The Explorer's Daughter Flashcards
How is In medias res used
The passage starts in the middle of the hunt without build up - this creates a sense of immediacy and emphasises that the focus is on the hunters and the hunted
How is imagery used (1)
Herbert depicts the beauty of nature using imagery - She describes the narwhal as “catching the light in a spectral play of colour” conveying an ethereal atmosphere
How is imagery used (2)
She also conveys how small the hunters are in comparison to the natural world, by describing their appearance on the water as a “vast, waterborne game” - the simile implies there will be winners and losers in this “game”
How are metaphors used (1)
The writer uses the metaphor of “glittering kingdom” and comparess the evening light to “butter-gold”, conveying the awe she feels and the preciousness of the sight
How are metaphors used (2)
Her conflicting feelings are also conveyed as her “heart leapt for both hunter and narwhal”
How are declarative sentences used
The declarative sentence “Hunting is still an absolute necessity in Thule” is an emphatic reminder of the fragility of the Inughuit people’s existence and the importance of hunting for their survival
How are long paragraphs used
Long, informative and descriptive paragraphs convey the patience and time required by the men on the hunt, and their wives to watch and wait
How are facts, information, and specialised language used
The writer provides factual information about the narwhal and why they are an “essential contributor to the survival of the hunters” - her use of specialist languge reinforces her first-hand experience and makes her a reliable witness
How are different perspective used
Herbert presents the information and description in the passage from the point of view of the hunters, their wives and Western society - this suggests it’s difficult for the writer, or us, to reach a moral judgement, as there are different sides to the story
How is emotive language used
The paragraph about the “women” uses emotive language as they are “clustered” and “focusing” on a husband or family member - they “gasp” or “jump” if they spot a hunter near a narwhal, suggesting the dangerous nature of what they were doing but also how important it is that they succeed
