English Language Text quotes and structure Flashcards
“I saw a thousand hungry,lean, scared and betrayed faces.” - A passage to Africa
The imagery and the fact it is placed within the first sentence paints a vivid and evocative description to the reader of the trauma and suffering that accompanies war.
Structurally, Alagiah immediately exposes the types of scenes he has witnessed and the list of descriptions to empasizes the emotional weight that he carried while he was a journalist in Somalia.
Adjective “Betrayed” adds layers of complexity as it reflects that all this suffering is not just due to natural causes but also human failures, by governments, military or reflecting on the failures of humanity as a whole.
The imagery establishes the gravity of these situations and informs the reader of the tone for the rest of the piece; and the numerical number “thousand” highlights the scale of suffering and suggests that these scenes were overwhelming for the journalist.
Themes of dehumanization as Alagiah refers to those suffering as a collective and implies the loss of individuality during severe events.
Contrasts to the later focus on the one individual, and reenforces the battle of emotional attachment or detachment in journalism.
This quotation also positions Alagiah immediately as a witness, referencing to his role as an observer and the heavy responsibility that comes with reporting.
“I owe you one”- Passage to Africa
This simple phrase is a direct address and conveys Alagiahs gratitude for the lesson he learned from the man. It summarises the deep personal impact he had from this experience, the pronoun “you” focuses the reader’s attention on a singular individual and reminds them that this was a real man.
Structurally this final scentence contrasts the opening; as it is a change in perspective. Alagiah acknowledges his own role in dehumanizing people for media profit and reflects on one individual that emotionally changed him and his perspective on the ethicality of his work permanently.
The phrase is informal and so contrasts with the heavy reflective tone of the rest of the peice. This therefore makes the last sentence stand out as a moment of genuine human connection and compassion.
The phrase eminates the reversal of roles between the journalist and the subject; and that the journalist feels indebted to the subject, reversing the power dynamics of the two and therefore challenging once again the ethical side of journalism, as spoken in the piece earlier.
Conveys humanity in suffering; and that even in extreme circumstances and suffering (on the brink of death) human dignity and connection can persist.
“Like a ghost village”
“In the ghoulish manner of journalists to hunt for the most striking pictures”- A passage to Africa
Semantic field of spirits and death- the simlie of the village implies that it has become unknown and forgotten, as if the spirit of the village “died” due to the misery and hardships the people within endured.
The semantic field of death used within the next few sentences evoked images of emptiness and abandonment to the reader, the metaphor “ghost” implying the remanence of life
