2. because the meat is ‘rich in vitamins and minerals’

3. the blubber is the ‘only source of light and heat’

4. ‘rich source of vitamin c was the one reason that the Eskimos didn’t suffer from scurvy’

 

Details to show difficulties:

1. ‘miles from land in a flimsy kayak, and could easily be capsized and drowned’

2. ‘they were huge’

 

Details to show writers respect:

1. ‘my heart also urged the narwhal to dive, to leave, to survive.

2. ‘my heart leapt for both hunter and narwhal’

 

Language light:

2. ‘light in a spectral play of colour’

3. ‘the evening light was turning butter-gold’

 

Language information:

2. ‘this rich source of vitamin c was the one reason Eskimos hadn’t suffered from scurvy’

3. ‘the narwhal rarely stray from high arctic waters’

 

Language conflict:

1. ‘my heart leapt for both hunter and narwhal’

2. ‘so brave’

 

 3-      “The mattak and meat could be sold to other hunters who hadn’t been so lucky, bringing in some much-needed extra income.”

 4-      “Its single irony tusk is used for harpoon tips and handles for other hunting implements.”

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What details show the difficulties and dangers faced by the Inughuit in the hunt:
1-      The kayak could easily be capsized and drowned. 

2-      The hunter had no rifle, only…. foolhardy exercise and one that could only inspire respect.

3-      The narwhal can hear the sound of a paddling kayak from a great distance. That’s why the hunters had to sit so very still in the water. “

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What details show the writer’s respect and sympathy for the narwhal?

1-      “yet at the same time my heart also urged the narwhal to dive, to leave, to survive.”

2-      “the narwhal…. are intelligent creatures, their sense are keen and they talk to each other under the water.” 

3-      “in that split second my heart jumped for…the narwhal.” 

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Language to convey the effect of lights:

2-      ‘The evening light was turning a butter-gold…’ which sets a scene of a beautiful radiant golden light

3-      ‘Glinting off a man and whale…’ the word glinting implies that there is light which is reflecting on the man and whale.

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Language to give information: factual, scientific, other specialised languages:
1-      By using the phrase “is an essential contributor to survival” it implies that she has done her research and she has given this to the readers as a fact.  

2-      In the second paragraph she sets a reporter tone, using informative language: high artic waters, temperate waters. Suggesting to the reader that these are again facts.

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Language to create tension:

1-      The way the women react suggest their nervousness – for example, ‘spinning round in a small gasp’.

 2-      “In a split second my heart jumped for both the hunter and narwhal.” Creating a tension since we are unaware at the time for who will win and who will die.

3-      By saying that the narwhal is an “essential contributor to the survival of the hunters” it sets an intense atmosphere knowing that it is a must for them to catch a narwhal making the whole situation seem direr.

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Language to show the conflict in the writer personal feelings and thoughts:

1-      “yet at the same time my heart also urged the narwhal to dive, to leave, to survive.” She is conflicted in her thought for who to root for. She knows how important the hunt is for the hunters but she still wants the narwhal to escape and survive.

2-      “Distances are always deceptive in the Artic, and I fell to wondering if the narwhal existed at all or were instead mischievous tricks of the shifting lights.” This creates a conflict in her thought did she actually see it. She shows that she is unsure if her eyes are showing the truth.

3-      By urging on both the hunter and the narwhal she shows that she is conflicted by who’s side she is really on. “In a split second my heart jumped for both the hunter and narwhal.”

Why do the Inughuit hunt the narwhal?

1.     Narwhal meat provides food – ‘a valuable part of the diet for both man and dog

2.     The blubber is used for the basic needs of being able to see and to have warmth - ‘the only source of light and heat’.

3.     Narwhal tusks are used for making hunting tools - ‘Ivory tusk…was used for harpoon tips and handles for other hunting implements’
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What details show that the difficulties and dangers faced by the Inughuit in the hunt?

‘he was miles from land in a flimsy kayak, and could easily be capsized and drowned...The hunter had no rifle, only one harpoon’
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What details show the writer’s respect and sympathy for the narwhal?

‘my heart also urged the narwhal to dive, to leave, to survive…nor do they kill for sports. They use every part of the animals they kill’.

Language to convey the effects of light.

1.     A ‘glittering kingdom’.

2.     Describing how the spray was ‘catching the light in a spectral play of colour’ congers the image of a rainbow of colours which connotes a magical feeling to the reader that compliments the mystical image that this place is like a ‘glittering Kingdom’ of ice and snow.

3.     ‘The evening light was turning butter-gold’, a soft and warm colour commonly seen before a sunset, which contrasts the cold surroundings.
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Language to give information: factual, scientific, other specialised language.

1.     Precise scientific language makes the information more authoritative – for example, ‘[it’s] mattak or blubber… is rich in necessary minerals and vitamins’.

2.     ‘The narwhal rarely stray from High Arctic waters… In summer the hunters of Thule are fortunate to witness the annual return of the narwhal’ – implies to the reader that the narwhal are not always near Thule and reassure us that narwhals are not hunted all year round. Using the word ‘fortunate’ gives a sense that the people are thankful for the narwhal when they return in the summer.

3.     She gives more information about the tusks to help the reader image these big, mysterious and incredible creatures - ‘Its single ivory tusk… can grow up to six feet in length,’
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Language to create tension.

1.     The way the woman react suggests their nervousness – for example, ‘spinning round at the small gasp’.

2.      ‘One hunter was almost on top of a pair of narwhal, and they were huge… he was miles from land in a flimsy kayak, and could easily be capsized and drowned.’ – the danger of the narwhals knocking the hunter’s boat and him going under, creates tension as the reader fears for the hunters safety.

3.     ‘He gently picked up his harpoon and aimed’ – slow movements building-up tension to the moment he strikes the narwhal. The reader wants to know if he hits it or misses.
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Language to show the conflict in the writer’s personal feelings and thoughts.

1.     ‘I urged the man on in my head… And yet at the same time my heart also urged the narwhal to dive, to leave, to survive.’ – the writer ‘urged’ the hunter on, wanting him to get this necessary catch but shown by the phrase ‘and yet’, there is a conflict or contradiction. She is also feel sympathy for the creature and wants it to live. This creates conflict between her head and her heart.

2.     The writer understands why so many are against the hunting of seals because of the image ‘of the men battering seals for their fur’ resulting in the feeling of sorrow for the poor animals. But on the other hand, she understands that the Inughuit need this hunt as it’s a ‘necessity’ in order to survive. On top of that ‘the Inughuit do not kill seals using this method’ of battering. ‘Nor do they kill for sport’ but purely in order to survive. They do not waste any of the narwhals either, for ‘They use every part of the animals they kill’.

3.     As a non-Inughuit the writer’s feels conflicted between her feelings of wanting to save these ‘intelligent’ and ‘beautiful’ creates and her understanding that ‘one cannot afford to be sentimental in the Arctic’. The Inughuit hunt in order to survive, yet her ‘heart leapt for both hunter and narwhal.’ not wanting one to die for the other.

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What details show the difficulties and dangers faced by the Inuit in the hunt?

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What details show the writer’s respect and sympathy for the narwhal?

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Language to give information: factual, scientific, other specialised language.

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Language to create tension. 

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Language to show the conflict in the writer’s personal feelings and thoughts.

1. ’This dilemma stayed with me the whole time’

2. ‘I know that one cannot afford to be sentimental in the Arctic.’

3. ‘ I understand the harshness of life in the Arctic...and sea mammals that we demand to be protected because of their beauty.’