The Explorer’s Daughter
- Autobiographical - author is writing about her own experience
- The purpose of this text is to describe, discuss and explore the moral and environmental
issues around hunting by indigenous people, which Kari Herbert strengthens with her
own opinion
- She often switches between descriptive and informative language, showing her
conflicting feelings between her love of the whales and the Inughuit people’s need for
survival
Focuses on:
- Beauty, natural imagery - sympathy for narwhal
- Informative - heroic nature of hunters
- Tension - excitement of hunt
- Moral dilemma
“spectral play of colour”
➔ Imagery gives a strong sense of place and setting
◆ “Colour” suggests it’s a happy and vibrant place, author may be trying to alter
how people typically view the Arctic (as bleak and barren)
● Gives energy to scene and emphasises the idea of a magical kingdom
◆ The fact that the whales produce the colour in the harsh environment shows
they’re a central part of life there
Describes the whales as moving “slowly, methodically”
➔ Recognises the grace they move with - author clearly has a great appreciation for
animals that some would be intimidated by
◆ Although whales are being hunted in Greenland, they’re still respected
“Glittering kingdom”
➔ Descriptive + vivid imagery - metaphor equates arctic with a magical, fantasy land,
showing her fascination with the place
◆ Suggests it inspires awe and wonder emphasised with “took a sharp intake of
breath”
“Evening light was turning butter gold”
➔ Homely feel to the Arctic - not what reader would associate with a cold, harsh
environment
◆ Soft, warm image suggesting richness and comfort - author feels peaceful and at
home there
“Lone hunters pipe”
➔ Setting a scene of serenity with harmonious description of man and whale
“Glinting off man and whale”
➔ Juxtaposition between two creatures - she sees them as equal
◆ Light glinting off them emphasises harmonious, peaceful image of the two
together
- Autobiographical - author is writing about her own experience
- The purpose of this text is to describe, discuss and explore the moral and environmental
issues around hunting by indigenous people, which Kari Herbert strengthens with her
own opinion
- She often switches between descriptive and informative language, showing her
conflicting feelings between her love of the whales and the Inughuit people’s need for
survival
Focuses on:
- Beauty, natural imagery - sympathy for narwhal
- Informative - heroic nature of hunters
- Tension - excitement of hunt
- Moral dilemma
“spectral play of colour”
➔ Imagery gives a strong sense of place and setting
◆ “Colour” suggests it’s a happy and vibrant place, author may be trying to alter
how people typically view the Arctic (as bleak and barren)
● Gives energy to scene and emphasises the idea of a magical kingdom
◆ The fact that the whales produce the colour in the harsh environment shows
they’re a central part of life there
Describes the whales as moving “slowly, methodically”
➔ Recognises the grace they move with - author clearly has a great appreciation for
animals that some would be intimidated by
◆ Although whales are being hunted in Greenland, they’re still respected
“Glittering kingdom”
➔ Descriptive + vivid imagery - metaphor equates arctic with a magical, fantasy land,
showing her fascination with the place
◆ Suggests it inspires awe and wonder emphasised with “took a sharp intake of
breath”
“Evening light was turning butter gold”
➔ Homely feel to the Arctic - not what reader would associate with a cold, harsh
environment
◆ Soft, warm image suggesting richness and comfort - author feels peaceful and at
home there
“Lone hunters pipe”
➔ Setting a scene of serenity with harmonious description of man and whale
“Glinting off man and whale”
➔ Juxtaposition between two creatures - she sees them as equal
◆ Light glinting off them emphasises harmonious, peaceful image of the two
together
