Figurative Language In Into Thin Air
Into Thin Air
Jon Krakaeur
United States by Villard Books
1997
In Into Thin Air by Jon Krakaeur, the author’s word choice of descriptive passages and vivid words help well understand his perspective. You see this whole story is written in perspective Jon Krakauer is a journalist by trade, and his motive for going on the Everest expedition is to write an article about the experience of climbing as part of a commercial expedition. The perspective is in the first person, but with a journalistic viewpoint. Krakauer often seems removed from the subject, describing events as objectively as possible, as one would expect in a journalistic article. For example, he is sometimes critical of his fellow climbers, even though elsewhere he describes …show more content…
them as friends. While Krakauer tries to maintain a journalistic perspective throughout the book, the ordeal that he must pass through along with the rest of the climbers on the mountain is so serious that the wall between a journalist and his subject is torn down. Krakauer cannot simply treat the subject as an outside observer because he becomes an integral part of the story, affecting its outcome.
The author uses an organization of dates to tell each day of the treacherous climb to Mt.
Everest including images to better visualize the text. The author first begins the story in the middle when they are returning to the bottom of the mountain. He tells who didn’t survive or who had contracted a fatal injury he then continues to tell us about the impact of the challenge “… to the tragedy the Everest climb has rocked my LIFE to its core …” (Pg. 3). This quote reflects his perspective on the expedition. His vivid figurative language and exquisite imagery pertaining to every event made the passage not only highly realistic but parallel . It was as if the reader was with him and they struggles and felt lightheaded and experienced the same minor injuries. Although the author was advised not to pursue the expidition, he ignored and continued to walk in his ambitions. “Finally I woke up enough to recognize that I was in deep shit and the cavalry wasn't coming so I better do something about it myself” (Chpt. 20). This quote portrays his perspective on his situation and how he feels about the potential overall outcome of his actions. This quote also reflects his personality as a strong-willed individual. He was able to single handedly accomplish getting to base 4 half-frozen on the verge of death. Not only did he rely on teammates that left but was able to live using strength and determination with his mighty
ambitions.
The author also uses the impact of this event to show the beliefs of nature’s power against mankind’s unnatural ways. The author explains how technology has more power to of that of nature but, nature is far more superior to technology “Perhaps we had become a little arrogant with our fine new technique of ice-claw and rubber slipper, our age of easy mechanical conquest. We had forgotten that the mountain still holds the master card, that it will grant success only in its own good time” (Page 4).
Throughout the text, the author’s word choice and organization of the text not only capture the reader’s attention but also kept him involved in the story. The detailed text and passionate figurative language/intense imagery made it feel as if it was happening to the reader itself.
Jon Krakaeur
United States by Villard Books
1997
In Into Thin Air by Jon Krakaeur, the author’s word choice of descriptive passages and vivid words help well understand his perspective. You see this whole story is written in perspective Jon Krakauer is a journalist by trade, and his motive for going on the Everest expedition is to write an article about the experience of climbing as part of a commercial expedition. The perspective is in the first person, but with a journalistic viewpoint. Krakauer often seems removed from the subject, describing events as objectively as possible, as one would expect in a journalistic article. For example, he is sometimes critical of his fellow climbers, even though elsewhere he describes …show more content…
them as friends. While Krakauer tries to maintain a journalistic perspective throughout the book, the ordeal that he must pass through along with the rest of the climbers on the mountain is so serious that the wall between a journalist and his subject is torn down. Krakauer cannot simply treat the subject as an outside observer because he becomes an integral part of the story, affecting its outcome.
The author uses an organization of dates to tell each day of the treacherous climb to Mt.
Everest including images to better visualize the text. The author first begins the story in the middle when they are returning to the bottom of the mountain. He tells who didn’t survive or who had contracted a fatal injury he then continues to tell us about the impact of the challenge “… to the tragedy the Everest climb has rocked my LIFE to its core …” (Pg. 3). This quote reflects his perspective on the expedition. His vivid figurative language and exquisite imagery pertaining to every event made the passage not only highly realistic but parallel . It was as if the reader was with him and they struggles and felt lightheaded and experienced the same minor injuries. Although the author was advised not to pursue the expidition, he ignored and continued to walk in his ambitions. “Finally I woke up enough to recognize that I was in deep shit and the cavalry wasn't coming so I better do something about it myself” (Chpt. 20). This quote portrays his perspective on his situation and how he feels about the potential overall outcome of his actions. This quote also reflects his personality as a strong-willed individual. He was able to single handedly accomplish getting to base 4 half-frozen on the verge of death. Not only did he rely on teammates that left but was able to live using strength and determination with his mighty
ambitions.
The author also uses the impact of this event to show the beliefs of nature’s power against mankind’s unnatural ways. The author explains how technology has more power to of that of nature but, nature is far more superior to technology “Perhaps we had become a little arrogant with our fine new technique of ice-claw and rubber slipper, our age of easy mechanical conquest. We had forgotten that the mountain still holds the master card, that it will grant success only in its own good time” (Page 4).
Throughout the text, the author’s word choice and organization of the text not only capture the reader’s attention but also kept him involved in the story. The detailed text and passionate figurative language/intense imagery made it feel as if it was happening to the reader itself.