The Explorer’s daughter

• Intro: GAP + ATQ

  GAP

  • Genre: Autobiographical travel writing
  • Audience: General readership, especially those interested in Arctic life and culture
  • Purpose: To explore the moral conflict between admiration for wildlife and respect for indigenous survival

  ATQ

  • Herbert presents a personal and conflicted perspective on the narwhal hunt, blending descriptive beauty with cultural insight, and encouraging reader to understand both the emotional and practical realities of Arctic life.
• Main Body 1 - Beginning: SPEAR

  • S: The text opens with a vivid description of the narwhals swimming through the fjord
  • P: Herbert uses language and structure to create a sense of awe and majesty, drawing the reader into the natural world
  • E: “The narwhal is an essential contributor to the survival of the hunters in the High Arctic”
  • A: 1) Descriptive language — “glittering kingdom” creates a graceful and magical, awe-filled tone
  • A: 2) Visual imagery — “slowly, methodically passing each other” highlights the elegance of the narwhals
  • A: 3) long, flowing sentence structures — mimic the slow movement of the animals
  • R: The reader feels wonder and admiration for the narwhals, setting up the emotional contrast that will come later.
• Main Body 2 - Early Middle: SPEAR


  • S: The narrator then shifts from visual admiration to factual explanation of the narwhal’s importance to the Inuit.
  • P: Herbert builds understanding of the Inuit’s dependence on hunting for survival
  • E: ”The mattak is rich in vitamins A and C, and the blubber is used for fuel.”
  • A: 1) Scientific language — “mattak”, “vitamins A and C” - adds credibility and detachment
  • A: 2) Factual tone — educates the reader about the Inuit‘s survival needs
  • A: 3) Juxtaposition - follows emotional descriptions with practical; necessity, creating tension
  • R: The reader begins to understand the practical reasons for the hunt, even if they still feel uneasy about it
• Main Body 3 - Late Middle: SPEAR

  • S: Later, the narrator returns to the scene of the hunt and shows the tension between beauty and danger
  • P: Herbert shows her internal conflict and the high stakes of the hunt
  • E: “The narwhal… stayed close to the pod… occasionally breaking the surface”
  • A: 1) Suspenseful structure — short, focused sentences create tension
  • A: 2) Anthropomorphism — portraying the narwhal as “vulnerable” and gently invites empathy
  • A: 3) Tense, observational language — “occasional” and “close to the pond” hint at danger and fragility
  • R: The reader senses both The beauty and vulnerability of the narwhal’s, and the life-or-death seriousness of the situation for the hunters
• Main body 4 - End: SPEAR

  • S: The narrator send by reflecting emotionally on the moment when the hunter prepares to kill
  • P: Herbert reveals her emotional response and final moral dilemma
  • E: “That evening, gathered in the hut, I urged the man… My heart leapt for both hunter and narwhal”
  • A: 1) Emotive language - “my heart leapt” shows deep internal conflict
  • A: 2) Juxtaposition - “both hunter and narwhal” symbolises her divided loyalties
  • A: 3) 1st person reflection - adds intimacy and makes the dilemma more personal
  • A: 4) Climatic placement - leaves the reader with unresolved tension
  • R: The reader is left feeling emotionally conflicted - admiring the beauty of nature but understanding the harsh necessity of survival
• Conclusion

  Herbert uses vivid description, factual explanation, and emotional reflection to present the narwhal hunt as both beautiful and brutal. By balancing scientific detail with personal conflict, she creates a thought-provoking piece that challenges the reader to consider the ethics of survival and cultural respect.