Main Character
What is Crabbe's full name?
Franklin Crabbe
How does Crabbe feel about school?
He dislikes it and feels like it’s meaningless and doesn’t help him find purpose.
Who helps Crabbe in the wilderness?
Mary Pallas, an experienced and wise woman, helps him.
How does Crabbe’s attitude toward others change after meeting Mary?
He becomes more empathetic and learns to listen and understand other people’s perspectives.
What lesson does Crabbe learn from Mary’s death, and how does it change his outlook on life?
Mary’s death devastates Crabbe, but it teaches him the importance of cherishing relationships and facing challenges with resilience. Her loss marks a turning point in his emotional maturity and self-awareness.
How old is Crabbe at the beginning of the story?
18
Where does Crabbe plan to go when he leaves home?
He plans to disappear into the wilderness and live on his own.
What happens during Crabbe’s encounter with the bear in the wilderness?
During his time in the wilderness, Crabbe encounters a bear while rummaging through his campsite. The bear is drawn to his supplies, and Crabbe, terrified, tries to stay quiet and avoid provoking it. The bear destroys some of his belongings, including his food, leaving Crabbe shaken and even more aware of how vulnerable he is in the wild. This encounter highlights his lack of preparation and the dangers of surviving alone in nature.
What important life lessons does Crabbe learn from Mary?
He learns about resilience, taking responsibility, and facing life’s challenges instead of running away.
What does Crabbe realize during his hospital stay after leaving the wilderness?
In the hospital, Crabbe reflects on his journey and begins to understand that running away didn’t solve his problems. He decides to face his challenges and work toward self-improvement.
How does Crabbe feel at the start of the novel (before he ran away)?
He sees himself as unhappy, frustrated, and trapped by his parents’ expectations.
Why does Crabbe decide to leave home?
He feels suffocated by his parents, school, and societal expectations and wants to escape.
How does Crabbe learn to navigate the wilderness more effectively?
Mary teaches Crabbe practical survival skills, like identifying edible plants, fishing, and building shelters. Through her guidance, he learns the importance of preparation, observation, and respecting nature, which helps him navigate and survive the wilderness with greater confidence.
How does Crabbe’s relationship with his parents change by the end of the novel?
He begins to communicate more openly with them and tries to reconcile their differences.
How does Crabbe’s interaction with his school counselor at the end of the novel show his personal growth?
Crabbe opens up to his counselor, showing his willingness to communicate and seek help. This contrasts with his earlier reluctance to trust authority figures and signals his emotional growth and maturity.
Why does Crabbe feel misunderstood by his parents?
His parents are controlling and care more about appearances and status than understanding him.
What does Crabbe find frustrating about his parents’ expectations?
They want him to conform to their rigid idea of success and never listen to his own desires.
An example of this is when Crabbe's parents expect him to follow a traditional, structured path that aligns with their high standards, such as excelling in school, attending university, and pursuing a prestigious career. They make decisions for him, like enrolling him in a private school, without considering his feelings or interests. This disregard for his own desires frustrates Crabbe, as he feels his parents care more about appearances and societal approval than his happiness or individuality. For instance, his father dismisses Crabbe's thoughts and opinions, focusing only on how Crabbe’s choices reflect on the family’s reputation.
What does Crabbe eat when he first runs out of food supplies?
When Crabbe’s food supply runs low, he resorts to fishing and gathering berries. He struggles to find enough to eat and becomes malnourished, realizing how unprepared he was for living off the land. His lack of survival skills makes finding food a constant challenge.
What does Crabbe learn about taking responsibility for his actions?
He realizes that running away didn’t solve his problems, and he must face them to grow.
What three changes did Crabbe make in his day-to-day activities at the end of the novel?
1. Took up jogging
2. Got a job at a sheet-metal plant
3. Made plans to volunteer at a camp
What did Crabbe's father plan for them to try to repair their relationship, since Crabbe and his dad had trouble being in the same room?
Crabbe's father planned for them to take a canoe trip together in an attempt to repair their relationship. He thought this shared experience might help them bond and bridge the emotional gap between them.
However, Crabbe viewed the trip as forced and insincere, and it ultimately did little to address the deeper issues in their relationship. This experience further solidified Crabbe's feelings of frustration and alienation, contributing to his desire to run away.
How was Crabbe embarrassed by a teacher?
When he "ruined" her lesson, his history teacher said, "You know, Franklin, it isn't necessary to try and impress me by telling me everything you know".
His French teacher stopped asking Crabbe for his answers because he wanted students to get the answer wrong so he could correct them, and Franklin's answers were always right.
How does Crabbe injure himself while in the wilderness?
Crabbe severely burns his hands while trying to make tea in the wilderness. He tips over the pot of boiling water, causing serious burns that make it difficult for him to take care of himself and perform basic tasks, leaving him vulnerable.
What did Crabbe give his parents at the end of the novel? What did this change about their relationship?
At the end of the novel, Crabbe makes plans to volunteer at a camp. What type of kids attend this camp?
Kids who have been in trouble with the law and would ordinarily go to a reform school. The idea is to get them away from bad influences and help them grow some self-respect and cooperation with other people.