The Trouble with Wilderness Questions

Geography 101

Spring Semester 2007

David Snyder

Read the essay, The Trouble with Wilderness, by William Cronon, and answer the following questions with several sentences each. Use the back of this page or another sheet of paper if you like. Make sure your answers are legible if handwritten. If I can’t read it, it’s wrong!

1. How has the definition of wilderness changed from the past? How has it stayed the same?

2. Trace the historical relationship between Christianity and wilderness. How has this relationship shaped our modern concept of wilderness?

3. How does the concept of wilderness relate to the American myth of the frontier?

4. The author describes the modern concept of wilderness as being dualistic. What does he mean by this? What sorts of practical and philosophical problems does he suggest this creates?

5. In conclusion, how does the author ask us to change our concept of wilderness?

6. The author raises many thought-provoking issues in this essay. Describe one or two of the issues or facts that you found to be most interesting or that may have encouraged you to think more deeply about your own conception of the environment.