Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer's non-fiction biography about a young traveler named Chris McCandless, offers quite a few symbolic elements. At the outset of his journey, Chris burns the money in his wallet as a symbol of his disconnection with society. As he begins his trek on the Stampede Trail in Alaska, he carries with him only the "neccessities": a selection of books, including a book about edible native plants, a bag of rice, and hunting implements. These meager possessions can be seen to symbolize a desire to live a simpler, more natural life, a desire which has been shared by such famous writers as Henry David Thoreau and Edward Abbey. Finally, Krakauer hypothesizes that Chris's death was caused by a poisonous root known as "Eskimo potato." Krakauer seems to suggest with this hypothesis that even the noblest of intentions can lead to disaster if they are not paired with intelligence and preparation.
I am not sure what the assignment calls for, but many of these items can be represented in a 3D medium, whether it is clay, fiber, or the recreation of the actual object, say an old wallet with some charred bills sticking out. It sounds like an interesting assignment, regardless. Good luck!
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