5) What is Scott’s main concern at the very end?

Scott’s main concern is he maybe already knows that this expedition can be the very last in their lives.(“and a shortage of fuel in our depots for which I cannot account, and finally, but for the storm which has fallen on us within 11 miles of the depot at which we hoped to secure our final supplies. Surely misfortune could scarcely have exceeded this last blow.”) But evens as he knows this maybe will be the end, he still fights on and writes heartening. (“I do not think human beings ever came through such a month as we have come through”) 

4) What does Scott say about the English character?

Scott dedicates their expedition, both as proof of that Englishmen can endure hardships, help one another, and meet death with as great fortitude,
(“We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and here fore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to our best to the last.”) and as a honor of their country. (“But if we have been willing to give our lives to this enterprise, which is for the honor of our country, I appeal to our countrymen to see that those who depend on us are properly cared for.”)

3) How does he account for the failure of the expedition?

The first failure Scott accounts to is when the expedition meet bad weather. (“The weather throughout the outward journey, and especially the long gale in 83° S., stopped us.”) Then the most experienced in the expedition, Edgar Evans fell sick (“but for the astonishing failure of the man whom we had least expected to fail. Edgar Evans was thought the strongest man of the party.”) and it now becomes more difficult for the expedition, because they now have to carry the sick Edgar Evans. (“The Beardmore Glacier is not difficult in fine weather, but on our return we did not get a single completely fine day; this with a sick companion enormously increased our anxieties.”) Afterwards Edgar end up dying (“he died a natural death, but left us a shaken party with the season unduly advanced.”) A other companion, Captain Oates fell sick (“and we should have got through in spite of the weather but for the sickening of a second companion, Captain Oates”) It all ends up with the expedition eat a last meal (“We arrived within 11 miles of our old One Ton Camp with fuel for one last meal and food for two days.”)

2) Why does Scott address it “to the public”? Try to define who he means by “the public”.

Because he wanted people to know story about what happened and illustrate why they ended up dying. When Scott writes “the public” he means every people. He want to inform and illustrate how badly it actually can end. (“Every detail of our food supplies, clothing and depots made on the interior ice-sheet and over that long stretch of 700 miles to the Pole and back, worked out to perfection. The advance party would have returned to the glacier in fine form and with surplus of food, but for the astonish-

ing failure of the man whom we had least expected to fail. Edgar Evans was thought the strongest man of the party.”)

1) Compare the style of the diary to the style of the letter to the public. In what ways to they differ?

      In the text “Message to the public” have Scott use a more objective style in his writing, compared to “The last Entries” were he had use more private details, thought (”We must go on, but now the making of every camp must be more difficult and dangerous.”) and a more subjective writing style. In the “The last Entries” have Scott write which day it is and what happened. (“Wednesday, March l4”). In the text “Message to the public”, have Scott use a more informing writing, so the “public” can relate to the circumstances.  (“The weather throughout the outward journey, and especially the long gale in 83° S., stopped us.”)      

Individually - Laura

Individually:

Write down some initial ideas for a short story based on the real life account you have just been working with.

-       Who could be the main character?

-       What kind of narrator would you choose?

-       What about the composition?

-       What do you need to remember for the plot, the atmosphere, the language?

Individually - Mangi

Individually:

Write down some initial ideas for a short story based on the real life account you have just been working with.

-       Who could be the main character?
Phil Phillips

-       What kind of narrator would you choose?
Diary

-       What about the composition?
 ...

-       What do you need to remember for the plot, the atmosphere, the language?
Heat, english, desert