The historical novel builds on the idea that Scott and his men were saddened by their failure to reach the South Pole first, but it also emphasizes the varying emotional responses of the team members. While Birdie expresses anger towards the Norwegians, Bill remains focused on documenting the moment, suggesting a sense of duty over personal feelings. Scott’s philosophical response indicates that he is processing the disappointment differently than his men, perhaps reflecting a level of acceptance or resignation. Thus, all three options you presented are aspects of the text, but the most accurate reflection of the overall sentiment is that it shows how each member of the team reacted differently to the disappointment, showcasing a range of emotional responses rather than a uniform sadness.
Read the following text from a historical novel. This excerpt is about Captain Robert Scott's expedition to the South Pole.
He spared no one, not even himself, and he drove us on by the sheer force of his will. And then Birdie spotted that black flag. . . .
Amundsen had beaten us to the Pole. We put up the tent right away. It was curious how we each reacted to the realisation that our fearful labours had been for nothing. Birdie was angry; the Norwegians were poor sports, sneaks, not worth bothering about. When the story came to be told our feat of manhauling would be seen as the greater triumph. Bill busied himself making a sketch of the cairn and the flag and hardly opened his mouth. Scott himself was surprisingly philosophical. I think the shock of disappointment was so severe he could scarcely take it on board.
From Beryl Bainbridge, The Birthday Boys: A Novel. Copyright 1991 by Beryl Bainbridge
The previous text suggested that Scott and his men were saddened. How does this historical novel build on or challenge that idea?
it suggest that most of the team was angry at amundsen
it shows how each member of the team reacted differently
it suggest that Scott was less disappointed than his team
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1 answer