Question

Sheet 3: Identifying and Commenting on the Effect of Figurative Language in an Extract.

Read the following descriptive extract:


A gun is fired. Startled antelopes look up from their grazing as the noise echoes across the savanna. As the reverberation fades, one of Africa's most incredible animals struggles to take his last breath through his punctured lungs. All is quiet apart from the sound of the hunter's footsteps on the brittle grass. He squats by the bloodstained carcass, still holding his gun, and he smiles as his picture is taken. Victory shots are fired into the air as the proud hunter gets into his car, driven by his guide, and goes back to the hunting camp where he is served a meal and a stiff drink. The skinners then get work removing tawny coat from the carcass. Vultures circle above the mass of meat and, as the last car leaves, they descend and finish off what the hunter has left behind.

Complete the table below using specific quotes from the text. Try to identify three different techniques used:

1: Quote:

Technique Used:

Effect (what does it suggest?):


2: Quote:

Technique Used:

Effect (what does it suggest?):


3: Quote:

Technique Used:

Effect (what does it suggest?):

Answer 1

1: Quote: "Startled antelopes look up from their grazing as the noise echoes across the savanna."

Technique Used: Personification

Effect: This technique gives the antelopes human-like qualities by describing them as looking up from their grazing, which suggests that they are capable of being startled and aware of their surroundings.

2: Quote: "As the reverberation fades, one of Africa's most incredible animals struggles to take his last breath through his punctured lungs."

Technique Used: Emotive language

Effect: This technique evokes an emotional response in the reader by describing the animal's struggle to take its last breath and by using words such as "incredible" and "punctured." It suggests that the animal's death is tragic and unnecessary.

3: Quote: "Vultures circle above the mass of meat and, as the last car leaves, they descend and finish off what the hunter has left behind."

Technique Used: Metaphor

Effect: This technique compares the vultures to scavengers waiting to pick at the remains of the animal, which suggests that they are opportunistic and take advantage of the hunter's kill. It also implies that the hunter has left a large amount of the animal's carcass behind, which may be seen as wasteful or disrespectful.