comparison what to look for Flashcards
what is the acronym for what to look for?
(STRIVE MAPS)
Style
Tone & attitude
Representation of people/events
Ideas and perspectives
Viewpoint (narrator/speaker’s position or bias)
Engaging techniques (rhetorical questions, anecdotes, direct address, humour)
Mood & atmosphere
Arrangement (structure: openings, endings, shifts in focus)
Pivotal moments or tension
Setting & surroundings (how they are described)
STRIVE MAPS in 127 hours?
🖋 S – Style
Technical and descriptive: Mountaineering jargon like “stemming” and “chimneying” adds realism and authority.
Precise and analytical: Numerical detail (“11 or 12 feet”) reflects a measured, logical thought process.
✅ Reinforces his identity as rational and experienced – contrasts sharply with his later panic.
🎙 T – Tone & Attitude
Starts confident and calm, with a sense of control.
Gradually shifts to uncertainty and panic – “If I can…” → “Fear shoots my hands…”
✅ This tonal shift mirrors his physical and psychological descent, and builds empathy with the reader.
👤 R – Representation of People/Events
Ralston as capable, informed, methodical – builds credibility early on.
Events escalate naturally – the accident is not dramatized but presented with brutal realism.
✅ Highlights the unpredictability of nature and human vulnerability.
💡 I – Ideas and Perspectives
Control vs. chaos: At first, Ralston controls the environment; by the end, he’s overwhelmed.
Human fragility: Despite expertise, he is no match for nature’s brute force.
Power of instinct: His body takes over when thought fails (“instinctively I let go…”).
✅ Ralston presents survival as both a mental and physical battle.
👁 V – Viewpoint (Narrator’s Perspective or Bias)
First-person autobiographical: Personal insight into thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
Bias toward self-reliance: Even when hurt, he tries to stay calm and solve the problem logically.
✅ His viewpoint is honest, but coloured by a deep belief in control and preparation – making the loss of agency more powerful.
🎯 E – Engaging Techniques
Direct experience: Present tense pulls the reader into the moment (“I come to…”).
Sensory detail and imagery: Evokes sight, sound, and feel (“scraping quake,” “ensnares,” “smashes”).
No humour or rhetorical questions – seriousness reflects the life-threatening nature of the moment.
✅ Engagement comes from tension, immersion, and realism.
🌫 M – Mood & Atmosphere
Claustrophobic and tense: “The claustrophobic feel of a short tunnel…” sets a confined, ominous mood.
Shift to fear and helplessness: As panic grows, the mood becomes increasingly frantic.
✅ Atmosphere mirrors emotional journey – from composed to desperate.
🧱 A – Arrangement (Structure: Openings, Endings, Shifts)
In media res opening: “I come to another drop-off” → throws reader straight into the scene.
Shifts in tone and sentence structure: Longer, technical sentences become shorter and fragmented.
Climax = accident → followed by slower, detailed trauma (time distortion: “1/10th speed”).
✅ Structure reflects psychological shift and escalates tension naturally.
⏱ P – Pivotal Moments or Tension
Turning point: “Instantly I know this is trouble…”
Use of harsh verbs (“crushes,” “tears”) and body part imagery makes the moment visceral.
✅ This marks the collapse of control and transition into survival mode – a key change in perspective.
🏞 S – Setting & Surroundings
Canyon as hostile environment: Described as narrow, tight, dangerous.
Personification: “The stone consumes the sky” – nature becomes monstrous, powerful.
✅ Setting is not just background — it’s an active threat, amplifying the danger.
Bhutan?
- Style
Analysis: Zeppa employs a blend of factual exposition and vivid descriptive language. She integrates Bhutanese terms such as “kira,” “gho,” and “dzong,” enhancing authenticity and immersing the reader in the local culture.
Effect: This stylistic choice bridges the gap between the unfamiliar and the familiar, allowing readers to engage deeply with Bhutanese culture and traditions.
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- Tone & Attitude
Analysis: The narrative tone evolves from initial apprehension to profound admiration. Zeppa’s early uncertainty gives way to a respectful and appreciative attitude towards Bhutan’s culture and people.
Effect: This tonal shift mirrors the transformative journey of the author, inviting readers to experience a similar evolution in perspective.
- Representation of People/Events
Analysis: Zeppa portrays Bhutanese individuals with dignity and grace, often highlighting their “unselfconsciousness, good humor, grace.” She contrasts this with the artificiality of Western consumer goods, such as “acid-washed jeans” and “Willie Nelson’s greatest hits.”
Effect: This contrast underscores the authenticity of Bhutanese culture and subtly critiques the superficial aspects of Western influence.
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- Ideas & Perspectives
Analysis: Central themes include cultural preservation, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the author’s personal growth. Zeppa reflects on Bhutan’s resistance to external influences and her own transformation through immersion in its culture.
Effect: Readers are encouraged to contemplate the value of cultural integrity and the potential for personal development through cross-cultural experiences.
- Viewpoint (Narrator’s Position or Bias)
Analysis: Written in the first person, the memoir offers an intimate glimpse into Zeppa’s internal journey. Her candid reflections reveal a bias towards valuing simplicity and spiritual richness over materialism.
Effect: This perspective fosters a sense of authenticity and allows readers to connect personally with the author’s experiences and insights.
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- Engaging Techniques
Analysis: Zeppa utilizes vivid imagery, metaphors, and detailed descriptions to captivate readers. For instance, she describes the landscape as shaped by a “giant child,” emphasizing its grandeur and otherworldliness.
Effect: These techniques draw readers into the narrative, making the unfamiliar terrain and culture of Bhutan accessible and engaging.
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- Mood & Atmosphere
Analysis: The memoir conveys a mood of awe and reverence, particularly in descriptions of the natural landscape. Phrases like “mountains rise to meet the moon” evoke a serene and majestic atmosphere.
Effect: This mood enhances the reader’s appreciation of Bhutan’s natural beauty and the spiritual ambiance that permeates the country.
- Arrangement (Structure: Openings, Endings, Shifts in Focus)
Analysis: The narrative follows a chronological structure, beginning with Zeppa’s arrival and initial impressions, progressing through her cultural immersion and personal transformation.
Effect: This structure allows readers to journey alongside the author, experiencing her evolving perceptions and deepening connection to Bhutan.
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- Pivotal Moments or Tension
Analysis: Key moments include Zeppa’s cultural realizations and her growing appreciation for Bhutanese traditions. Tension arises in her observations of Western influences encroaching upon Bhutanese society.
Effect: These moments highlight the delicate balance between cultural preservation and modernization, prompting readers to reflect on similar dynamics in their own contexts.
- Setting & Surroundings
Analysis: Zeppa’s detailed descriptions of Bhutan’s landscapes and architecture, such as “pine-paneled rooms” and “lotus flowers” on buildings, create a vivid sense of place.
Effect: The rich portrayal of the setting immerses readers in the Bhutanese environment, enhancing their understanding of the cultural and physical context of the narrative.
