The Explorer's Daughter

Question 1

Theme

Answer 1

The hunting of narwhal in the Arctic and concludes that it is necessary for the survival of the Inuits

Question 2

Why do Inuits hunt the narwhal?

Answer 2

1. Meat provides crucial food - ‘valuable diet…’
2. Tusk used for hunting
3. Its blubber ‘only source of light and heat’
4. Source of income

Question 3

What are the difficulties faced by the Inuits in the hunt?

Answer 3

1. ‘He was miles from land… in a flimsy kayak’
2. Narwhals have a great sense of hearing and ‘they were huge’
3. ‘had no rifle, only one harpoon…’ - not high tech, shows her respect
4. ‘distances deceptive in the Arctic’

Question 4

How does the writer show respect and sympathy for the narwhal?

Answer 4

1. ‘The narwhals are intelligent creatures…’
2. ‘My heart also urged the narwhal to dive, to leave, to survive’
3. ‘my heart leapt for both…’
4. ‘dilemma stayed with me…’

Question 5

Language conveying the effects of light

Answer 5

1. ‘spectral play of colour’ - imagery
2. ‘light turning butter gold’
3. glinting off’
4. ‘glittering kingdom’

Question 6

Language to give factual information

Answer 6

Paragraph 4 shifts in tone, more informative

1. ‘hearing particularly developed’
2. ‘attack of blubber is rich in vitamin C’

Question 7

Langauge to create tension

Answer 7

1. ‘small gasp’
2. ‘it was crucial to her’
3. ‘miles from land in a flimsy kayak’
   [phrases from the hunt]
4. ‘my heart leapt’

Question 8

Language to conflict in the writer’s personal thought and feelings

Answer 8

1. ‘yet at the same time…’
2. ‘dilemma stayed with me…’
3. ‘my heart leapt for both’
4. foolhardy exercise and one that can only inspire respect ‘
5. ‘i know one cannot afford to be sentimental…’
6. reaches conclusion at the end