How do four phrases in the…

English Questions

How do four phrases in the excerpt from Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat” illustrate the theme of unpredictability in nature and the mercilessness of the sea?

Answer

In the excerpt from ‘The Open Boat,’ four phrases that highlight the merciless nature of the sea are: the depiction of the waves as slate-colored with foamy white tops, the assertion that the waves were ‘most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall,’ the shifting horizon that appeared jagged and rock-like, and the fact that each frothy crest presented a challenge for navigation. This illustrates the relentless and unpredictable character of the sea. In Stephen Crane’s narrative, the theme of nature’s cruelty is evident through descriptions such as “waves were of the hue of slate, save for the tops, which were of foaming white” and “waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall.” These highlight the wild and fierce behavior of the ocean. Additionally, phrases like “the horizon narrowed and widened, and dipped and rose, and at all times its edge was jagged with waves that seemed thrust up in points like rocks,” alongside “each froth-top was a problem in small-boat navigation,” underline the constant struggle faced by the men against an unyielding sea, reinforcing the theme of nature’s unpredictability.

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