The Explorer's Daughter Flashcards
Q: Who is the author of The Explorer’s Daughter and what is it about?
A: The passage is written by Kari Herbert and is an extract from her autobiographical book. It describes her experience watching a narwhal hunt in the Arctic, where she balances admiration for the beauty of the narwhals with the harsh reality that the Inuit rely on them for survival.
Q: What is the purpose of The Explorer’s Daughter?
A: The purpose is to inform and reflect. Herbert provides a detailed description of the Arctic environment, the narwhals, and the Inuit way of life while also exploring the ethical dilemma of hunting.
Q: How does Herbert structure the passage?
A: The passage moves between factual description, personal reflection, and ethical consideration. It begins with vivid imagery of the Arctic, transitions into scientific information about narwhals, and ends with the tense moment of the hunt.
Q: What are the key themes in The Explorer’s Daughter?
A:
Survival & Tradition – The Inuit rely on narwhals for food and materials.
Moral Dilemma – The passage debates whether hunting narwhals is necessary or cruel.
Respect for Nature – The Arctic is portrayed as beautiful and dangerous.
Cultural Understanding – The text explores Inuit traditions through a Western perspective.
Q: How does Herbert present the tension between admiration and practicality?
A: She describes the narwhals in poetic, awe-inspiring language but also acknowledges the necessity of hunting them for Inuit survival. This dual perspective creates an internal conflict.
Q: How does Herbert use imagery to describe the Arctic?
A: She uses vivid visual descriptions, such as “butter-gold” light and “glittering kingdom”, to highlight the Arctic’s beauty and harshness.
Q: How does Herbert create suspense during the hunt?
She uses short sentences and punctuation to build tension. For example, “Every hunter was on the water. One harpoon was thrown.” This quick, direct style mimics the fast-paced action of the hunt.
Q: How does the use of contrast enhance the passage?
A: Herbert contrasts the narwhals’ graceful beauty with the brutal necessity of hunting them. This emphasizes the moral complexity of the situation.
Q: What is the significance of the quote, ‘My heart leapt for both hunter and narwhal’?A: This shows her emotional conflict—she admires the narwhals but also understands why they must be hunted.
Q: How does Herbert describe the narwhals?
A: “Intelligent creatures, they use echolocation to navigate under ice.” This scientific fact humanizes them, making the moral dilemma of hunting more complex.
Q: What is the impact of the phrase ‘essential, much-needed, for the survival of the Inuit people’?
A: The use of repetition (“essential”, “much-needed”) emphasizes the dire importance of hunting in Inuit life, countering Western criticism of hunting practices
Q: How does Herbert balance factual writing with personal reflection?
A: She includes scientific details about narwhals and Inuit traditions but also reflects on her emotional response, creating a well-rounded discussion.
Q: How does Herbert engage the reader in the ethical debate?
A: She presents both sides—admiration for the narwhals and the necessity of hunting—allowing the reader to form their own opinion.
Q: How does the structure of the passage reflect its themes?
A: The shift from descriptive imagery to tense action mirrors the tension between beauty and survival.
Q: What is Herbert’s ultimate message?
A: She encourages respect for different cultures and environments, showing that survival sometimes requires difficult choices.
Q: Who wrote Explorers or Boys Messing About? and what is it about?A:
The article was written by Steven Morris and published in The Guardian. It details the failed expedition of two British explorers, Steve Brooks and Quentin Smith, whose helicopter crashed in the Arctic, leading to an expensive taxpayer-funded rescue mission. The article critiques their irresponsibility and questions whether they should be regarded as real explorers.
Q: What is the purpose of the article?A
: The purpose is to inform about the failed expedition but also to criticize the explorers. The writer highlights the recklessness of their actions and raises concerns about the financial cost to taxpayers.
Q: How does the title shape the reader’s perception?
A: The rhetorical question in “Explorers or boys messing about?” suggests doubt about their legitimacy. The phrase “taxpayer gets rescue bill” implies frustration and financial irresponsibility, setting a sarcastic and critical tone.
Q: What are the key themes in the article?A:
Recklessness & Irresponsibility – The article emphasizes how the men ignored expert advice and endangered lives.
Financial Burden on Taxpayers – The cost of the rescue operation is a central criticism.
Mockery of Heroism – Unlike historical explorers, Brooks and Smith are portrayed as foolish and unprepared.
Media Sensationalism – The story is framed to encourage ridicule rather than admiration.
Failure & Repeated Mistakes – The article recalls their previous failed expedition, reinforcing the idea that they do not learn from their mistakes.
Q: How does Morris contrast exploration with recklessness?A
: Traditional explorers are viewed as heroic and prepared, whereas Brooks and Smith are depicted as reckless and irresponsible. The mocking tone and expert opinions reinforce this contrast.
Q: How does Morris use sarcasm to mock the explorers?A:
✔ “Their last expedition ended in farce.” → Implies incompetence.
✔ “Despite their experience, it is not the first time they have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.” → Highlights past failures to suggest a pattern of irresponsibility.
✔ “The men are both in their 40s.” → Emphasizes that they should be mature but behave like reckless teenagers.
Q: How does the structure reinforce the criticism?A:
Headline → Sensational and judgmental.
Opening paragraph → Immediately frames them as irresponsible.
Expert opinions → Adds credibility to the criticism.
Past failures → Reinforces the argument that they do not learn from mistakes.
How does the headline shape the reader’s opinion?
“Explorers or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill.”
: A:
The rhetorical question casts doubt on their legitimacy as explorers.
The phrase “boys messing about” infantilizes them, suggesting immaturity.
“Taxpayer gets rescue bill” emphasizes financial irresponsibility.
Q: What is the significance of ‘Their last expedition ended in farce’
?A:
The word “farce” suggests ridiculous failure.
Reinforces the idea that they are not serious explorers.
Q: How does the phrase ‘The men are both in their 40s’ contribute to the ridicule?A:
Suggests they should be responsible adults but behave recklessly.
Contrasts with the traditional idea of mature, experienced explorers.
Q: How does Morris use expert opinions to reinforce criticism?
“Experts questioned the wisdom of the expedition.”A:
Adds credibility to the argument that their actions were unwise.
Suggests qualified people believe they were reckless.
Q: What techniques does Morris use to engage the reader?A:
✔ Irony → Highlights the contrast between their grand ambitions and their failure.
✔ Mockery & Sarcasm → Reinforces their lack of credibility as explorers.
✔ Juxtaposition → “Royal Navy, RAF, and British coastguards” vs. “two middle-aged men” highlights the absurdity of the situation.
✔ Rhetorical Questions → Engages the reader and leads them to a negative judgment.
Q: How does Morris use irony in the article?A
: He sarcastically presents their expedition as if it were impressive, only to reveal that they failed and needed extensive rescuing.
Q: How does the writer portray the explorers as immature?
A: By calling them “boys”, emphasizing their age, and using informal, mocking language.
Q: How does the structure influence the reader’s opinion?
A: The article immediately establishes them as irresponsible, reinforcing this throughout with expert opinions, past failures, and financial concerns.
: What is the ultimate message of the article?
A: Morris argues that some modern explorers are reckless individuals who waste public resources, contrasting them with historical explorers who were prepared and heroic.
Q: Why is the article effective in persuading the reader?A:
✔ Uses humor and sarcasm to make criticism entertaining.
✔ Includes facts and expert opinions to add credibility.
✔ Appeals to public frustration by highlighting the taxpayer cost.
