Analysis of Joe’s account of the accident in Touching the void Essay Example

someone else may feel fear at the isolation and helplessness of being so alone.However, the tone rapidly changes when Joe says his ‘thoughts raced madly. 'This makes the situation panicked and some-what cluttered which is ironic as he is very much alone in a remote area which seems like there is no hope for Joe and the mountain has won the battle. My opinion changed of the climbing experience as exciting in the introduction of the extract to frightening and relentless while knowing Joe’s struggles when facing the mountain.

The metaphorical phrase, 'then pain flooded' creates destructive image in the readers' minds which shows the mountain and the climbing experience as ruthless that Joe has no control over.The phrase 'fierce burning fire' is also a metaphorical phrase that forms hell-like images and is the complete opposite to the description of the ‘flooding pan’. The water and fire imagery is caused by nature, and suggests nature is working against him. Its clear that nature is a huge part of the climbing experience, the writer shows this by using water and fire imagery to show Joe’s battle against the mighty mountain of the Suila Grande. The 'grotesque distortion’ in his knees is a graphic description that describes not only the physical state but also the emotional state of mind.

The 'twisting’ of the leg into a ‘strange zig-zag' creates rough and abstract imagery of pain. But Joe 'didn't connect it with the pain. ' This shows he was in a state of denial and was no longer associating his leg as a part of him. The kinetic verb 'kicked' shows his determination which is a vital trait needed

in climbing experiences. This paragraph is full of long sentences that describe the pain he suffers such as ‘I hung, head down, on my back…….

. ’ However, he uses a short sentence 'the pain eased’, which shows a glimmer of hope and his strength of character.Joe’s struggles and determination shows his climbing experience as a tough challenge. I feel in awe of his ability to push on regardless of what’s thrown at him, the writer shows through abstract imagery of pain and change of emotion from helpless to hopeful that even though climbing is an external challenge that it has a equal effect internally. Repetition of the word ‘if’ is used in paragraph four to show how Joe is thinking of the worst case scenario. This a deliberate writing structure by the writer to imply that the climbing experience is very frightening and agonizing when Joe mentions ‘death sentences.

He also uses first person, ‘I’ve broken my leg’ which makes his terror very personal to the reader. He uses short sentences such as ‘I’m dead’ and admits defeat which goes against his determination and courage earlier on in the passage. This evidently shows that Joe’s climbing experience took him through a rollercoaster of emotions within short periods of time. Joe is arguing with himself, trying to convince himself that 'it doesn't hurt so much' the tonality of the sentence changes when an unrealistic glimmer of hope comes to Joe by saying ‘maybe I’ve just ripped something. ’