From a Passage to Africa Flashcards
What are the 4 main Purposes in the Passage to Africa?
Evokes Pathos for Somalis
Recounts the ex[erience it had on him
Reveals how the news industry really works
Makes us question the difference between us and somalis
Notes that evoke Pathos for somalis?
a thousand hungry, lean, scared and betrayed face
(Emphasises betrayed and they were victimised and even we couldn’t help them)
“little hamlet” –> Stands out
“back beyond” –> far from civlisation
Notes that Reveals how the Industry works?
no longer impressed us and search for the shocking is like (simile) the craving for a drug
–> Journalists do not care
“Same old stuff” –> Doesn’t care for the suffering and
pain
Notes that evoke Pathos 2?
“a few kilometres…ghost village” –> 6Isolation is accentuated. An inexplicable loneliness evokes path
The repetition of “There was” at the beginning of each paragraph makes it into a tricolon.
The first two stories are increasingly visceral and provoke increasing disgust – which sets us up for the third story, which is simple, but affects him more deeply
Proper Nouns –> Makes story more personal
Notes that Evoke Pathos 3?
The proper nouns used in the last story have been replaced by common nouns – names replaced by “the old woman.”
This separates us from the woman, mirroring how Alagiah is becoming more removed from those he is reporting on.
Simple repetition of revulsion in the second, short phrase “Yes, revulsion” underlines Alagiah’s feelings, which are personal, not professional
Notes that Evoke Pathos 4?
We return to the 1st person personal pronouns - “I” and “me” - that Alagiah starts the passage with.
This is a profound moment in his career, and his life.
Direct address – not to the reader, which is expected, but to the smiling man who has changed his life. He has had such an impact on his worldview, that he considers him a “friend”, even though he remains “nameless
