Wild Literary Elements

Memoir

English

The action takes place in the Pacific Crest Trail, where Cheryl’s hike happens, beginning in the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to the Bridge of the Gods on the border of Washington.

The memoir is narrated in the first person, with Cheryl describing her thoughts and feelings as she journeys on the trail. She also offers retrospective narration when she remembers back to things that have happened in her past.

The tone is sometimes frustrated and angry; Cheryl has to contend with many obstacles on the trail, and she is also battling anger and grief over her mother's death. At times, the tone is also pensive and reflective, as Cheryl spends a lot of time thinking about her experiences and feelings. The mood is stubborn and resilient; no matter what Cheryl faces, she is determined to keep going.

Cheryl is the protagonist; her self-destructive grief is the antagonist. Over the course of her journey, Cheryl has to learn how to contend with her grief so that she can prevent it from destroying her.

The major conflict happens between Cheryl Strayed and her inner world. She has been floundering ever since her mother's death because she cannot find a sense of purpose, and she feels untethered from her identity. She hopes that completing the hike will allow her to feel a sense of peace and self-respect once more.

The climax happens when Cheryl reaches the Bridge of Gods, completing her hike. She realizes that, although she will always miss her mother, her life is going to move forward.

The memoir nature of this story creates ample opportunity for foreshadowing—for instance, at the end of the story, Strayed foreshadows that she will have a loving relationship and children with her future husband.

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This book alludes to a number of other writers and books. Cheryl references some of the books her mother read, and she also reads a number of books on the trail. A website with a list of the books she reads on the trail can be found in the "Links" section of this ClassicNote.

See the separate 'Imagery" section of this ClassicNote.

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Cheryl's mother is 22 when she is born, and Cheryl is 22 when her mother dies. The parallelism creates a sense of the circle of life and also how suddenly things can change.

Cheryl personifies her heavy pack, nicknaming it "Monster." Carrying the pack is one of the biggest challenges of her hike, and by humanizing it, Cheryl gains a sense of control and a hope that she can persevere.

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