Explorers, Or Boys Messing About? Flashcards
The previous expedition of both men is described as “farce”
This indicates the writer’s scorn and suggests that they are not good at what they do.
“Despite their experience”
This undermines the experience of the men and makes their previous achievements seem insignificant.
Consequences of their actions is describes as a “tragedy”
This is a hyperbole used to emphasise the mistakes of the men and turn the reader against them.
“Experts are quoted”
This is an appeal to expertise in order to question and undermine the judgement of the men and suggest that they are not explorers as they seemed to get all of these simple things wrong.
“Trusty helicopter”
The writer is being ironic to mock the men as after reading the first 5 paragraphs the reader knows that the helicopter was not trusty
“Plucked”
The repetition of this word displays the insignificance of the men and how they have so easily been saved - displaying the efficiency of the services but also how it has wasted their time.
“Hostile” “icy waters”
Emphasises the difficulty of conducting an expedition in this environment to show how unprepared the men are (this is also highlighted when the writer explains that the helicopter was only single-engined)
James Bond reference (Q)
This is mentioned ironically to tarnish our view of the men, depicting them as overgrown children pretending to be in an adventure but furthermore, in James Bond Q is very good with gadgets which juxtaposes what we have been told about the men. Makes them seem juvenile as well, embarrassing to have a nickname.
Mr Brooks, 42 and 40-year-old Mr Smith
The men’s ages and the use of Mr are given to indicate their mature years and to suggest that they should know better.
“Breitling emergency watch”
This highlights Mr Brooks’ incompetence as he received this as a wedding present from his wife and it sends out distress signals, suggesting that she knows that he is likely to need rescuing in the future .
The Royal Navy had been surveying “unchartered” waters.
The Royal Navy had been doing something useful and were genuinely engaged in an exploration unlike the “explorers” when they were called to rescue the men. The writer is outraged and this comparison between the Navy and the men shows the pointless nature of the men’s expedition, further turning the audience against the men.
“Drama began”
Makes it seem more dramatic and emphasises the scale of the event.
“Boys messing about”
Informal, sarcastic (however the text is biased -would be the question)
From the guardian newspaper
Left wing liberal newspaper, prejudice against the men for costing tax payers money, explains the bias of the article, anti-poshness, angry, has an interest in antiestablishment in these men because they cost the tax payers money
“But were okay”
Lying as they needed help but could have been optimistic to comfort wife
