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 evokes images of emptiness and abandonment to the reader, the metaphor “ghost” implying the village is “haunted” with its loss and lingering sorrow, so much so that it almost leaves sad traces of life and suffering within its memories.
This creates a vivid and distressing picture to the reader, reflecting the grim reality of war.
“Ghoulish manner…..”
Implies journalists morbid and insensitive obsession to others suffering and dehumanizes the job; Alagiah refering to himself and other fellow journalists like predators and scavengers praying on others downfalls.
Verb “hunt” reenforces the predatory nature of this line of work, giving the reader the impression that the job is animalistic; everyone is fighting to survive with no remorse.
Displays that the journalists are the villains and encourages the reader to side with the “prey” who are the people suffering.
“And then there was the face I will never forget” A passage to Africa
Structurally set within a singular paragraph; Alagiah intends to display to the audience how deeply this face resonated within him and the singluar paragraph reflects that.
Keeps the person hooked onto the story as it adds suspense- the answer is very close but not directly exposed.
The phrase also is a changing point within the piece as Alagiah focuses his point on one individual instead of talking about the widespread suffering as a whole. The structual shift grabs the readers attention to the more personal and human side to journalism.
The writers inability to forget what he saw is also exposed in the phrase “the face” as if he feels a sense of sorrow and guilt for being in a luckier position than the person he met. It has permanently resided within him and the symbolism within “face” represents the individuality within suffering; people are not just faceless statistics. Slight coy on words.
The single sentence turns the current recount of a general issue into something more personal; that has the ability to resonate within the reader.
“The search for the shocking is like a craving for a drug”
Simile
Alagiah is implying that he has been exposed to such an incredible amount of horror that it physically and mentally no longer effects or surprises him; he has become desensitized so much so that he continues to desperately look for things more horrific, things worse than the last. Suggests that Alagiahs experiences are numbing as he has become so used to the suffering around him.
Suggests his recognition and accountability of the explosive nature of his profession and the unease that accompanies what he has to do. “The search” is an inclusive term and so conveys that Alagiah also includes himself within his own statement and is aware of the heartless actions that accompanies his profession.
He is relating his job to an addiction, revealing the obsessive nature of journalists who want to maintain media attention and this again highlights the ongoing problem of ethical dilemmas in journalism .
Drugs are viewed both positively and negatively and so the choice of comparison implies Alagiahs discomfort in his job as although he is exposing audiences to the harsh natures of the world; he is dehumanizing and neglecting those he captures infront of a camera.
