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Into Thin Air Quest Analysis

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Into Thin Air Quest Essay

Q: In what ways is Into Thin Air a typical quest and/or in what ways is it different. Into Thin Air is a nonfiction book documenting Jon Krakauer’s expedition to the summit of Mt Everest. The book contains aspects that a typical quest story includes: it has one motif, the characters are inexperienced and learn something about themselves, and the team faces challenges and trials on route. However the book also differs from a typical quest story because it makes the reader question morality and many of the main characters die. Into Thin Air has characteristics of both a quest story and a narrative with a complex allegory. Into Thin Air, similar to a typical quest, has the theme that personal self-reliance is essential to complete a task. In chapter 19 Beck Whethers, a fellow climber on the expedition has just gotten himself back to camp after being buried in the snow, and exclaims “Finally I …show more content…

However the real reason is different from the stated reason. Krakauer is writing an article for Outsider Magazine and wants to document the journey while fulfilling a childhood dream to reach the summit of. Along the way there are various challenges and trials. During the course of the trip they had to deal with frostbite, a major storm that is fatal to many, and results in having no one to lead them. Throughout all the ordeals the group faces, only a few get away from the trip unscathed. The expedition has many inexperienced climbers, Krakauer states “Everest has always been a magnet for kooks, publicity seekers, hopeless romantics and others with a shaky hold on reality.” This quote shows that there are many people who come to climb Everest with very little experience. These inexperienced climbers contribute to the 16 fatalities on that expedition. Overall these elements of Into Thin Air are similar to qualities that a quest story would

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