A Game Of Polo With A Headless Goat

Question 1

“Fired up”
“Waited for an eternity”
“A villager on a wobbly bicycle”

Answer 1

Begins memoir
Conveys sense of tension in build up

“Fired up” - metaphor/idiom, emphasises excitement
“Waited for an eternity” - hyperbole, contrast between anticipation and boredom
“A villager on a wobbly bicycle” - Bathos, subverts expectations

Question 2

“Clouds of fume and dust”
“Some fifty vehicles roared”
“Vehicles jostled”

Answer 2

Conveys excitement
Unexpected arrival

“Clouds of fume and dust” - vivid visual imagery, shock and awe at magnitude of event
“Some fifty vehicles roared” - zoomorphism, looming presence of race
“Vehicles jostled” - personification, bustling aroma

Question 3

“Formula 1 without rules”
“Survival of the fittest”
“Dove into the ditch”

Answer 3

Highlights danger
Conveys chaos To western audience

“Formula 1 without rules” - image for foreign audience
“Survival of the fittest” - idiomatic expression, high stakes intensity
“Dove into the ditch” - farcical imagery, unbelievable circumstances

Question 4

“Could have caused problems”
“Nervous, volatile situation”
“It’s getting nasty … we should leave”

Answer 4

Destructive nature
Change in attitude To culture

“Could have caused problems” - understatement and humour, exaggerates dangers
“Nervous, volatile situation” - semantic field of disorder, change in tone
“It’s getting nasty … we should leave” - direct speech confirms doubts