Explorers Or Boys Flashcards
(8 cards)
GAP sentence
Morris engages a broad newspaper audience, particularly middle-class, educated adults, in his article by using humour, irony and criticism to question the competence of the explorers and provoke debate around the misuse of emergency services
Overarching structure
The chronological structure of the article allows the reader to follow the unfolding events of the rescue, gradually shifting from humour to criticism. This engages the reader by building curiosity and then prompting reflection on the consequences of the explorers’ actions.
Quote 1
“Explorers or boys messing about?”
Juxtaposition and contrast – The word “explorers” implies bravery and heroism, while “boys messing about” is childish and irresponsible. This contrast undermines their credibility from the outset and creates an ironic tone.
Rhetorical question – Engages the reader by inviting them to judge the men for themselves. It sets up the tone of scepticism and ridicule that runs throughout the article.
Quote 2
“ Experts questioned the wisdom of taking a small helicopter into such a hostile environment “
Word choice “wisdom” – Ironic use of a word associated with intelligence and good judgement highlights their lack of foresight, creating a sarcastic undertone.
Hostile environment – The adjective “hostile” paints the setting as extreme and dangerous, making their actions seem even more irresponsible and engaging the reader by creating a sense of risk and drama.
“The use of experts reinforces that the boys are not professionals or qualified explorers, but rather irresponsible and out of their depth. This undermines their credibility and increases the reader’s doubt about their judgement.
Quote 4
“Trekked solo to Everest”, “walked barefoot for three days in the Himalayas”, “white water rapids of the Zambezi River by kayak”
Use of a list of extreme, exotic adventures – The accumulation of dramatic feats across the world builds their image as classic “explorers,” but also overwhelms the reader, making their behaviour seem excessive and showy rather than admirable.
Language of hardship and danger – Words like “barefoot”, “solo”, and “white water rapids” create an image of bravery, but also highlight recklessness. These actions could impress, but they also suggest poor judgement and unnecessary risk-taking.
Creates a conflicting impression – While these feats might usually inspire awe, in context they encourage the reader to question the value of these adventures. Instead of heroes, they appear self-indulgent and unaware of the consequences, which reinforces the article’s critical tone.
Quote 3
“the power was survival suits on the weather at the spot where they were ditched was clear” Reinforces it was their responsibility – The mention of “clear” weather implies there were no extreme conditions causing the crash, subtly placing blame on the men’s decisions rather than external factors.
Contradiction creates irony – While “survival suits” suggests they were prepared for danger, the calm weather suggests that such preparation was unnecessary, which adds a mocking tone and undermines the seriousness of their mission.
Challenges reader perception – The contrast between the technical-sounding “survival suits” and the mild “clear” weather forces the reader to question whether these men were truly explorers or simply reckless thrill-seekers, engaging them in the article’s critical tone.
Quote 5
They were pushing it to the maximum
Reinforces their recklessness through expert judgment – Because this comes from an expert, it lends authority to the criticism, implying the men were irresponsibly pushing equipment beyond its safe capacity.
Highlights danger through hyperbole – The phrase “to the maximum” suggests they approached or exceeded a dangerous limit, creating a sense of risk and thrill, which engages the reader while also subtly criticising their choices.
Undermines their status as explorers – Instead of seeming brave or prepared, the fact that experts comment on their poor judgement shifts the reader’s view, casting them more as thrill-seekers than professionals.
Quote 6
They’ll probably have their bottoms kicked.
The verb phrase “bottoms kicked” intimates a gentle telling off, suggesting that the men are not being seriously held accountable. It downplays the danger and cost of the rescue, treating the event more like childish mischief than a life-threatening situation.
The fact that this comes from one of the explorers’ wives adds a personal and informal tone. It reflects a domestic perspective, softening the seriousness of the situation and subtly mocking the men’s behaviour.
The final tone is humorous and dismissive, as the article ends with a light-hearted, almost mocking remark. This reinforces the idea that the men were recklessly self-indulgent, leaving the reader with a critical but amused impression of their actions.
