“ Top Man ” has an abundance of vocabulary

By Brantley E. “Top Man” has an abundance of vocabulary “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 us, hostile, relentless and aware.”

Purpose/Navigation • As you go through this slide, There are many vocabulary terms that have such great importance into writing a story. For each slide there is a vocabulary term and the definition and examples of the term in the story “Top Man”. For each slide just click once and enjoy the slide.

Irony • Something that is suppose to happen but the opposite occurs • Three types • 1. Verbal irony (sarcasm)- Happens when the speaker says something but means the opposite • 2. Irony of situation- When something is expected to happen but the opposite occurs • 3. Dramatic Irony- Occurs when the reader knows something that the character doesn't • Example of Verbal Irony- “ A lot of good being acclimated will do, if we have frozen feet.” Osborn snorted • Example of Irony of situation- Osborn’s goal is to reach to top of the mountain first. He wants everyone to remember him and know who he is. But when he does accomplish his goal, he doesn’t tell anybody that he made it.

Foreshadowing • Foreshadowing- The act of using ideas or thoughts to guess what is going to happen later on before it actually occurs • “Our meager food supply was running out; even with careful rationing there was enough left for only two more days.” With this quote, I can guess that they will only be able to try to get to the top for a couple more days before they will have to quit because of starvation • “There was a moment when his only support was an inch wide ledge beneath his feet, another where there was nothing under his feet at all, and he supported himself wholly by his elbows and hands.” With the sentence I can assume that Nance is barely hanging on and has a good chance of falling to his death

Characterization • Characterization- The ways used to introduce the personality of a character • Five types • Physical description- What a character looks like • Characters actions and speech- What a character says or does • Thoughts- What or how a character thinks • Other feelings about the character- Feelings other characters have about the character • Direct comments on the character- Directly saying who or what the character is like • Example of Characters actions and speech- “He was absolutely motionless, his young face tense and shining, his eyes devouring the mountain as a lovers might devour the form of his beloved.”

Characterization cont.…. • Example of others feelings about the character- “He was a great climber in his day. It’s a shame a man cant be honest enough with himself to know when he's through.” This is showing what Osborn Thinks about Nace • Example of commenting directly on the character- With this story being third person, I was unable to find an example for this type of characterization. • Physical description example- “His lean British face, under its mask of stubble and windburn, was expressionless. His hips were a thin line, and his eyes seemed almost shut.” • Example of thoughts- “I’ve seen it thirty below at twenty-five thousand on the east ridge. Longer we wait for the bags, better acclimated we’ll get.” This is what Martin thinks is the best for him and everybody else

Connotation • Connotation- The thoughts a word or phrase brings to a persons mind • Example- Mountain can bring thoughts of adventure, coldness, hard work, and or power • Another Example- Avalanche could present visions of danger, trouble, snowy, and or fear

Denotation • Denotation- The actual definition of a word • Example- Immanent: being within the limits of possible knowledge or experience • Example #2- Himalayas: A mountain range in Asia separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan plateau

Suspense • An emotion or feeling a reader may feel when they aren't sure what's going to happen next in the story • Example- “But its melting. There’s……” Nace paused, fighting for air. “there's nothing underneath!” This expresses that Nace is in trouble and if he doesn’t get out of this situation he may die

Symbolism • Anything that stands for something or has meaning for one thing • Examples: • Mountain- The mountain stands for what the men want to accomplish. They want to get to the top and be victorious • Osborn- Osborn stands for the generation that is slow paced, constant, and finds the right way to do things • Nace- Nace represents the generation that is fast paced, hurried, and has their own way of doing things

Conflict • A problem between two things that has to be settled • External conflicts- Conflicts between two things. man vs. man and man vs. nature • Internal conflicts- physiological conflict including man vs. self • Example of man vs. self- “There were no shirkers or quitters among us- I had known that from the beginning- but now, with each passing day, it became more manifest which were the strongest and ablest among us.” This conflict is man vs. self because it’s a battle within a person to keep going and not quit • Example of man vs. man- “For the first time since I had known him I saw Nace’s eyes flash in anger. “I'm the senior member of this group.” he said, “I forbid you to go!” This conflict is between Osborn and Nace • Example of man vs. nature- “The mountain, to all of us, was no longer a mere giant of rock and ice; it had become a living thing, and enemy, watching us, waiting for us, hostile, relentless, and aware.” This conflict is between the men trying to get up a force of nature

Plot • Plot- The events that take place in a story. The plot reveals events that lead up to the resolution or how the conflicts are solved • Example of plot- A group of men went on an expedition to climb to the top of the mountain called k3. Two men named Osborn and Nace are the leaders. As the group continues up the mountain, men who cant go any further have to retreat and go back down. Nace goes out by himself to get further up unexpectedly. Osborn and Frank go after him. They find him caught in a deadly situation. Nace lost his life to help Osborn get to the top. Osborn claims he doesn’t get there but later, when a different group of men get to the top there is already and ax at the very top.

Setting • Setting- The time and place a story or event takes place. • Example of setting- “Before us the valley stretched into miles of rocky desolation, To the right and left it was bounded by low ridges, which, as the eye followed them, slowly mounted and drew closer together, until the valley was no longer a valley at all, but a narrowing rising corridor between the cliffs.” This is a description of what the mountain they were climbing looked like

Inference • A guess made about something that is going to happen in the story using the information you already have • Example- “A violent spasm convulsed his body as the rope went taught. Then it was gone. Nace did not seem to hit the snow; he simply disappeared through it, soundlessly.” I can assume that Nace died trying to get out of the situation he was in.

Simile • Comparing two words using “like” or “as” • Example- “The long file sprang taut, like a jerked rope.” This simile is comparing the long file to a jerked rope

Metaphor • Comparing two words without using “like” or “as” • 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.” This metaphor is saying that the mountain is a white-hooded giant

Conclusion • In the story “Top Man” the author uses important vocabulary words to stress certain parts in the story. Plot and setting describe where and when a story takes place. Foreshadowing and Inference may entertain the reader and make them want to continue reading. Irony may bring humor and or unexpected events that may make a story more interesting. Metaphor and simile makes words stick out and be more important to a reader. Conflict and suspense create drama that brings the reader deeper into the story and intensifies the story. Characterization describes how and what a character may look like or how he or she may act. Symbolism is something that makes the reader think deeper into what something might actually mean. Connotation and denotation bring special thoughts and meanings to word that may have more importance that just other regular words. As one can see, words in a story may have more importance than just letters standing together. Vocabulary is a huge part in the authors mind to write a good and entertaining story.

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“ Top Man ” has an abundance of vocabulary