“Top Man” by James Ramsey Ullman “I want to climb it because it is there” (George Leigh Mallory, ).

ExpositionSuspense SettingClimax CharacterizationSymbolism ConnotationInference PersonificationIrony ImageryTheme Conflict

The part of the story that gives background information, such as setting and initial characterization. Pages are all exposition. Ullman tells us about K3 and each of eight men on the climbing exposition.

Where and when events happen in the story. Setting Place: Kalpurtha (K3), in the Garhwal Himalayas, the fourth highest peak in the world Time: Sixth attempt at climbing K3. Summer.

How a writer reveals his or her characters to the reader. Methods Direct (telling) Indirect (showing) ~Actions ~Speech ~Thoughts ~Others’ reactions Characterization Frank’s perceptions: Osborn appeared to have a desire to conquer while Nace remained stoic, or emotionless, at the sight of K3 (53). “Wait? Why?” Osborn jerked his head up…[He] snorted. “A lot of good being acclimated will do, if we have frozen feet.” / “Easy, Paul, easy,” cautioned Randolph. “It seems to me Martin’s right” (53).

The emotions that a word or phrase makes you feel. Connotation “The walk fell suddenly away, and we came out on the edge of a bleak, boulder-strewn valley…And there it was” (51). “We were men bereft of everything but eyes, everything but the single electric perception: there it was!” (52). How does “there it was” make you feel? What if Ullman wrote this instead: “Ahead of us was the peak” ?

Human qualities are attributed to nonhuman things. “The mountain, to all of us, was no longer a mere giant of rock and ice; it had become a living thing, an enemy, watching us, waiting for us, hostile, relentless, and aware” (51). “…a white-hooded giant, secret and remote, but living. Living and on guard” (52). “The minutes crawled into hours…” (64).

Language that appeals to one of your senses. “The wind rose. At first it was only sound-a remote, desolate moaning in the night high above us-but soon it descended, suck down the deep valley as if into a gigantic funnel. Hour after hour it howled about the tents with hurricane frenzy, and the wild flapping of the canvas dinned in our ears like machine-gun fire” (57).

A struggle between two opposite forces. Types of Conflict Man vs. Nature Man vs. Man Man vs. Self Osborn vs. Nace Osborn vs. K3 Conflict Conflict

A literary device that makes the reader feel uncertain and tense about what’s going to happen next. Suspense Nace and Frank see Osborn standing on an unsupported cornice (65). Can Nace get to Osborn before the snow and ice give out? Will Nace be able to save Osborn?

The high or turning point of a story; the moment of greatest suspense. Nace pulls Osborn to safety in an act that causes himself to fall off K3.

Something that has meaning beyond itself. An object stands for something else. Symbolism Nace’s ax ~Remembrance: Nace’s respect for his lost friend ~Heroic effort: Nace sacrificed his own life to rescue Osborn.

A reasonable conclusion made based on facts and clues. What happened to Nace? Did he die? How do you know? Did Osborn make it to the top of K3? How do you know? Inference

The difference between what happens and what is expected. Types of Irony Verbal: writer says something and means another Situational: events are different than what was expected Dramatic: reader knows something that the character doesn’t Irony Example: We expected Nace to make it to the summit based on his experience and cautiousness instead of Osborne, who is inexperienced and impulsive.

An insight or truth about life that is revealed in a work of literature. Experience and caution is just as valuable as youthful talent and ambition. The ultimate sacrifice is giving one’s life to save another.

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