Touching The Void

This is a true story of how two young climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, survive the terrible ordeal of a mountain accident that could have resulted in both of their deaths. If you are interested in reading what happened, you might want to look at Joe Simpson's website here where you can read more about Joe's life and incredible adventures.

This extract is an unusual account because the same incident is described from the perspectives of two men, who describe their experiences in very different ways. Joe's account is very vivid. He wants the reader to come to very close to experiencing the incredible combination of panic and pain which he himself was feeling at the time. He uses short sentences, and takes care to depict the scenario by means of sensory detail; for example he tells us what he is feeling, but also wha the is seeing and what he is hearing (the silence). He shows us how the realisation gradually dawns on him that he is likely to die. His thoughts are fragmented and realisation seems to be coming to him very gradually. The punctation (short sentences) reflects the urgency of the situation and his growing sense of panic.

Simon's language is more reflective and shows he is more in control. He uses longer words and phrases - in keeping with his safer situation. One of the interesting things about Simon's account is the honest way in which he describes that his friend is likely to die. It might strike the reader that this a really cold and hard response, but is very likely that this is what he actually would have felt. In terrifying situations the facts can present themselves without an emotional response (indeed he uses the word 'dispassionately'). Only later do the emotions kick in.

Both writers take care to provide the reader with a sense of context so we can picture them on the mountain. However it would not be appropriate to indulge in long descriptions about the beauty of the snowy mountain, for example, because this is an action account, and the language reflects a focus on action and danger and urgency. The language is straightforward and direct so we are in no doubt about what is happening. However both men choose verbs very carefully (lashed surged tangled raced) to convey the situation more effectively.

Both writers consider their audience and the purpose for which they are writing. Their book is likely to be read by people who are not mountaineers – so some specialist information needs to be provided about relevant technical aspects of mountaineering, as well as about the location - but their main purpose is to tell a gripping adventure story – to inform, describe and entertain, in other words. By alternating their accounts and providing two first person versions, we have a clearer picture of what the situation was actually like for these brave young mountaineers.

The genre of this peice of writing is autobiography: that is they are first person real life accounts. In addition to these notes, I strongly advise you to go through the following which I have copied from the Edexcel's Teacher's Guide. It has a lot of valuable infromation about the text:

Context

Joe and his climbing partner Simon Yates, were nearing the end of a climb in the Peruvian Andes, when this terrible accident occurred. The passage proves a focus on an extreme sport at a life or death moment. It raises many issues. What makes people participate in activities like this? What should one do when faced with a moral dilemma like Simon's? Is self-preservation more important than friendship? Note that, unlike Mcarthur, these two are completely on their own.

Structure and Form

This extract consists of two pieces of autobiograohical prose narrative (perhaps described even better as monologues), giving different perspectives on the same event. Relatively short paragraphs follow a sequence of time, but the real demarcations are provided by crucial developments in thought.

Language

Though both accounts are very similar in style, there are significant differences. Both accounts:
-Use the first person narrative
-Narrative structure, but evaluation and analysis of the significance of what is happening is integrated into the storytelling.
-Use of direct speech to convey the immediacy of thought

Here are some questions for you:

1) Summarise briefly in your own words
   a) What happened to Joe
   b) What choices face Simon.
2) What words or phrases in Joe's account bring out most vividly
   a) The pain he suffers as a result of his injuries
   b) His thoughts and feelings.
3) What words or phrases in Simon's account show most clearly the difficult decision he faces.
4) Compare and contrast the two accounts in:
   a) Use of language
   b) Perspective and viewpoint
   c) Attitudes to what has happened.
5) What do you think Simon should do in this situation? Give him your advice.