Final answer:
Franz's exact age is not specified in 'Into the Wild' when he met Chris McCandless in January 1992. The book explores similar themes to Thoreau's 'Walden,' focusing on the choice to live outside society.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Jon Krakauer's narrative nonfiction Into the Wild, Franz meets Chris McCandless in January 1992. However, Krakauer's text does not specify Franz's exact age during their meeting. To understand the relevance of Franz's character and his relationship with McCandless, one must delve into the themes of the book.
Into the Wild portrays a story similar to that of Henry David Thoreau's Walden, where both texts explore the concept of living a life apart from society to find a more profound meaning. Moreover, literary analysis involving Krakauer's work often includes examining the setting, character traits, motives, cultural communities, historical context, and attitudes towards life and society as seen through the lens of McCandless's adventures.