up with a parent in the military that went on two tours to Iraq, leaving us at home for years at a time. Although Jon is merely on a trip to Everest, he is still gone for a long period of time, in life threatening situations, and I completely understand how his family must have felt the whole time he was gone. This makes me truly realize that Jon has longed to go to Everest so badly for his whole life, and that’s why he decided to go. This also made me wonder how much he was being paid to go on this trip and if that was a factor in play or just a bonus. In my opinion, the money probably didn’t matter as much to Jon.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would be very difficult for Jon's family with him putting his life in peril and not seeing him or communicating with him for long periods of time. Also I think that he said he could've actually made more money if he hadn't gone on the trip, meaning the money definitely isn't a significant factor for him.
DeleteI appreciate your parents service and could not understand what kind of atmosphere it is at home when having a parent away for long periods of time. I think it is very cool that you looked past the main character and author and thought of some of the very small characters that have been included. This is a very similar and solid relation to the story.
DeleteThe character I relate to most would be Jon Krakauer, protagonist, and author of our story. Jon is a very observant and hard working guy. He is able to understand how things work and know how to accomplish them. Jon, like me, is very willing to do whatever it takes as seen when he writes “existing on five or six thousand dollars a year, working as a carpenter and a commercial salmon fisherman just long enough to fund the next trip” (Krakauer 23). Just like my goals for the game of football, I am willing to work hard and to do what’s best for me and for what I want to accomplish. The author includes the quotes from other authors and articles to give the reader a better idea of the struggles faced on this mountain. By focusing on Jon’s outlook for his life and how he wants to accomplish his goal, it’s easier to understand his reasoning behind climbing to the top. However, I feel like Jons goal is to extreme and dangerous. Although football is a dangerous sport, the odds are not as poor as climbing to the top of the tallest mountain in the world. I continue to wonder how someone gains interest in climbing mountains like this? I predict that the future of this story holds more loss and struggles on his journey, but more importantly, perseverance.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your connection to how he was willing to do anything to fuel his dream. If you really want to chase something like that, you'll scrape together whatever money you can to enable yourself. I also have trouble understanding why someone would want to have a hobby like this that is so dangerous, but I understand that all of us have passions for different things.
DeleteIt’s most difficult for me to relate to Jon. I personally wouldn’t care enough about climbing Mt. Everest to leave my family and risk my life to climb the tallest mountain on earth. At the end of Chapter Two Jon states, “When he asked if I was sure I wanted to go through with this, I said yes without even pausing to catch my breath”(Krakauer, 28). It's unfathomable to me that he could make this decision without a second thought. Do any of you understand why this is such an easy decision for him? I understand that Jon has a passion for climbing, but it’s very difficult for me to understand why someone would do that. Because of my disagreement with Jon on this issue, I read this book with a much more critical lense of him. Almost as if anything bad that happens to his team and him, he should’ve been able to see it coming when he made the decision to climb the mountain. Do any of you share this viewpoint? I predict that after he is done with this journey and the misfortune of the storm, he is going to regret his decision to climb Everest in the first place. Also on an unrelated note, I wonder why he doesn’t use for descriptive language to describe the exact view of the environment around him. I feel like this book would be an awesome read if you could just envision the surroundings more based on what he gives you.
ReplyDeleteI can See how you disagree with Jon and Being honest I never even thought of Jon from this point of view. He did leave his family to climb a mountain and risk his life. I think he wont regret the climb because we saw earlier that he had always wanted to climb and now that hes given this opportunity he was going to take it. Wouldn't you take a shot at your dream if it was paid for and even if ti was dangerous wouldn't you want to try it? I also agree if he described more of the setting it would be more interesting
DeleteI can relate to you as well on decision making, and also agree that looking more into his actions and humble side shows more appreciation and interest for one of the main characters, and his characterization.
DeleteI identify closest to Jon. I can relate to Jon in many ways, from how he approaches tasks to how he handles situations. Jon states “It was titillating to brush up against the enigma of mortality, to steal a glimpse across its forbidden frontier. Climbing was a magnificent activity, I firmly believed, not in spite of the inherent perils, but precisely because of them.” which is very deep if you think about it, He is stating that climbing this high is for the experiences for the thrill the goal was not to get to the top but to see the world in a way he hasn't yet before. He also goes on to state “But at times I wondered if I had not come a long way only to find that what I really sought was something I had left behind.” Which to me I can connect with, I've made choices in my past that I've realized after the fact were wrong, and I had lost something that was great. And that's what I've seen throughout Jon. It influenced me to really dig deep into the things he was saying and to look at his actions. His humble yet courageous and adventurous side had made me interested in this book .
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteA character I can relate to the most is Jon Krakauer and his passion towards a hobby or lifestyle of his. Jon states “In those years I lived to climb, existing on five or six thousand dollars a year, working as a carpenter and a commercial salmon fisherman just long enough to fund the next trip”(Krakauer 23). I can also closely relate with some hunting opportunities I have had, as soon as I find out about a trip that I take interest in, most of my money goes into that trip, instead of putting money elsewhere. This positively influences my reading of the book because I understand the want to accomplish a trip or goal and the extremities that come with that mindset. Understanding his concepts enables me to apprehend what his thoughts or questioning might be. Jon’s characterization of determination to try something new, also perseverance and what he does to make his dreams or goals happen.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree, I can relate to Jon in the same way you can. I live on very little and put money into my possessions because that's what I enjoy. I also feel the same way when it comes to determination about determination to try something new, as well as perseverance to achieve a goal.
DeleteThis is how I felt and what I included within my post. I deeply admire his passion for something he loves, and he has a very good mental drive and is willing to work hard for it as well. I related just how you did to this character and I feel a lot of people do as well. Perseverance is key to success.
Delete
ReplyDeleteI can identify myself closest to Jon Krakauer this is because of his motivated and hardworking personality. In this story Krakauer has many roles being the main character/ narrator. He expresses his hard work and perseverance throughout the book. He Elaborates and gives background on his climbing history and this demonstrates his perseverance in mountaineering. Jon shows this by investing every last cent and time into mountain climbing. “existing on five or six thousand dollars a year, working as a carpenter and a commercial salmon fisherman just long enough to fund the next trip” (23). The influence this has on my reading keep sme interested, it makes me enjoy reading and listening to what Jon has to say. I find myself thinking and relating when I read the text because of the similarities and morals we have. This relates to me and how when I set my mind to something that is all I focus on and everything goes towards that one thing. So I can identify similar traits and that's how I came to conclusion that I identify myself closest to Jon Krakauer.