"It is a battle against a tireless enemy in which man never actually wins; the most taht he can hope for it not to be defeated. It gave Shackleton a feeling of uneasiness. He now faced an adversary so formidable that his own strength was nothing in comparison, and he did not enjoy being in a position where boldness and determination count for almost nothing, and in which victory is measured only in survival(Page 221)."
As the group on the island lived in a hell of their own, the ones on the boat headed to South Georgia Island were experiencing their own slice of Satan's paradise. Water constantly splashed into the boat and lack of free movement made discomfort constant. Rotten odors from the water logged, slime covered sleeping bags mad the trip all the more unpleasant. Shackleton felt a degree of responsibility and he was humbled, making him more oriented to keeping his crew alive and less concentrated on honor from achieving his goals. It seems that disaster brings out the best in many.
This reminds me of Finals week in my freshman year. I was overloaded with information and study materials. I was aware that my study habits were not the best and that if I wanted to do good on my tests, I would have to spend less time playing video games and wasting my time and study hard the tests that lay ahead of me. I immediately worked to improve the habits that I had been building for years. I changed for the better just as Shackleton had done on the voyage to Georgia Island.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Summer Homework, Alfred Lansing, Endurance, Part V, Chapters Four-Six
After the group left for South Georgia Island to find help, those how remained were in a degree of depression. The terrible conditions and threat of supply shortages might have drove them to insanity. But, the men prevailed by creating a ramshackle shelter out of one of the boats that had been left. Optimism was all that the men had to go on. Many of them reasoned that if they were going to die, they would die full of hope that help was on the way. It would help no one if everyone had an attitude of absolute hopelessness. Hope was the one thing that kept the morale of the crew afloat. Hope also kept the crew unified and cooperative. Nevertheless, if Shackleton did not return soon, the crew was sure to die a horrible death.
"'We were all ridiculously weak,' Orde-Lees wrote. 'Stones that we could easily have lifted at other times we found quite beyond our capacity, and it needed two or three of us to carry some that would otherwise have been one man's load. . . . Our weakness is best compared with that which one experiences on getting up from a long illness'(Page 196)."
The quote above represents just how bad the food shortages were. The weakness that the crew felt was one of starving and fatigue. Constantly changing weather also made for a miserable time on the island.
This section of the book reminds me of the novel Night by Elie Wiesel in the fact that in both situations hope was one of the things that kept spirits alive during a desperate situation. Hope for rescue and to see loved ones helps to keep the optimistic spirit with both Elie and the crew.
"'We were all ridiculously weak,' Orde-Lees wrote. 'Stones that we could easily have lifted at other times we found quite beyond our capacity, and it needed two or three of us to carry some that would otherwise have been one man's load. . . . Our weakness is best compared with that which one experiences on getting up from a long illness'(Page 196)."
The quote above represents just how bad the food shortages were. The weakness that the crew felt was one of starving and fatigue. Constantly changing weather also made for a miserable time on the island.
This section of the book reminds me of the novel Night by Elie Wiesel in the fact that in both situations hope was one of the things that kept spirits alive during a desperate situation. Hope for rescue and to see loved ones helps to keep the optimistic spirit with both Elie and the crew.
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| Elie Wiesel's Night |
Summer Homework, Alfred Lansing, Endurance, Part V, Chapters One-Three
"All this had been discussed and discussed again. And though the Caird's chances of actually reaching South Georgia were remote, a great many men genuinely wanted to be taken along. The prospect of staying behind, of waiting and not knowing, of possibly wintering on this hateful island was far from attractive(Page 187)."
Although the crew of the Endurance has found land, it is no world of easy living. The crew knew that eventually their stores would run out and that there was virtually no chance of being spotted by any ship that passes by the island. There was no chance of survival on the island that they were on. They had to leave this island or face certain doom. Shackleton declares that he and a handful of other crew members would sail to Georgia Island nearly 1000 miles away from their current position. Nobody believed that the ones to go with Shackleton would survive.
Either way, they would all die, on the island or at sea, death was almost guaranteed. Now, they all realized the likelihood that they would ever be rescued was slim to none.
This section of the book reminds me of a time I had to make a choice between going somewhere with my parents or to stay home. Either way, I would be bored but one way I would be more bored than the other. This situation is much less severe than the decision that the crew of the Endurance have to make, but it is the same premise.
Although the crew of the Endurance has found land, it is no world of easy living. The crew knew that eventually their stores would run out and that there was virtually no chance of being spotted by any ship that passes by the island. There was no chance of survival on the island that they were on. They had to leave this island or face certain doom. Shackleton declares that he and a handful of other crew members would sail to Georgia Island nearly 1000 miles away from their current position. Nobody believed that the ones to go with Shackleton would survive.
Either way, they would all die, on the island or at sea, death was almost guaranteed. Now, they all realized the likelihood that they would ever be rescued was slim to none.
This section of the book reminds me of a time I had to make a choice between going somewhere with my parents or to stay home. Either way, I would be bored but one way I would be more bored than the other. This situation is much less severe than the decision that the crew of the Endurance have to make, but it is the same premise.
Summer Homework, Alfred Lansing, Endurance, Part IV, Chapters Four-Five, Turning Point, Tone
As the arctic storms plague the terrified crew members on their journey to Elephant Island, a few crew members of the crew show extraordinary courage and leadership to help the crew survive the trials that the sea throws at them. Not only did the leadership of the crew members keep the crew alive, but also help increase the morale and the unity of the crew as a whole.
"It was the merest handhold, 100 feet wide and 50 feet deep. A meager grip on a savage coast, exposed to the full fury of the sub-arctic ocean. but no matter-- they were on land . For the first time in 497 days they were on land. Solid, unsinkable, immovable, blessed land(Page 175)."
The crew reaches Elephant Island, the first piece of land that they had seen in over a year. This seems to be a Turning Point- (A point in a work in which a very significant change occurs) in the story where the crew is out of the woods. This assumption is wrong though because the island is not frequently visited and the island is desolate.
The Tone- ( the attitude of a writer, usually prompted, toward the subject or audience) that the writer set is one of hope. Hope that the crew would resolve the issues and reach land and that rescue would be swift.
This scene reminds me of the scene of the film Black-hawk Down when the UN soldiers showed up to escort the Americans back to the safe-zone. The Americans were filled with hope when the UN carriers showed up to save the Americans, the same hope that the Crew of the Endurance felt when they set foot on solid land.
"It was the merest handhold, 100 feet wide and 50 feet deep. A meager grip on a savage coast, exposed to the full fury of the sub-arctic ocean. but no matter-- they were on land . For the first time in 497 days they were on land. Solid, unsinkable, immovable, blessed land(Page 175)."
The crew reaches Elephant Island, the first piece of land that they had seen in over a year. This seems to be a Turning Point- (A point in a work in which a very significant change occurs) in the story where the crew is out of the woods. This assumption is wrong though because the island is not frequently visited and the island is desolate.
The Tone- ( the attitude of a writer, usually prompted, toward the subject or audience) that the writer set is one of hope. Hope that the crew would resolve the issues and reach land and that rescue would be swift.
This scene reminds me of the scene of the film Black-hawk Down when the UN soldiers showed up to escort the Americans back to the safe-zone. The Americans were filled with hope when the UN carriers showed up to save the Americans, the same hope that the Crew of the Endurance felt when they set foot on solid land.
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| Scene from the film Blackhawk Down (2001) |
Summer Homework, Alfred Lansing, Endurance, Part IV, Chapters One-Three, Irony
The crew of the Endurance sailed to find land from their camp on the ice floe, they realized that they had made a severe mistake. They also realized that they have passed the point of no return. Now, as the tortures of sailing on the arctic ocean constantly battered them, a degree of depression sunk in. They faced bitter cold, harsh winds, icy waters, and illness on a day-to-day basis.
As the crew sailed on the open waters, they realized that they had been drifting away from their intended destination. This cruel Irony- (use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or, congruence between what is expected and what actually occurs) is a striking blow to the morale of the crew. Depression sweeps across the entire crew as they drift hopelessly in the open, unforgiving water. There was a spot of defiance among some of the crew members as they refused to row the boats. This almost destroyed the synergy that had just been restored a little while earlier.
"They made a pitiable sight--three little boats, packed with the odd remnants of what had once been a proud expedition, bearing twenty-eight suffering men in one final, almost ludicrous bid for survival. But this time there was to be no turning back, and they all knew it. The men clung to the sides of the pitching boats as they drove forward(Page 160)."
This situation reminds me of the point of no return after the beginning of the school year. After the first two weeks, the classes that you have are the classes that you will have until the semester ends. Just as the crew made a decision that they could not return from, students cannot return from the decision to not change classes.
As the crew sailed on the open waters, they realized that they had been drifting away from their intended destination. This cruel Irony- (use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or, congruence between what is expected and what actually occurs) is a striking blow to the morale of the crew. Depression sweeps across the entire crew as they drift hopelessly in the open, unforgiving water. There was a spot of defiance among some of the crew members as they refused to row the boats. This almost destroyed the synergy that had just been restored a little while earlier.
"They made a pitiable sight--three little boats, packed with the odd remnants of what had once been a proud expedition, bearing twenty-eight suffering men in one final, almost ludicrous bid for survival. But this time there was to be no turning back, and they all knew it. The men clung to the sides of the pitching boats as they drove forward(Page 160)."
This situation reminds me of the point of no return after the beginning of the school year. After the first two weeks, the classes that you have are the classes that you will have until the semester ends. Just as the crew made a decision that they could not return from, students cannot return from the decision to not change classes.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Summer Homework, Alfred Lansing, Endurance, Part III, Chapters Four-Five, Adage
Food shortages and constant stress of the unpredictable ice rose tensions among the crew members. The bond of the crew members was strained in late March, the food situation had gotten so bad that they were cutting rations and digging into the waste meats to find anything that is edible. The desperate situation did not weaken bond that held the crew together. The bond was in fact strengthened. Crew mates gave their rations to those who were the weakest and the most ill. This kind of brotherhood can only be experienced by those united by disaster.
Although the crew was now in a state of synergy, the ice was a constant place of chaos. The ice was constantly under stress and new cracks formed nonstop. It was nearly impossible to launch the boats to go anywhere due to the fear that the ice floes would crush the ships. Soon, the ice floe that the camp was set up on cracked, making the conditions all the more perilous. Shackleton's plans for sailing to the island to the west go to the wayside due to the conditions of the ice.
"Though everyone was fully aware that their situation was becoming more critical by the hour, it was much easier to face danger on a full stomach(Page 133)."
This quote reminds me of the Adage- (a familiar proverb or wise saying) that "an army marches on its stomach". This part of the book shows the desperation of the food situation that the crew was facing, and now the ice is falling apart. They need a plan to move to a safer place. It is hard to think on an empty stomach and it is hard to do anything without focus that having a full stomach brings people. Just as an army cannot fight to win while starving, the crew of the Endurance cannot fight to survive while starving.
Summer Homework, Alfred Lansing, Endurance, Part III, Chapters One-Three, Motivation, Pathos, Mood
"So now they sat in Mark Time Camp, disillusioned and humbly aware how truly pygmy they were to overcome the forces they faced, regardless of how much strength and determination they put forth. The realization was not so much humiliating as frightening(Page 100)."
The author uses this kind of language to set the Mood- ( The emotional atmosphere of the work) and to bring the reader to feel Pathos- (The quality in a work that prompts the reader to feel pity) for the tired, cold, and stranded crew. This writing style brings the reader into the story and makes the story come alive as it is read.
After five long days of travel, the crew of the now sunken Endurance were stagnant. There was nothing to do but think. After consistent failure to move off the ice floes, much of the crew lacked any kind of Motivation- (A character's incentive or reason for behaving in a certain manner; that which impels a character to act.) to go anywhere or make any other attempts of escape. They were broken, in mind, body, and spirit. This brokenness divided the group even more, they were constantly bitter and angry at each other. Some members of the crew refused to work and row the boats making the atmosphere of the group increasingly hostile. Now, outbreaks of violence were increasingly imminent.
This scene reminds me of a prison riot, or at least the beginnings of one. Cooperation is at a low and the mind numbing incarceration, the ice being like a prison for the crew of the Endurance, make hostility the status quo. Soon, something one person does could spark an all out brawl among the others. Of course, there is always someone to restore order, in the case of the Endurance it is sir Shackleton, so that synergy can come to the entire group.
The author uses this kind of language to set the Mood- ( The emotional atmosphere of the work) and to bring the reader to feel Pathos- (The quality in a work that prompts the reader to feel pity) for the tired, cold, and stranded crew. This writing style brings the reader into the story and makes the story come alive as it is read.
After five long days of travel, the crew of the now sunken Endurance were stagnant. There was nothing to do but think. After consistent failure to move off the ice floes, much of the crew lacked any kind of Motivation- (A character's incentive or reason for behaving in a certain manner; that which impels a character to act.) to go anywhere or make any other attempts of escape. They were broken, in mind, body, and spirit. This brokenness divided the group even more, they were constantly bitter and angry at each other. Some members of the crew refused to work and row the boats making the atmosphere of the group increasingly hostile. Now, outbreaks of violence were increasingly imminent.
This scene reminds me of a prison riot, or at least the beginnings of one. Cooperation is at a low and the mind numbing incarceration, the ice being like a prison for the crew of the Endurance, make hostility the status quo. Soon, something one person does could spark an all out brawl among the others. Of course, there is always someone to restore order, in the case of the Endurance it is sir Shackleton, so that synergy can come to the entire group.
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