Cronon – The Trouble With Wilderness

Question 1

Sublime Wilderness

Answer 1

Wilderness is romanticized as a place of awe, inspiration, and spiritual renewal (e.g., National Parks)

Question 1

Core Idea

Answer 1

“Wilderness” isn’t a pure, untouched place but an idea created by people, shaped by culture and history.

Question 2

Wilderness as Frontier

Answer 2

It’s tied to the American myth of the frontier—a symbol of freedom, adventure, and self-reliance.

Question 3

Critique of Primitivism

Answer 3

Thinking that simpler, “primitive” lifestyles are automatically better is an issue. It ignores how complex and meaningful indigenous peoples’ connections to the land really are.

Question 4

Modern Wilderness Movement

Answer 4

Often ignores that these areas were home to native peoples before being deemed “untouched.”

Question 5

Study Tips

Answer 5

• Consider how modern conservation efforts might reflect these ideas (e.g., “leaving no trace” vs. restoring ecosystems).
• Be prepared to critique common views of wilderness.