Exploring the Complexities of Hunting in The Explorer's Daughter

How does Herbert convey the complexities of hunting in The Explorer s Daughter?

Kari Herbert is a British travel writer, photographer and television presenter who, as a small child, lived among the Inughuitpeople in the harsh environment of the Arctic. In 2002 she revisited the area, staying near Thule, a remote settlement in the snowy wastes of north Greenland. In this passage she writes about her experience of watching a hunt for the narwhal, a toothed whale, and how she is torn between respect for the bravery of the hunters, and an understanding of the people s need for food, and admiration and awe for the narwhals.

How does Herbert convey the complexities of hunting in The Explorer s Daughter?

1. The arrival of the narwahl Noun phrase: spectral play of colour gives the narwhal an ethereal, mystical appearance Noun phrase: naked eye so close, easily seen by naked eye Noun phrase: glittering kingdom glittering gives the ocean a beautiful feel. Kingdom in the domain of the narwhal. Noun phrase: sharp intake of breath enthralled by the appearance Independent clause: The hunters were dotted all around the fjord all in position and ready. Know what they are doing. Conjunction + independent clause: yet they never moved makes observer ponder why if they are hunting them and they are so easily in reach. Adjective: fortunate lucky to see the narwahl

2. The importance of the narwhal to the Inughuit people Noun phrase: essential contributor necessary to the survival of the people Adjective: rich in necessary minerals and vitamins abundance of goodness in the narwhal. Adjective: necessary implies it is essential. Repetition of adjective: rich reinforces the amount of goodness to be found in the narwahl Adjective: only again emphasizing why its essential Adjective: valuable an important part of the diet Noun phrase: one reason the absence of scurvy is put down to the diet including narwahl Parenthesis: (a single narwhal can feed a team of dogs for an entire month) draws attention and emphasis to the fact that the narwhal can stretch and keep a team of dogs going for a long period of time. Tricolon: hunting implements carving tupilaks, central beam use one item (juxtaposed with single ) for many different purposes. Adverb: strangley with noun phrase little use illustrates that the tusk has no real purposeful function for the narwhal whilst being put to good use for the Inughuit Noun phrases: ivory tusk , harpoon tips, handles , hunting implements emphasizes that the Inughuit people use all of the narwhal to benefit them this time the tusk for hunting

3. The necessity of the narwhal to the Inguhit peoples survival Adjective: every keeping a close look out to ensure they don t miss anything Verb: focusing highly concentrated on the moment Noun: gasp , jump shows that they are on edge this moment is importnat Adverb: intently wives are keeping a close eye on the progress Adjective: crucial shows the importance of capturing the narwahl Noun phrase: staple diet it is a rich food source for them. Something they always eat. Dependent clause: bringing in some much-needed extra income not only does it sustain them as a food source but also provides some money. Short sentence: Every hunter was on the water Urgency of the moment

4. The narwhal as an intelligent species Adjective: intelligent clever giving them a human quality encourages empathy Adjective: keen they are alert. Verb phrase: talk to one another giving them a human quality encourages empathy Verb phrase: particularly developed aspects that make them seem more human like. Also key in avoiding capture. Ellipsis: cause and effect the hunters are silent because they know if they are not the narwhal will hear them.

Verb: urged feels strongly for the man 3. The dilemma of the kill Independent clause: my heart leapt for both hunter and narwhal this is where Herbert begins to explore the dilemma of the kill, wanting each side to win and not. Listing: he was so close drowned all the reasons why she is urging the man on. Adjective brave admires the hunters. Verb capsized , drowned encapsulates the danger of what they do. Conjunction: And yet she has her doubts Tricolon: to dive, to leave, to survive this is what she wants for the narwhal. Negative: no , repetition of one to emphasise lack of proper equipment. Noun phrase: foolhardy exercise seems foolish to attempt and dangerous Declarative: The dilemma stayed in Greenland it s a difficult dilemma and a dilemma at that. Noun phrase: inspire respect she admires the hunters so Short sentence: Hunting is still an absolute necessity in Thule short declarative closing sentence leaves us with a final impression of her overriding thought Verb phrase conjunction: I understand but Herbert is presenting two viewpoints..

Structure Paragraphs The beauty of the moment and the narwahls The need for the narwhal to sustain the Inughuit people Both sides of the argument presented The dilemma reinforced

How does Herbert convey the complexities of hunting in The Explorer s Daughter?