Into the Wild – Essay prep

• Each paragraph must contain:• Techniques used (visual or verbal; i.e. voiceover, screen text, wide shot etc)• What they show about a main idea• Examples of where the techniques occur• How the message relates to the wider society• A statement about how the director intentionally did this

Essay question planningTOPICS (Choose ONE) Analyse how verbal AND visual features of a text (or texts) you have studied are used to give audiences a strong idea. Analyse how important techniques are used to engage your emotions in a text (or texts) you have studied. Analyse how atmosphere is established and maintained in a text (or texts) you have studied. Analyse how the beginning AND ending of a text show an important change in a character or individual in a text (or texts) you have studied. Analyse how a character or individual is influenced to make decisions in a text (or texts) you have studied. Analyse how the growth of a relationship affects the climax in a text (or texts) you have studied. Analyse how symbols are used to develop an idea in a text (or texts) you have studied. Analyse how successful a text (or texts) you have studied has been in influencing you to think differently about an issue.

Choose a question:

Analyse how verbal AND visual features of a text (or texts) you have studied are used to give audiences a strong idea. Analyse how a character or individual is influenced to make decisions in a text (or texts) you have studied.

Need to knows..

Director: Sean PennChris McCandlessWalt and Billie McCandless – parentsWayne Westerburg – Mate on the farmRon – The old dudeCorinne – Chris’s sisterEmory College – the university he attendedAlaskan interior – Stampede Trail – where he went‘Magic Bus’ – The name of the bus

Breaking it down..Analyse: To examine (something) methodically and in detail, typically in order to explain and interpret it.

Planning:

Always re-read the question:

Analyse how verbal AND visual features of a text (or texts) you have studied are used to give audiences a strong idea

Technique(s) How they show the IDEA (Explain how the techniques reinforce the idea of a personal journey)

Examples Specific examples from the film, where they appear and HOW they show the theme

Big pictureHow can you relate this to the wider world – broad statement

Voiceover Shows what Chris is thinking and also relation to his family and parents – how this motivated him to search for something else.

1. Corinne’s voiceover after Chris left

2. Chris reading the poem about his parents

We are all concerned with where we fit in the world. The motivation to go and search is often overpowered by fear of the unknown but Chris conquered this..

Technique(s) How they show the IDEA (Explain how the techniques reinforce the idea of a personal journey)

Examples Specific examples from the film, where they appear and HOW they show the theme

Big pictureHow can you relate this to the wider world – broad statement

Voiceover Shows what Chris is thinking and also relation to his family and parents – how this motivated him to search for something else.

1. Corinne’s voiceover after Chris left

2. Chris reading the poem about his parents

We are all concerned with where we fit in the world. The motivation to go and search is often overpowered by fear of the unknown but Chris conquered this..

Screen text Highlights how important words and the ideals of great writers were to Chris – puts his search on a higher journey.

1. Introduces the film in ‘chapters’ which creates a sense of timeliness – the viewer knows where in the journey they are.

By relating this to famous writers Chris gains credibility as a literary figure himself. This helps to show how he is intelligent and chose this path..

Wide establishing shots These show that Chris’s journey is one that challenges him. He doesn’t want to simply ‘navel gaze’ but rather wants to discover things about himself.

1. Of Alaska at the start2. Of other wide open

spaces3. Quotes about ‘Alaska’ and

‘to challenge himself’

Many young New Zealanders go on a big ‘OE’ to see the world and discover themselves. Chris was trying to do more…

Next:

Find TWO specific quotes for each paragraph.

Write the introduction using the table provided as a basis. Remember to refer back to the table at the end.

In his carefully crafted 1999 biopic ‘Into the Wild’ director Sean Penn retraces the steps of a young man on his own personal journey of discovery. Penn tells the story of Chris McCandless, a 23 year old young man who donates all his savings to charity and sets off for the wilds of Alaska. Through his judicious use of… , … and … Penn…