Explorers Or Boys Messing About Flashcards
How does the writer imply that Q and his team were not qualified for the Job . Para 1
He uses childlike imagery
“Boys “
‘Messing about’
The fact that Mr brooks had to call his wife
Boys
-this word is inappropriate as a description of grown men in their 40s and so belittles and ridicules them. The fact that this is in the title adds emphasis
Messing about
this is a phrase associated with the childish play that doesn’t achieve anything. Again this ridicules their mission and suggest that it was not worthwhile/that it was simply childish
The fact that me rooks had to call his wife and ask her to ‘call the emergency people’
Questions his independence. The phrase emergency people is also vague/non-technical suggesting that he had a child like Tone when calling his wife
This is also seen when his wife said that they would probably get their ‘bottoms kicked’ which reinforces the idea of men as naughty children who need to be disciplined
How does the writer imply that Q and his team were not qualified for the Job . Para 2
He uses comical imagery
‘Ended in farce’
‘The drama began’
‘Known as Q’
Ended in farce
The word farce highlights the comical and amateurish nature of the men
The drama began
The word drama suggests that it was a spectacle rather than a professional success
Known as Q
The fact that he refers to himself as ‘Q’ a James Bond gadget expert, shows that he is immature and childish
How does the writer imply that Q and his team were not qualified for the Job . Para 3
contrasts the men with experts
Verbs
‘Surveyinng uncharted waters’ V ‘messing about’
‘Expert names’
Plunged
Plucked
Scrambled
When describing the men he uses: words such as ‘plunged’ and ‘plucked to suggest that the men were not in control. The verb ‘scrambled’ has connotations of clumsiness/depsiration and suggests lack of competence and skill
Deciphered
Dispatched
Suggest technical expertise, speed, confidence and precision
‘Surveyinng uncharted waters’ V ‘messing about’
The Royal Navy were ‘Surveyinng uncharted waters’ when they were disturbed and had to rescue the men. This sounds like a purposeful and dangerous mission and contrasts with the ‘messing about’ that the others were doing
Expert names
The names of the experts such as Royal Navy, Falmouth Coast Guard, and editor of Jane’s helicopter markets are all included to provide a point of contrast to the men’s incompetence and will have the effect of making the men seem amateurish in comparison
