Things and Terms to Know
Krakauer’s primary PURPOSE in writing Into Thin Air is to
Analyze and reflect on the 1996 Everest disaster
This man was the expedition leader for Adventure Consultants. He helped 39 people get to the summit of Everest prior to the 1996 season.
Rob Hall
“There is a certain grim satisfaction to be derived from struggling upwards.” — Eric Shipton. What is the primary rhetorical function of the Eric Shipton epigraph at the beginning of Chapter 8?
To frame the chapter’s exploration of suffering and purpose in mountaineering
This means extreme or excessive pride, arrogance, and dangerous overconfidence that often leads to a person's downfal
Hubris
This means to nullify, invalidate, or cancel out the effect or truth of something
negate
Krakauer’s intended AUDIENCE for Into Thin Air is most likely
A general readership interested in nonfiction narratives and ethical dilemmas
This man was the leader of the Mountain Madness Expedition. A kind of foil to Rob Hall, he was more of a risk taker. He downplayed his illness while on the mountain and sadly died.
Scott Fischer
Krakauer repeatedly references climbing statistics, success rates, timelines, and oxygen use to explain how and why the tragedy unfolded. Krakauer’s repeated inclusion of data serves what rhetorical purpose?
To establish a logical framework for understanding the events
This means the act of avoiding the truth, speaking evasively, or misleading people without always telling a direct, outright lie
Prevarications
This word is an adjective that means using very few words, often in a way that is brief, direct, or seems unfriendly.
terse
What was the EXIGENCE that prompted Krakauer to expand his original article into a full book?
The need for catharsis and the controversial responses to his article with a hope of being more accurate in his assessment of the disaster.
He was a controversial guide on the Mountain Madness Expedition. He was criticized for not using oxygen during the ascent of Everest.
Anatoli Boukreev
In the sentence below, what is the most likely rhetorical effect of the em dashes surrounding the phrase “eight in all”? “Nobody suspected that by the end of the day, half of them — eight in all — would be dead.”
They interrupt the sentence to insert an emotional aside that heightens the reader's sense of tragedy.
This is an adjective that describes someone or something with very strict, high, or demanding standards, paying excessive attention to small details and cleanliness
Fastidious
This word is an adjective that means overflowing with enthusiasm, excitement, or high-spirited joy
ebullient
How does Krakauer’s use of QUALIFIERS like “perhaps,” “it seems,” and “likely” affect his rhetorical stance?
They reflect ethical reporting and recognition of complexity
He was a postal worker who Krakauer said he felt he had most in common with. Sadly, he died on Mount Everest.
Doug Hansen
What rhetorical purpose is served by Krakauer’s description of encountering corpses on Everest?
To depict the dehumanizing effects of extreme altitude
This is an adjective that means completely filled or well-supplied with something, often to the point of being satisfied or overflowing
replete
This means making your own abilities, achievements, or character seem unimportant, often by joking about your flaws or downplaying your success
self-deprecating
Which of the following best characterizes Krakauer’s narrative STYLE in the first ten chapters
Blending personal reflection with objective reporting
This individual was the leader of the South African team. He was uncooperative and refused to share radios when they were desperately needed.
Ian Woodall
Krakauer writes, “We had to repeatedly stop...in the bone-cracking cold for our slowest members to catch up...But the squandered time was even more excruciating to bear than the cold.” What is the rhetorical effect of the phrases “bone-cracking cold” and “squandered time”?
To illustrate both physical suffering and psychological frustration
This is a noun that means a small, moderate, or token amount of something, usually an abstract or desirable quality
modicum
This is an adjective that describes deep, instinctive feelings coming from the guts rather than from logic or reason, or in a medical sense, relating to the internal organs of the body
visceral