Greer
English 3-1
3 September 2013
1. As I began my descent I was extremely anxious, but my concern had little to do with the weather: a check of the gauge on my oxygen tank had revealed that it was almost empty. I needed to go down, fast. (7) * In this quote, Krakauer explains one of the situations that he’s going through. As one climbs a mountain and elevates to the top, there is always lack of oxygen which can harm the human body. Even at moderate elevations, many people experience headaches and shortness of breath, which happened to Krakauer, and the rest of the climbers during the voyage. If Krakauer didn’t go back town in time, he would be one of the many corpses on Mount Everest. 2. “Getting to the top of the mountain was considered much less important than how one got there: prestige was earned by tackling the most unforgiving routes with minimal equipment, in the boldest style imaginable.” (20) * In this quote, Jon Krakauer explains the hardships of climbing Mount Everest. In Krakauer’s point of view, it’s not about climbing the mountain, but how it was accomplished. Krakauer showed great tenacity during the brutal experience with finite equipment and lack of oxygen. This quote displays Krakauer’s voyage climbing the world’s largest mountain. 3. “The trip was to be an odyssey in the fullest sense of the word, an epic journey that would change everything. He had spent the previous four years, as he saw it, preparing to fulfill an absurd and onerous duty: to graduate from college. At long last he was unencumbered, emancipated from the stifling world of abstraction and security and material excess, a world in which he felt grievously cut off from the raw throb of existence.” (22) * In this quote, Jon Krakauer talks about Chris McCandless. The majority of people view college as a necessary component of preparing for a successful, and professional future. Chris does not share that common belief, which shows that he had a very unique point of view. As he began his journey, he felt a sense of energy and freedom. He was literally finding his own path in life. Chris believes that society focuses on materialism and he feels that they don’t know what’s actually important in life. 4. "In climbing, having confidence in your partners is no small concern. One climber's actions can affect the welfare of the entire team. The consequences of a poorly tied knot, a stumble, a dislodged rock, or some other careless deed are as likely to be felt by the perpetrator's colleagues as the perpetrator." (37) * This quote reveals the importance of teamwork, cooperation, and integrity. When someone isn't using integrity and begins to become careless, the person might bring down the whole team and possibly cost everyone’s lives. Although Jon Krakauer had much confidence in himself, that doesn’t mean his team would jeopardize his climb.
5. “Most of the people who live in this rugged country seem to have no desire to be severed from the modern world or the untidy flow of human progress.” (55) * In this quote, Krakauer accentuates the life of the Sherpa country. The Sherpas own teahouses and lodges, and hire themselves to bring food, water and supplies to the mountain climbers as a part of their daily lifestyle. Although Krakauer feels disappointment in the Sherpa community, the Sherpas fully embrace the Western culture with pride. This quote makes a point that the Sherpas are open and happy about the progressing changes in their society. 6. “The fact that a climber has paid a large sum of money to join a guided