In the content of a variety of different biographies, there are multiple similarities between the generally used conventions. However, there are also multiple differences between them in their characteristics that also distinguish these works from each other. The author's effectiveness in using these conventions also correlates with the reader's enjoyment of the book in this challenging and interesting genre, all of which is handled extremely well in the biography Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer . Although told through a somewhat disjointed but captivating timeline, Krakauer chronicles the life of Chris McCandless during his liberating journey across North America, spanning from Chris's childhood to the day he is found dead in the Alaskan wilderness. Throughout the pages of his book, Krakauer conforms to the typical conventions of a biography by using original sources and departs from these conventions by including a unique structure in his chapters as well as an explanation of his own life experiences to further enhance the reader experience. read Chris' story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay First, the book conforms to typical biographical conventions by tracing Chris's steps with original sources. For example, after interviewing Jim Gallien for information on Chris, Krakauer is able to summarize that Gallien first encountered "the hitchhiker [Chris McCandless] standing...thumbs up, shivering in the dawn Alaska Gray” before driving it further into Alaska. deserted, never to be seen alive again (Krakauer 3). In an effort to build credibility as a biographer, Krakauer is practically required to interview Chris's family and the people he met on his journey in order to be more holistic and comprehensive in his research and writing . Additionally, Krakauer consults the writings of Chris McCandless himself, incorporating his letters and journal entries throughout the book. For example, Krakauer includes the letter to Wayne Westerberg in which Chris writes that he has finally arrived in the Yukon Territory, proclaiming "I am now walking in the wilderness" (3). Being the main quote, Krakauer places it at the beginning of the first chapter, mimicking Chris' bold tone and creating an ominous and foreboding mood for readers throughout the rest of the chapter as well as the rest of the book. Clearly, Krakauer's typical use of primary sources and materials in order to gather information for this biography enriches the reader's enjoyment as well as his own credibility as a writer. Unlike the similarities with other biographies, Krakauer's book deviates from typical conventions by also creating a unique structure within its pages. Most notable is that relatively simple maps appear before the beginning of the various chapters, such as the one placed before chapter nine, which depicts the surrounding area of ​​Davis Gulch around the Arizona-Utah border (86). By including this map, readers can effortlessly visualize the contents of the chapter as they receive a basic understanding of Chris' path due to Krakauer's unique structural convention not seen in most other biographies. In addition to the map on the previous page, epigraphs from Chris's letters and other writers' works also serve as an equally unique syntax to begin each chapter, complementing whatever image Krakauer lines up on the previous page. A particular epigraph.