The Strange & Curious Tale of The Last True Hermit

Michael Finkel's story in GQ The Strange & Curious Tale of the Last True Hermit is a great read. Finkel tells the story of Christopher Knight - a recluse who managed to craft a life of isolation living in the woods of Maine for nearly thirty years. Knight opens up to Finkel -- to a point and reveals a complicated set of interests and tastes. Knight describes his difficulty returning to society and his experience in prison, "I am retreating into silence as a defensive move," he wrote. Soon he was down to uttering just five words, and only to guards: yes; no; please; thank you. "I am surprised by the amount of respect this garners me. That silence intimidates, puzzles me. Silence is to me normal, comfortable".
The article connects with Into the Wild, Catcher in the Rye, To Kill A Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, Glass Castle and any other text about escape, independence, mental illness or isolation.
Here's a version of the article with a few study questions added at the end:  The Strange & Curious Tale of the Last True Hermit.