Question
Why did Roald Dahl emphasize the difficulty he had operating the Hurricane plane? What larger point did he want to make? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
Answers
Answered by
GPT 3.5
Roald Dahl emphasized the difficulty he had operating the Hurricane plane to highlight the intensity of war and the challenges faced by pilots during that time. Through his detailed description of the plane's intricacies, Dahl wanted to convey the danger and complexity involved in flying such aircraft and the immense skill required to operate them effectively. This portrayal ultimately serves to emphasize the courage and heroism of wartime aviators.
One piece of evidence supporting this interpretation can be found when Dahl writes, "This [Hurricane] was an extremely complicated machine to operate in combat." By describing the plane as "complicated," Dahl implies that flying the Hurricane was not an effortless task. He further emphasizes this point by stating, "it was terribly hard work even in training, and required a great deal of practice before the Hurricane could be persuaded to do anything I wanted her to do."
Another evidence is when Dahl explains the intricacies of the plane's solitary brake pedal: "On landings you used the rudder bar to keep straight before you touched down, and at the same time you had to press your right foot hard on the brake pedal to prevent the plane from slewning around." This description illustrates the demanding coordination required to control the aircraft during landings, emphasizing the difficulty faced by pilots in managing various elements simultaneously.
Moreover, Dahl provides his own personal experience when he recounts how "several times I had seen a dead Hurricane pilot being lifted out of his cockpit by men who had had to use petrol sponges to remove the grease from the pilot's seat before they could pull him out." This vivid image of a fallen pilot, coupled with the mention of complications such as grease in the cockpit, further underscores the arduous and dangerous nature of flying the Hurricane.
In summary, Dahl wanted to convey the immense difficulty and danger associated with operating the Hurricane plane during wartime. His emphasis on the technical complexities of the aircraft, combined with personal anecdotes and descriptions, serves to highlight the tremendous skill and bravery required of pilots in such circumstances.
One piece of evidence supporting this interpretation can be found when Dahl writes, "This [Hurricane] was an extremely complicated machine to operate in combat." By describing the plane as "complicated," Dahl implies that flying the Hurricane was not an effortless task. He further emphasizes this point by stating, "it was terribly hard work even in training, and required a great deal of practice before the Hurricane could be persuaded to do anything I wanted her to do."
Another evidence is when Dahl explains the intricacies of the plane's solitary brake pedal: "On landings you used the rudder bar to keep straight before you touched down, and at the same time you had to press your right foot hard on the brake pedal to prevent the plane from slewning around." This description illustrates the demanding coordination required to control the aircraft during landings, emphasizing the difficulty faced by pilots in managing various elements simultaneously.
Moreover, Dahl provides his own personal experience when he recounts how "several times I had seen a dead Hurricane pilot being lifted out of his cockpit by men who had had to use petrol sponges to remove the grease from the pilot's seat before they could pull him out." This vivid image of a fallen pilot, coupled with the mention of complications such as grease in the cockpit, further underscores the arduous and dangerous nature of flying the Hurricane.
In summary, Dahl wanted to convey the immense difficulty and danger associated with operating the Hurricane plane during wartime. His emphasis on the technical complexities of the aircraft, combined with personal anecdotes and descriptions, serves to highlight the tremendous skill and bravery required of pilots in such circumstances.
There are no human answers yet. A form for humans to post answers is coming very soon!