A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat

what is A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat about?

a travel writing extract where Emma Levine describes watching a chaotic donkey race in Karachi, Pakistan

who wrote A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat?

Emma Levine, a British journalist and travel writer who writes about unusual sports around the world

what type of text is A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat?

a non-fiction travel narrative describing the writer’s personal experience

where does the event in the passage take place?

in Karachi, Pakistan during a donkey race

what happens at the start of the passage?

the writer searches for a good place to watch and photograph the race

what chaotic scene develops when the race begins?

donkeys, cars, vans and crowds all rush forward trying to follow the race

why is the race confusing?

there are no clear rules and many vehicles and people compete for position

what happens at the end of the race?

people argue about which donkey actually won

what surprising detail is revealed about the driver Yaqoob?

he admits he is underage and does not even have a driving licence

what theme about cultural differences is shown?

the writer compares Western expectations of rules with the chaotic race she witnesses

what theme about East versus West is presented?

Western ideas of organised sport contrast with the wild and unpredictable event in Pakistan

how does Levine use humour in the text?

she compares the race to cartoons and chaotic racing events

what example of imagery shows the chaos of the race?

descriptions of noise, dust and vehicles rushing forward create a vivid scene

what structural technique is used to tell the story?

the events are described in chronological order from waiting for the race to the aftermath

what language technique increases tension near the end?

the rule of three in phrases like voices rising and tempers building

what overall impression does the writer give of the race?

it is exciting, chaotic and very different from organised Western sports