“Top Man” By James Ramsey Ullman

1. KenzieBurkhalter 2nd hour Language Arts 12-7-12 Vocab Final “Top Man”By James Ramsey Ullman “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 for us, hostile, relentless, and aware.”

2. Table of Contents 1.Title Page 2.Table of Contents 3.Characterization 4.Characterization Cont. 5.Irony 6.Foreshadowing 7.Connotation 8.Denotation 9.Suspense 10.Symbolism 11.Conflict 12.Setting 13.Plot 14.Inference 15.Similie 16.Metaphor 17.Conclusion 18.Bibliography

3. CharacterizationThe ways to show the personality of a character in a narrative. Showing character’s thoughts Example: Physical Description of a Character Example: Speaking and actions of the character Example: “‘He’s not far,’ he said. ‘Can’t have been gone more than half an hour.’ He seized his ice ax and started out again.” This is showing speaking and actions. Page 63 of “Top Man” “‘Come back!’ he cried. ‘Come back!’ In this example the author is showing the concern and emotions of the person speaking by saying he cried out the words. • “His lean British face, under its mask of stubble and windburned, was expressionless … His lips were thin line, and his eyes seemed almost shut.” It’s describing things about people(s) in this passage. • Page 52 of “Top Man” • “…I began to realize that the tension between Osborn and Nace went deeper than I had first surmised.” The main character thought this, it was not said out loud to another. • Page 55 of “Top Man”

4. Characterization Continued… Showing what others think of the character example: Comments directly on the character. Example: Since this is a first person story, I couldn’t find this in the text. • “Nace was in his forties– lean, taciturn, introspective.” The main character of this story is explaining what he thinks Nace is like, physically and mentally. • Page 54 of “Top Man”

5. Irony • When a situation turns out way different than we thought it would. Irony of Situation: Verbal Irony Dramatic Irony When reader knows something the character doesn’t. Irony can be humor, serious comments. • Both examples on page 66 of “Top Man” • When someone says something meaning something completely difference. • “For when they came out at last upon the summit they saw that they were not the first. An ax stood there. Its half was embedded in rock and ice and on its steel head were the engraved words: TO MARTIN FROM JOHN So Osborn really did make it to the top and just didn’t want to tell anybody which was really surprising to me. He just left the ax there for somebody to find out that it was him. • Examples: • “‘Did you get there?’ I asked dully. He shook his head ‘I couldn’t make it,’ he answered. ‘I didn’t have what it takes.’” Osborn is saying he didn’t make it but is he lying?

6. Foreshadowing • Hints or clues are used in a narrative to suggest the action that’s coming. This builds suspense and helps reader realize what is about to happen. Example: “…and hours passed. The sun reached its zenith above the peak and sloped away behind it. And at last I heard above me the sound of Osborn returning.” Here is suspense. At this point Osborn is returning they don’t know whether Osborn made it to the top or not, and they has to wait till he’s down from the slope to find out.

7. Connotation • The emotions and associations that a word or phrase actually means. Examples: “…finally, the symmetrical summit pyramid that transfixed the sky.”This phrase is bringing emotion out of something so simple. It’s saying that the two objects in this case the ice line of the east ridge and the vertical precipices are the same and the highest point of the mountain almost pyramid like stood still and looked amazing. Page 52 of “Top Man”

8. Denotation • The dictionary definition of a word. Examples: “Also known as K3. A Tertiary formation of sedimentary limestone.” Page 51 of “Top Man” “Nace was in his forties– lean, taciturn, introspective.” Below it says the dictionary defintion which is: Reserved, quiet. Page 54 of “Top Man” Both of these explain what words mean in definition form to help the reader understand the word better.

9. Suspense • Suspense is in the plot in any piece of work that makes the reader or want to know what comes next. It is always very tense when you’re trying to make something suspense. The longer the writer keeps the reader guessing when they know something is about to happen, the more suspense it gets. Example: “There was a scream as the next porter was jerked off too. I remember trying frantically to dig into the ridge with my ax, realizing at the same time it would do no more hold against the weight of the falling men than a pin a pin stuck in a wall. Then I heard Nace say, ‘Jump!’” Page 59 in “Top Man” “…but merely a corince or unsupported platform clinging to the side of the mountain. Below it was not rock, but ten thousand feet of blue air.” Page 64 in “Top Man” These sections of “Top Man” are definitely suspense. They make you want to know what happens next and keeps your mind wandering to all the different possibilities.

10. Symbolism • A person, place, or thing that has meaning to itself, but that can represent something else at the same time. A symbol can be an object, person, action, or situation. Examples: The mountain is a symbol of struggle, something you have to work really hard at to get to the top or achieve. The ax is a symbol of strength, how the men don’t give up and keep on trying, being strong throughout the many days they were trying to climb K3.

11. ConflictThe struggle that happens between opposite forces. • External conflict- Conflict takes place with a character and natural force. It could also be between two characters, or between opposite views involving separate or groups of characters. Example: • “all the mattered—was that our purpose was one: to conquer the monster of rock and ice that now loomed above us in the night; to stand for a moment where no man, no living thing, had ever stood before.” This is showing conflict between the mountain and the climbers. They are saying they will get to the top no matter what the struggle is. • Page 54 of “Top Man” • Internal conflict- Can exist in the mind of the character who has to make a difficult decision or overcome some sort of fear. Example: • Throughout this whole story, Nace is the patient and slow guy. Osborn is always in a hurry, always wants to keep moving, to get to the top. He never wants to wait a couple of days to let the snow harden or become more stable. This shows the way of thinking internally for both guys.

12. Setting • The time and place that event s happen in the story. In some cases setting can be shown through description, or stage directions. Depending on the story the setting could be very important or not very important at all. It’s pretty much showing the physical background of the story. Example: “The shape was there, and the familiar distinguishing features: the sweeping skirt of glaciers; the monstrous vertical precipices of the face and the jagged ice-line of the east ridge; finally, the symmetrical summit pyramid that transfixed the sky.” Page 52 in “Top Man”

13. Plot • The order of events that happen in a story. (Major event is the conflict) The plot can introduce the characters, reveal nature of the conflict, and show us how it can be resolved. Example: A group of men that come to climb K3 come and sttempt to climb this rocky, snow filled mountain. As they set up many camps and stay there for days at a time then climb some each day, they realize how hard it is to get to the top. They wait for the snow to harden then they are on their way. Once they can’t go any further they descend and osborn is determined to get to the top. When everyone’s sleeping, he quietly sneaks off on his own and starts up K3 once again. Nace realizes he’s gone and tries to go after him to stop him, but in this process Nace gives up his own life to try to save Osborn. Osborn says he doesn’t make it to the top but did is he lying? Later, as time passes other’s climb the mountain and see that there is a engraved ax at the top showing that he really did conquer K3 and was lying the whole time.

14. Inference • A reasonable conclusion based off of clues or facts. Sometimes we have to inference about a scene, a character, or action and actually make a discovery on our own. Example: “An ax stood there. Its half was embedded in rock and ice and on its steel head were the engraved words: TO MARTIN FROM JOHN.” To anyone that read this story, this is inferring to them to make the conclusion that Osborn did climb to the top of K3. He just lied. Page 66 of “Top Man”

15. Simile • A comparison of two things using the words like or as. Similes are used in everyday language and are in a lot of literature. Example: “‘It’s tight!’ he cried. ‘Tight as a drum. We can go!’” This means that the snow is firm and will hold up if they were walking on it. It’s not as dangerous if it’s tight. Page 57 of “Top Man”

16. Metaphor • A comparison of two things. It can also be explained by saying the intention of a metaphor is to give added meaning to one of the things that is being compared. It is used in everyday speech, fiction, formal prose, and poetry. Example: “For all its twenty-eight thousand feet of lofty grandeur it seemed, somehow, less to tower than to crouch—a white-hooded giant, secret and remote, but living. Living and on guard.” This comparison is comparing the giant with the monstrous mountain, both white and remote, but also so tall and alert.

17. Conclusion • Authors use many of these words to help create better pieces of writing. They help you understand the text in deeper content. Some things that are in every story are: Plot, setting, and conflict. Some other literary devices are in stories but not in every one. Some of these words are: Metaphor, simile, inference, irony and foreshadowing. Characterization is also in every story. Not all parts will be explained or in the text but for sure, some will. Symbolism and suspense are usually in most stories too. Most authors want the reader to be interested in the topic so they use suspense. Connotation is the emotions and associations that a word or phrase actually means. Denotation is the dictionary definition of the word or phrase. So as you see, these words are very important in creating stories and helps make the story stronger quality.

18. Bibliography Works Cited: Flickr. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012. "Free Encyclopedia & Web Portal on Indian Culture & Lifestyle." Free Encyclopedia & Web Portal on Indian Culture & Lifestyle. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012. "Home - University of Oxford Department of Earth Sciences." Home - University of Oxford Department of Earth Sciences. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012. "Melvin Redeker | Sea to Summit Adventurer, Keynote Speaker & Photographer - Melvin." Melvin Redeker | Sea to Summit Adventurer, Keynote Speaker & Photographer - Melvin. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012. "Mountain Biking Tours India, Mountain Biking Holidays in India." Mountain Biking Tours India, Mountain Biking Holidays in India. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012. N.p., n.d. Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012. Safier, Fannie. Adventures for Readers: Book Two. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1989. Print. "Welcome." Mountaineering and Climbing Courses and Expeditions, in the Alps, Himalayas, Norway and Scotland. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.