Explorers or boys messing about

Ideas and perspectives

• Media bias

• Frustration at wasting taxpayer money

• Mockery of the men

• Arrogance of the explorers

• The national consequences of individual incompetence

Title: “Explorers or boys messing about?”

Juxtaposition: “Explorers” vs “boys” – one sounds heroic and daring, the other childish and absurd, infantilising them in the title. Rhetorical question: Morris’ belief that they are childish is evident, guiding the reader to share his judgement.

Title: “Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill”

Appeal to readers’ concerns: “Taxpayer” – as a left-leaning paper, The Guardian knows its readers will not approve of the waste of public money.

Their last expedition ended “in farce”

Theatrical metaphor: Presents the expedition as ludicrous and absurd rather than brave or heroic.

“almost led to tragedy”

Contrast / theatrical metaphor: Shifts from comedy to seriousness, highlighting the explorers’ hubris and the real danger of their actions.

when their helicopter “plunged” into the sea off Antartica.

Active, plosive verb: Emphasises danger, impact, and lack of control.

“The men were plucked”

Passive verb: Suggests helplessness and inability to save themselves.

“Royal Navy, the RAF and British coastguards”

Listing: Emphasises the absurd scale of the rescue effort contrasted to just two men.

“the taxpayers of Britain and Chile”

Repeated focus on taxpayers: Reinforces concern about public money being wasted and appeals to readers’ resentment.

“Experts” questioned the wisdom of taking such a small helicopter

Appeal to authority: Builds logos and ethos, presenting criticism as informed rather than merely Morris’ opinion.

“small helicopter” / “hostile environment”

Juxtaposition: Highlights how inadequate the helicopter is for such conditions. ,Personification: The environment appears actively antagonistic, reinforcing the explorers’ foolishness.

“trusty helicopter”

Irony / quotation marks: Signal scepticism and sarcasm, implying its reliability was overestimated.

“boys messing about with a helicopter”

Infantilising language: Reduces them to childish figures, undermining any sense of heroism.

this is what Ms Vestey Mr Brooks wife said - not even respected by family

“also known as Q”

Allusion to James Bond; his nickname comes from the gadget inventor in James Bond, who is highly intelligent and skilled; surely the nickname is being used ironically here as Smith seems neither of those things.

“scrambled”

Verb choice: Connotes chaos and panic, further diminishing their authority.

“could I call the emergency people?”

Immature diction: Vague and childlike phrasing undermines seriousness and competence.

“180 miles away”

Facts and figures: Emphasise the scale of inconvenience caused by their actions.

“nothing short of a miracle”

Religious metaphor: Highlights the improbability and extraordinary nature of survival and their reliance on luck rather than skill.

“He has trekked solo to Everest base camp … in the Congo”

Extended list: Sounds exaggerated or unbelievable, making his failure seem more ridiculous.

“claims”

Sceptical verb: Suggests Morris doubts the truth of Smith’s achievements.

“Despite their experience”

Irony: Mocks their supposed competence in light of their failure.

Short paragraph on Russian authorities stopping them the Russians threatened to send in military planes

Bathos: Grand ambitions are abruptly and comically undermined.

“Ironically”

Explicit sarcasm: Signals Morris’ scorn for their hubristic ambitions.

“Gunter Endres, editor of Jane’s Helicopter Markets and Systems”

Expert opinion with credentials: Strengthens the article’s credibility.

The flying conditions had been “excellent”

Irony: Highlights incompetence as they crash despite favourable conditions.

“have their bottoms kicked”

Childlike imagery: Infantilises them further, reinforcing mockery and ridicule.