From The Tiger of the Snows and
Tenzing Norgay
Written in collaboration with James Ramsay Ullman
Plot Elements:
Climax: The climax within the story happens when Norgay and Hillary, after many challenges climbing the mountain, can see the top of Mount Everest and are going to become one of the first to reach it. The challenge that came before this was getting through a small gap because there was a cliff that was blocking them. It was extremely difficult for them because they had to be careful to avoid the snow that would make them slip.
Resolution: In the end, they were able to reach the top. Climbing the mountain could have cost them their lives, and despite their equipment, if they were not careful enough they might have never been able to see the top of the mountain. An important thing that happened during their journey, was that they were able to get over their differences and only worry about getting to the summit and having each other's backs.
Changed Resolution: A different resolution to this story could be that Hillary died soon after making it to the top of Mount Everest: Hillary started feeling weaker and sleepy at each passing second after they had reached the summit, so knowing that he was going to die he begged Norgay to take a picture of them together to show their accomplishment, and after that, his lungs couldn't take it anymore and he passed away. Because of this, Hillary’s family decided to make rumors that would make Hillary look like a hero because they blamed Norgay for his death, and wanted to make him look like a loser who would have never made it if it wasn't for Hillary and this way they could expand his popularity by making it seem like he never died.
Conflicts:
Inner conflict:
He disagrees with the descriptions that Hillary used to describe him in his novel, which makes him uncomfortable, but anyway they are friends and partners.
He doesn't like that people refer to as first or second when climbing Everest, but anyway society insists and in the end, he tells the truth.
Man vs Man: Norgay had problems with the way his friend, Hillary, wrote what things happened during the climbing of Everest. He always portrayed him as weak and inefficient, which was not true. They had the same problems and helped each other in the same way. In the book his friend wrote, he suggests that Norgay could have not climbed the mountain without his help, which is not true, they just helped each other like the way it should be. They were not leaders and led, they were partners.
Man vs Nature:
The snow would slip
If they get too far, the cornice would break
They had to remove the ice that was forming in their oxygen sets.
There was a cliff that was blocking the way and through a small gab, they climbed.
Man vs Society: All people were asking the same question “Who reached the top first” and that question was something that bothered Norgay. People always want to know who is the first or the best, they were also assuming that there was something to hide or if they did something wrong.
But even though for Norgay they reached the top at the same time since the rope connected both climbers, it was a fact that Hillary stepped on the top first. People like to know what's the truth, but they are never ready to accept it. People who supported Norgay will be sad, and maybe will stop loving him, while people that support Hillary will think that they are superior. Society does not respect Everest, and just as Norgay said “Only the truth is good enough for the future and Everest.”
Theme: Climbing, Everest, Goals, achievements.
Voice: Calm.
Mood: resenting, excited, emotional.
Tone: Serious yet interesting
Look for its setting: Everest Mountain, located in Nepal and Tibet.
The place (Nations regarded as part of it):
Nepal (Thyangboche)
Everest mountain.
Tibet
Katmandu (Capital of Nepal)
The Rongbuk Monastery
The town of Shekar Dzong
The Kharta Valley
The Rongbuk and East Rongbuk Glaciers
The North Col
The south summit
The long ridge
The South Col
Western Cwm
The icefall
The Khumbu Glacier
Himalayas
Lhotse
Nuptse
Makalu
Kangchenjunga (Third highest mountain in the world)
India
Historical period:
They climbed the mountain in 1953, becoming the first people to be on top of Everest. It was the 20th century.
Traditions reflected there:
Putting the Flags on top of the mountain.
Weather conditions:
Even though the weather conditions were fine, the temperature of Everest is 20 degrees below 0, so it was probably really difficult for them to climb the mountain. Also, the oxygen levels decrease, so they have problems breathing.
5 challenging questions:
Why do you think Norgay wanted to write this adventure?
How do you think Norgay felt when he read his partner's point of view about the adventure?
How was the feeling of Norgay towards the mountain?
Why do you think people wanted to know who reached the top first?
Do you think Norgay and Hillary were close partners? why or why not.
