Touching the Void - Revision flashcards

Description

A set of flashcards containing text and images to help learners revise the extract from Touching the Void which appears in the Edexcel Anthology.
Sarah Holmes
Flashcards by Sarah Holmes, updated more than 1 year ago
Sarah Holmes
Created by Sarah Holmes over 8 years ago
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Question Answer
What are the F.A.P of Touching the Void? F = Autobiography (by Joe Simpson) A = general audience, people with an interest in climbing, adventure etc. . P = to inform, explain and describe what happened and the dangers of climbing
What is the significance of the title? The title is metaphor and refers to the fear experienced by Joe Simpson as he hung on the mountain waiting for what he believed was certain death. The void is fear
A void is . . . An emptiness. In the context of this extract it refers to both the literal emptiness below him and the abyss of fear into which he descends as he waits to die on the mountain.
I hit the slope at the base of the cliff before I saw it coming. I was facing into the slope with both knees locked as I struck it. Dramatic opening sentences. Both sentences are statements. Verb choice indicates shock and the violence of the impact .
Which of the following words best describes Simon Yates? Cruel Pragmatic Selfish Pragmatic. A pragmatist is someone who deals with things is a realistic, calm way based on the facts rather than any emotional or theoretical considerations. Whilst Simon's actions may seem callous he is acting pragmatically and we can only wonder what Joe would have done if the situation had been reversed.
Who says: my immediate thought came without any emotion . . . you're dead . . . no two ways about it! Simon Yates. Whilst both Joe and Simon know that, in all probability, Joe will die, Simon simply accepts it pragmatically whereas Joe fights it and realises it fearfully.
What type of verbs does Joe tend to use? Active verbs. Joe's account is characterised by the use of active verbs, often quite violent in nature to reflect the fact that he is the one who has been injured and is in danger
What does Simon Yates mean when he says: 'I watched him quite dispassionately' He means that he watched him without feeling any emotions, negative or positive. This helps to reinforce the impression of him as a pragmatist.
What technique does Joe use to recreate his thought processes? Short sentences separated by ellipses (three dots . . . ) these show him only being able to think in short bursts due to the pain and the way that the terrible reality of his situation dawns on him
What is the difference between the endings of Joe and Simon's accounts? Joe is trying to resist the inevitable fall into the void of death whilst Simon is willing him to die quickly.
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