From The Explorer's Daughter

Question 1

“Plumes of spray” “glittering kingdom” “butter-gold”

Answer 1

These descriptions make the place seem magical and unreal which contrast with the act of hunting and killing animals.

Question 2

“Distances are always deceptive in the Arctic”

Answer 2

In the real world distances are concrete measurements but this is different in the Arctic. This uncertainty may reflect the later moral dilema

Question 3

“Two hours after” “Within an hour”

Answer 3

Waiting indicates that the event is very significant (foregrounding) also puts readers straight into the action.

Question 4

“As if they were going to merge, but always slowly, methodically passing each other by”

Answer 4

Peaceful and intelligent description of the narwhal with the adverbs creating soft sounds. This creates sympathy for the narwhals.

Question 5

“The hunters were dotted all around the fjord”

Answer 5

Men appear small and insignificant which makes them appear brace in a heroic struggle against the narwhal and environment.

Question 6

“…returned and eaten, narwhal were spotted again, this time very close.”

Answer 6

Commas break up the first sentence into short phrases which creates apprehension and suspense.

Question 7

“Scrambling”

Answer 7

Continuous present tense shows the excitement of the inhuit people

Question 8

“The narwhal rarely stay from the high Arctic waters …”

Answer 8

Change in focus in r second paragraph reflects the two purposes of the text which are to be informative and to explain her feelings
Lots of semantic field vocabulary

Question 9

“Binoculars pointing in every direction”

Answer 9

Hyperbole shows the excitement of the people

Question 10

“Small ancient dwellings”

Answer 10

Almost poetic description contests with the technical language in that paragraph and provides cohesion with paragraph 1

Question 11

“It was part of their staple diet”

Answer 11

Shows how crucial the narwhal is to the people

Question 12

Describes the hunt as a “game”

Answer 12

Shows anticipation, creates suspense, creates sympathy for narwhal

Question 13

“My heart kept for both hunter and narwhal”

Answer 13

Shows her inner conflict with her western views and how she knows that this is needed for the people

Question 14

“To dive, to leave, to survive”

Answer 14

Rule of three builds tension but they are also infinitive verbs for emphasis and they summarise the writer’s strong feelings of sympathy.

Question 15

“Spectral plays of colours” “plumes of spray”

Answer 15

Initial concerntration on visuals and imagery draws the reader into the story but ends with a consideration into the ethical issues of hunting

Question 16

“Scrambling” “sharp intake of breath”

Answer 16

Excitement is developed

Question 17

“The one reason the Eskimos have never suffered from scurvy”

Answer 17

Emphasis on the long term relationship between the hunter and hunted

Question 18

“Like watching a vast..” “Spread like a net”

Answer 18

Writer use a double smilie to paint a visual picture

Question 19

Viewpoint changes from the point of view of spectator to narwhal

Answer 19

Builds tension and encourages us to recognise them as intelligent and sentient beings and not simply as meat to be bought in. Shows her western views

Question 20

“So close and so brave”

“Flimsy kayak” “could easily be capsized” “no rifle” “foolhardy exercise”

Answer 20

This shows that the author respects the hunters and feels that they are very grave.

Use of complex sentences to emphasise the admirable qualities of the hunter .

Question 21

“Respect”

Answer 21

Writer has respect for the hunters and what they do, this emotive and powerful language shows her positive views of hunting (raised in that environment)

Question 22

“Absolutely necessity”

Answer 22

This is used in the final sentence to sum up the writers views about hunting. This theme has been incorporated throughout. The last sentence is quite short for emphasis, and offers an overall opinion. Throughout the piece she is subtly saying she sides with the hunters and is trying to persuade the reasons and gives reasons why what they do is so vital.

Question 23

“Mattak” “Vitamin C”

Answer 23

There is a balance of language to engage, excite and inform and paragraph 3 contains technical language

Question 24

“Every hunter”

Answer 24

Shows that this is important to the survival of the hunters and creates sympathy for the narwhals as they are outnumbered. This is also a short sentence which emphasises the importance.

Question 25

What is the function of the first paragraph?

Answer 25

It gives a description of the area. The descriptions make it seem beautiful which contrasts with the aspect of killing.

Question 26

“Each wife knew her husband instinctively and watched their progress intently”

Answer 26

Everyone is involved but the women are watching their husbands to make sure they catch a narwhal. It also builds tension as it is an important event. The use of “intently” makes the humans seem less human/normal and more animal like and closer to nature. They are more like the narwhal than the western, industrial people.

Question 27

Function of the third paragraph

Answer 27

Tension fluctuates in this paragraph, it is factual but also contains bad points, there are technical terms which makes her seem more credible and like she knows what she’s talking about, but it also shows that hunting is necessary in that place.

Question 28

Use of dashes

Answer 28

Builds tension, fragments sentence, fast paced thoughts follow these, senses of urgency

Question 29

“Split second”

Answer 29

Sibilance

Question 30

Who is it written for?

Answer 30

Western, non-local audience, trying to convince those in more industrialised parts of the world that hunting is necessary.

Question 31

“Battering seals”

Answer 31

Stereotypical image and anticipates the battle/ arguments between people.