Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

In the novel Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer gives an account of the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster by placing blame for the tragedy on inexperience and arrogance from both the climbers and guides. Krakauer wrote the book in order to cope with survivor's guilt, to expose commercialization, and to explain the tragedy to the general public

Krakauer combined his own recollection of the events with stories he gathered from survivors in order to compose this novel. The accuracy of the novel is questionable, due to a mind altering disease known as hypoxia. Many climbers were afflicted the disease, and therefore they may not remember what actually transpired on the mountain. Also, Krakauer is quite judgemental of others, suggesting that he may have skewed the truth about what they did.

Victims:

Andy Harris

Doug Hansen

Rob Hall

Yasuko Namba

Scott Fischer

Tsewang Samania

Dorje Morup

Tsewang Paljor

Krakauer's guide on the trip was Rob Hall, who prepared his clients for the summit by pushing them up and down the mountain several times. Scott Fischer's group was disorganized, as he acclimatized it by letting individuals run freely up and down the mountain. The turn around time, 2:00 PM, was also ignored by many. The turn around meant that if one had not reached the summit, it would be safer for him to descend. Other groups, such as the South Africans and the Taiwanese, were extremely arrogant and did not cooperate with other groups. Ian Woodall, leader of South Africa, proclaimed that he would summit whenever he damn well pleased. When all was said and done, eight people lost their lives.

Krakauer blames the tragedy on arrogance, greed, commercialization, and inexperience. He points out that Sandy Pittman is only climbing the mountain to become the first woman to climb the highest mountains of each continent. A Sherpa (natives of the Everest Region) guide has to carry her and all of her news equipment at some points. Arrogance is displayed when climbers and guides alike ignore the turn around time. Scott Fischer also has the audacity to say that he has a path up the mountain like the yellow brick road. The climbers themselves were not all experienced; the only requirement to climb was $65,000.

Tone: Jon Krakauer portrays a subjective, critical tone throughout the book. He criticizes Sandy Pittman for bringing news equipment to the mountain. He call Anatoli Boukreev a deserter He claime that Beck Weathers is cocky and arrogant.

Appeals = Ethical Appeal is weak, because Krakauer criticizes the same commercialization that he is a part of. Outside magazine paid an arrogant guide, Rob Hall, to guide him up the mountain.

Characterization - Krakauer portrays Scott Fischer as a disorganized, arrogant bastard. Anatoli Bourkreev is demonized because of his decision to not use supplemental oxygen, to go ahead of his group, and to fail his clients. Sandy Pittman is looked down upon because of the fact that she bring news equipment on the mountain. Krakauer views himself as a failure because he left the group behind.

Structure - Begins the book at the top of the mountain, telling the reader that the summit itself is not the climax. Also goes back to history of Everest to shwo how it became commercialized. Krakauer frequently goes from what he is doing to what others are doing.

Krakauer's account is skewed by characterization of

certain characters. Anatoli Boukreev is historically regarded as a hero on the expedition, but Krakauer questions his judgement. Krakauer has no right to criticize a guide, because he himself does not know how to execute the job. Krakauer proved his story was at least partially inaccurate when he said that he thought he witnessed the death of Andy Harris, when he was actually looking at Martin Adams. Krakauer's brain cells were destroyed by hypoxia, and he may not have known what was actually going on.

Into Thin Air: A Rhetorical Analysis

Thomas Grissom

Critical

Inferential

Conclusion

Literal

Introduction

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi