Extended Outline

Thesis: The betterment of one’s self begins with finding one’s self, and in order for the narrator to achieve that, he had to become Phaedrus once more, despite plunging into insanity.

I.                  The narrator describes his most comfortable state as Phaedrus, despite his instability

a.     Examine specifically how he feels when he is teetering between Phaedrus and his normal self

                  i.    Cite specific quotations

                 ii.    Examine his thought process

                iii.    Compare and contrast

II.                Others around him best know him, and love him, as Phaedrus (except for John and Sylvia, who I assume he met later on), especially his own son, who greets Phaedrus at the end with “where have you been?”

a.     First examine his son

                  i.    Directly quote his feelings towards him before his snap

                 ii.    Directly quote it after

                iii.    Examine the final scene and conversation that they have

b.    His friends

                  i.    The Woodruffs and their reaction to him after not seeing him for so long

                 ii.    Reexamine whether or not they were uncomfortable with him

c.     His coworker that he runs into at the old college

                  i.    Her reaction to him

III.               The analysis of his reoccurring nightmares and his inability to reach the peak of the mountain

a.     The nightmares he has before the major breakthrough nightmare

                  i.    Examine them, especially the symbolism

                 ii.    Examine each character in them, specifically Chris

b.    The “major breakthrough dream” towards the end when he finally becomes Phaedrus

                  i.    Analyze this and the importance of the symbolism and his realization of the glass door

c.     The comparison between his state of mind while on the motorcycle and that of him climbing the mountain with his son

IV.               The fact that this novel is somewhat autobiographical, so it should be applied in an honest situation; is an insane person a zen person, and is it safe let him be this way?

a.     Cite specific moments of Robert Prirsig’s own life and how it directly influenced the novel

                  i.    Talk about his own IQ, his experience in the mental hospital, etc

b.    Talk about the idea of Zen and how it applies to mental sanity

                  i.    Research Buddhism and his specific views on it, and see if it relates

                 ii.    Discuss the main focus