Response to "April Fools on Polar Circus" by Janet Roddan

Early on in the essay the author created a sense of experience within the reader with warm descriptions like "it dances through my body. It tunes me. It wraps its fingers around me heart and squeezes gently." Immediately the author has established a connection and feeling with the reader that is continued on by a slow retelling of personal experiences during the journey. (In this case the invigorating climb to the top of a mountain.) By doing this the author has also introduced and communicated the significance of the climb so that the readers sensitivity is heightened to the real magnitude of the experience that may otherwise become lost. During the essay the author never changed direction ensuring that the reader had a good understanding of the topic and helping to avoid any confusions. Since the author is forced to recreate a world unknown to us this is crucial as a simple slip up or even slight unknown use of language (ice climbing terms) could be fatal to the readers overall understanding of a narrative essay. However, on the whole the author has provided a thrilling experience for any one willing to delve into the text and gain a better understanding of the risks and scenarios present in ice climbing.