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IN
GROUPS
FERRY ACROSS THE LAKE: On his journey to the source of the Nile, Christopher
Ondaatje crosses part of Lake Victoria
Admire
s this
place
Thinking
about the
past and
connecting
it to the
present
3
.
Writing up ideas
Now youre ready to write up
your ideas, you need a clear introductory
sentence introducing your response, as usual. Use the
question to help you do this; turn it into a statement.
You then need to
section
IN
GROUPS
3
.
Connective
Firstly
Secondly
Thirdly
As well as
this
Furthermore
Moreover
Finally
Lastly
Likewise
Similarly
Highlights
Informs
Implies
Indicates
Narrates
Realises
Recognises
Refers to
Reflects
Reveals
Signifies
Suggests
Shows
Tells
The reader
(or we)
Is made
aware
Is informed
Is told
Learns
Discovers
Realises
A sample response from Question 3 (Explain some of the thoughts and feelings
Christopher Ondaatje has about his experience of Lake Victoria.)
In this extract, Christopher Ondaatje describes his visit to Lake Victoria. He experiences various
thoughts and feelings during his journey.
Firstly, in the opening paragraph, the author gives us the impression that he is thinking about both the
present and the past. He describes his location and what he can see before him, and reveals that
Mwanza is a vibrant African city that is growing and busy. Implying that this place is a living city, he
states that it seemed to grow as we watched. Furthermore, he shows an awareness of the lake being
much older and having played a role in the great explorations of the past. This conveys to the reader
the fact that Ondaatje has a sense of the lakes history and its importance as a landmark for previous
travellers.
The second paragraph suggests to us that our narrator is overcome by the beauty of nature. He
portrays where he is as an idyllic spot and then goes on to describe the sounds of the birds, the
beauty of the sunrise and the sound of the lake. His senses are informing his feelings here; what he
sees and hears are all conveyed very positively and he claims waking here would be a good way to
start every morning.
However, as Ondaatje describes the travellers wait to catch the ferry to cross the lake, the language
he uses hints that he is no longer in control of the situation. Passengers have to rely on the local
system, which is not very reliable, and there is doubt that they will even get on the ferry. The previous
idyllic setting is now contrasted by the discomfort of the day getting hotter and hotter. The
description of conditions on the ferry shows the passengers discomfort only gets worse, calling the
setting hot as hell and getting hotter. Moreover, worse than the discomfort he feels is his knowledge
that a similar ferry sank or went down a year or so earlier with loss of life. Ondaatjes anxiety is shown
in that he realises there is no system of controlling the amount of weight taken on by the ferry and that
it is also an old ferry which he depicts as decrepit. The thought of this past tragedy and the
disorganisation he is witnessing causes him to worry and feel anxious.
Lastly, in the the final paragraph, the writer describes the sound and movement of the ferry; again he
is impressed by what he can see of nature but there is also a sense of disbelief that the heavily laden
ferry is managing to move. When he sees the teeming mass of a crowd waiting to board on the other
A sample response from Question 3 (Explain some of the thoughts and feelings
Christopher Ondaatje has about his experience of Lake Victoria.)
In this extract, Christopher Ondaatje describes his visit to Lake Victoria. He experiences
various thoughts and feelings during his journey.
Firstly, in the opening paragraph, the author describes his location and what he can see
before him, and reveals that Mwanza is a vibrant African city. This suggests that he
likes and admires this busy place he also describes it as huge and beautiful. The lake
makes him think about the past and how the mighty lake was important to past
explorations.
Secondly, Ondaatje tells us that he finds the place an idyllic spot with a spectacular
sunrise which implies that he finds the setting beautiful. He uses his senses when he
describes the sounds of the birds and the scenery around him and he finds the setting
peaceful and calming. He even says he would like to wake up in this place every
morning.
When Ondaatje describes the travellers wait to catch the ferry to cross the lake, we are
made aware that he is uncomfortable and frustrated. The ferry is late and the weather is
getting hotter and hotter which makes things worse. When he is on the actual ferry the
author seems to become more uncomfortable when he describes it as hot as hell and
getting hotter. Hell has very negative connotations, so we can infer that he is not
enjoying himself. Moreover, Ondaatje tells us that in the past a ferry went down which
suggests to us that he is perhaps worried and anxious.
Lastly, at the end of the text the writer describes the sound and movement of the ferry
and he says that somehow the craft stayed afloat which reveals that he cannot believe
IN PAIRS
ON YOUR
OWN