1. Lesson 1: Face to face with Hurricane Camille
Joseph P. Blank
Lesson 1: Face to face with Hurricane Camille

2. Title
What does the Title “Face to face with Hurricane Camille” remind you of?
What kind of story might the text be?
Who, when, where, what, why, how?

3. Introduction: Narration
Narrative is one of four rhetorical modes of discourse, exposition, argumentation and description.
It is a story that is created in a constructive format (as a work of speech, writing, song, film, television, video games, photography or theatre) that describes a sequence of fictional or non-fictional events.

4. Introduction: Narration
Climax
Conflict
resolution
Setting

5. Setting
Who?
When?
Where?
What?
Why?
How?

6. COnflict
Conflict is a concept in literary studies that seeks to analyze plots by finding their driving sources of conflict.
Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch, literary critic and author, was first to classify plots as seven basic conflicts: Man against Man, Man against Nature, Man against Himself, Man against God, Man against Society, Man caught in the Middle, Man & Woman.
In this text?

7. Conflict: Man vs. Nature
Man v. Nature is the theme in literature that places a character against forces of nature. Many disaster films focus on this theme, which is predominant within many survival stories.
Particularly in this text?
The Kosack family and friends vs. hurricane

8. Climax
The climax or turning point of a narrative work is its point of highest tension or drama or when the action starts in which the solution is given
In this text?
The wind, the water and the hurricane…

9. Resolution
How is the problem solved?

10. Text organzation
Part I (1-6): The Kosack family decided to stay in the house during the hurricane.
Part II (7-18): Struggling with the hurricane
Part III (19-20): The devastating power of the hurricane.
Part IV (21-27): The main thrust of the hurricane passed.
Part V (28-39): Reorganization of life.

11. Before the hurricane
What preparation did the family make against the hurricane?
--water
--power
Did they think the hurricane would be very ferocious?

12. Paragraph 1 …as Camille lashed northwestward… Lash: strike with force
Northwestward (northwest+ward)
It was certain to pummel Gulfport, Miss….
Pummel: strike repeatedly (with fists)
John was reluctant to abandon his home unless the family… was clearly endangered.
Be reluctant to=be unwilling to
Endanger=en+danger (enable, encapsulate, enrich, enslave)

13. Paragraph 2
Trying to reason out the best course of action, he talked with his father and mother…
reason out: find answers by considering all the possible solutions
Course: the procedure of dealing with sth.
The animal, be it the rat in its maze of a chimpanzee gazing from a group of boxes to a clump of bananas hung just out of reach overhead, must reason out a course of action in its mind.

14. Paragraph 3
Four years earlier, Hurricane Betsy had demolished his former home a few miles west of Gulfport (Kosack had moved his family to a motel for the night.)
Demolish: pull / knock down
Motel: motor + hotel (medicaid, autocide, brunch)
We’re elevated 23 feet. = 23 feet above sea level.

15. Paragraph 4 We can batten down and ride it out…
Batten down: fasten with batten
Batten down the hatches: To prepare for an imminent disaster or emergency.
Ride out: come safely through the storm
When the future seems to be filled with storm clouds, it may appear that the Church has no other recourse but to batten down the hatches and attempt to ride the storm.

16. Paragraph 5
Since the water mains might be damaged, they filled bathtubs and pails.
main=pipe
Bathtub: bath+tub (suitcase, teapot, hairdresser, etc.)
A power failure was likely, so they checked out batteries for the portable radio…
likely-=possible
Check out: examine

17. Paragraph 6 …grey clouds scudded in from the Gulf on the rising wind.
Scud: moving fast in straight lines as if driven by wind
…if she and her two children could sit out the storm (if they could stay until the storm is over)
Another neighbor came by on his way inland…
Come by: pay a visit

18. In the hurricane: The Conflict develops…
People’s words: how are they related to the ferocity of the hurricane? Or to the evolvement of the conflict?
--What was their expectation of the hurricane? Was the hurricane what they supposed it to be?

19. John’s words
We’re elevated 23 feet, and we’re a good 250 yards from the sea. The place has been here since 1915, and no hurricane has ever bothered it. We’ll probably be as safe here as anyplace else. (P. 3)
Stay away from the windows. (P. 7) Everybody out the back door to the cars! We’ll pass the children along between us. Count them! Nine! (P. 10)

20. John’s words
Back to the house! Count the children! Count nine! (P. 11)
Everybody on the stairs! (P. 12)
Get us through this mess, will you? (P. 17)
Up the stairs—into our bedroom! Count the kids. (P. 21)
Into the television room! (P. 22)

21. John’s words
Let’s get that mattress up! Make it a lean-to against the wind. Get the kids under it. We can prop it up with our heads and shoulders! (P. 25)
If the floor goes, let’s get the kids on this. (P. 26)

22. John’s words
I wanted you to be here so that we would all be together, so you could enjoy the children, and look what happened. (P.36)
You’re great. And this town has a lot of great people in it. It’s going to be better here than it ever was before. (P.38)

23. Others’ words (whose?)
We can batten down an ride it out. If we see signs of danger, we can get out before dark. (P. 4)
I think we’re in real trouble. That water tasted salty. (P. 9)
I can’t swim, I can’t swim. (P. 14)
You won’t have to. It’ bound to end soon. (P. 15)
Pop, I love you. I love you. (P. 16)
Children, let’s sing! (P. 21)

24. Others’ words (whose?)
Let’s not cry about what’s gone. We’ll just start all over. (P. 37)
We lost practically all our possessions, but the family came through it. When I think of that, I realize we lost nothing important. (P. 39)

25. The evolvement of the conflict
Safe setting
Glasses be shattered
Flee
Back home
Die conflict
Helpless / pray
Struggle
Determined to fight against the hurricane
Ready to face death climax
survived Resolution

26. Vivid description of the hurricane and the characters
How did the hurricane develop?
--Wind
--Rain
--Water
How was the house destroyed by the hurricane?
How did people’s reaction change? How was it related to the conflict?

27. Hurricane: Wind, rain and water
Rain fell steadily that afternoon; grey clouds scudded in from the Gulf on the rising wind. (6)
Wind and rain now whipped the house. (7)
The wind mounted to a roar.. The rain seemingly driven right through the walls. The rapidly spreading water (7)
The roar of the hurricane now was overwhelming. Water rose above their ankles. (8)
A blast of water hit the house. The sea had reached the house, and the water was rising by the minute. (9)

28. Hurricane: Wind, rain and water
The wind was too strong and the water was too deep to flee on foot. (11)
The wind sounded like the roar of a train passing a few yards away. Water inched its way up the steps. (13)
A moment later, the hurricane, in one mighty swipe, lifted the entire roof off the house and skimmed it 40 feet through the air. (18)

29. Hurricane: Wind, rain and water
Water lapped across one closet wall. (26)
The wind slightly diminished, and the water stopped rising. Then the water began receding. The main thrust of the Camille had passed. (27)

30. House and facilities
Wind and rain now whipped the house. The house began leaking. Power failed. (7)
The house shook and the ceiling in the living room was falling piece by piece. The French doors in an upstairs room blew in with an explosive sound, and the group heard gun-like reports as other upstairs windows disintegrated. (8)

31. House
Then the front door started to break away from its frame…a blast of water hit the house, flinging open the door. The generator was doused and the lights went out. The sea had reached the house. (9)
The car wouldn’t start; the electrical systems had been killed by water. (11)
The house shuddered and shifted on its foundation. The first floor outside walls collapsed. (13)

32. House
The hurricane lifted the entire roof off the house and skimmed it 40 feet through the air. The bottom steps of the stairs broke apart. One wall began crumbling on the marooned group. (18)
Debris flew as the living room fireplace and its chimney collapsed…two walls in their bedroom sanctuary beginning to disintegrate. (22)

33. House
The wind tore out one wall and extinguished the lantern. A second wall moved, wavered, Charlie Hill tried to supported, but it toppled on him. The house, shuddering and rocking, had moved 25 feet from its foundation. (24)
The floor tilted. A third wall gave way. Water lapped across the slanting floor. (26)

34. Characters’ reaction
The family had an early supper. A neighbor and her two children came. The dog came. (6)
John sent his oldest son and daughter upstairs to bring down mattresses and pillows for the younger children. He wanted to keep the group together on one floor. The Koshaks began a struggle against the water. Pop Koshak turned on the generator. (7)

35. Characters’ reaction
John and Charlie put their shoulders against the front door. Charlie licked his lips. (9)
The children went from adult to adult like buckets in a fire brigade. (11)
They scrambled back. The children put the cat, Spooky, and a box with her four kittens on the landing. She peered nervously at her litter. The neighbor’s dog curled up and went to sleep. (12)

36. Characters’ reaction
Everyone knew there was no escape; they would live or die in the house. (13)
The mother was on the verge of panic. She clutched his arm and kept repeating… (14)
Grandmother Koshak reached an arm around her husband’s shoulder and out her mouth close to his ear…her turned his head and answered… (16)

37. Characters’ reaction
John watched the water…and felt a crushing guilt. He held his head between his hands and silently prayed…(17)
The children huddled in the slashing rain within the circle of adults. Grandmother Koshak implored…She carried on for a few bars; then her voice trailed away.

38. Characters’ reaction
John put his arm around his wife…shivering from the wind and rain and fear, clutching two children to her…She felt anger against the hurricane. (23)
Pop Koshak raged silently, frustrated at not being able to do anything to fight Camille. He dragged a cedar chest and a double mattress from a bedroom into the TV room. Charlie Hill tried to support the wall.. (24)

39. Characters’ reaction
The larger children sprawled on the floor, with the smaller ones in a layer on top of them, and the adults bent over all nine. The box containing the litter of kitten slid off a shelf and vanished in the wind. Spooky flew off the top of a sliding bookcase and also disappeared. John grabbed a door which was still hinged to one closet wall… (26)

40. Writing strategy
How did the author interweave the ferocity of the hurricane, the collapse of the house, the reaction of the characters together?
Hurricane (Wind, water, rain)
words, reaction, animals
Destruction of the House

41. Paragraph 7 Wind and rain now whipped the house. Whip: a metaphor
“stay away from the windows,” he warned, concerned about the glass flying from storm-shattered panes.
Stay away from=keep clear of
Concerned about: We're a bit concerned about Dorothy, we haven't seen you and her for such a long time.
concerned with: Before the 1967 war Syria, Egypt and Jordan had all been concerned with the issues of Arab nationalism.

42. As the wind mounted to a roar, the house began leaking—the rain seemingly driven right through the walls.
mount: climb or ascend
Seemingly: apparently; as if
It seems that the rain was driven through the walls.

43. Paragraph 8 Overwhelming: very strong
The French doors in an upstairs room blew in with an explosive sound, and the group heard gun-like reports as other upstairs windows disintegrated.
Disintegrate: break up into small parts

44. Paragraph 9 Then the front door started to break away from its frame.
Become detached from its base
In May 1991, after 30 years of bitter civil war, Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia.

45. Paragraph 9
…but a blast of water hit the house, flinging open the door and shove them down the hall.
Blast: A strong current of air
Fling: move-/push suddenly and violently
Shove: To push roughly
The generator was doused, and the light went out.
The water drenched the device which produce electricity, so there was no light.

46. Paragraph 11 Brigade: a military formation, 3,000–5,000 soldiers

47. Paragraph 12
Frightened, breathless and wet, the group settled on the stairs, which were protected by two interior walls.
Frustrated and disappointed, John left the house without telling anyone.
The children put the cat, Spooky, and a box with her four kittens on the landing.
Dog: puppy, cat: kitten, horse: pony, cow: calf
Landing: between two flights of stairs

48. Paragraph 12 She peered nervously at her litter.
Peer: to look keen on..
Litter: a number of young animals born to an animal.

49. Paragraph 13 Water inched its way up the steps.
The trail winded its way up the mountain.
John shoved his way through the crowd.

50. Paragraph 14
Charlie Hill had more or less taken responsibility for the neighbor and her two children.
More or less: to some extent
Take responsibility for:
The mother was on the verge of panic.
The mother almost fell into tread.

51. Paragraph 17
John watched the water lap at the steps, and felt a crushing guilt. Why?
He had underestimated the ferocity of Camille.
Undercharge, underdeveloped, underfeed, undervalue
Ferocity: cruelty, fierceness
He had assumed what had never happened could not happen.

52. Paragraph 18 swipe: sweeping blow / attack Skim: remove
Crumble: break apart
Maroon: to leave someone trapped/isolated in an unaccessable place.

53. Paragraph 21 Slash: to make a gush
Implore: beseech, entreat, to beg urgently
She carried on alone for a few bars; then her voice trailed away.
Carry on: to continue
Bar: measure
Trail away: to become fainter/quieter/weaker

54. Paragraph 22 Debris: wreckage, rubble Sanctuary: a place of refuge
Disintegrate: reduced to components /fragments

55. Paragraph 23 Dear Lord, give me the strength to endure what I have to.
Pray.
Oh, my God: my goodness
Jesus: Jee
Ask for strength
What I have to

56. Paragraph 24 Rage: violent anger
Frustrated: having a feeling of dissatisfaction or lack of fulfillment
Double mattress
Bed: mattress+frame+box
Single, double, king’s size, queen’s size
Extinguish: quench/put out Extinguisher
Waver: to move unsteadily back and forth
Topple: to lean over as if about to fall

57. Paragraph 25-27 Lean-to: a shed with a single slope
Prop up: support by placing sth solid/rigid
Tilt: incline
Vanish: disappear quickly
Cower: to crouch in fear
Give way: collapse
Hinge: attach to
Diminish: to become weaker
Recede: move back away
Thrust: a forceful push

58. Paragraph 19: numbers Winds: 200 m/h Tides: 30 feet Homes: 19,467
Businesses: 709
Oil tank: 600,000, 3 1/2
Cargo ships: 3
Telephone poles and pines
The seriousness of Camille

59. Paragraph 20 What role does the example
of vacationers play in the text?
Spectacular: impressive
Vantage point: a place with
better view
Smash: violently break
Perish: disappear quickly

60. What role do P play?
The story is suspending in that the family was dying in the hurricane, but then the author stops talking about the hurricane but turn to the seriousness of the hurricane and the casualty that it has brought. Why?
Why does the author choose to interrupt the suspending plot?
Do you want to know what happened to the family?

61. The role of P. 19-20 To provide background information
To inform the readers of the devastating effect of the hurricane
To create more suspense: will the family live or die in the hurricane?
To highlight the heroism of the family: they have achieved what seemed impossible at the beginning

62. Paragraph 28-31
How does the place look like after the storm?

63. Strew: to spread here and there
Coil: wind
Returnee: refugee, interviewee, examinee
In effect: in reality
Back home after the hurricane
People’s reaction:
Organizations:
Donation:

64. Paragraph 32 Rake its way across Mississippi. Sweep its way across
Rampage: To move about wildly or violently.

65. Paragraph 33-34 The Koshaks: family, neighbor, Charlie Hill
Pitch in: to join force with others to help
Seabees: Construction Battalions
Trauma? The children, Janis.
Awe: to inspire a reverence / dread
Incomprehensible: impossible to know/fathom
Janis had just one delayed reaction.

66. Paragraph 35-38
It could have been depressing, but it wasn’t; each salvaged item represented a little victory over the wrath of the storm.
I could have laughed to hear him like this.
But the blues did occasionally afflict all the adults.
The blues: the depression
Afflict: to cause suffering / unhappiness
What did John tell his parents and why?

67. Paragraph 39
We lost practically all our possessions, but the family came through it. When I think of that, I realize we lost nothing important.
How do you infer the American’s value of disaster, experience and life?
How different / similar is it compared to the Chinese ones?

68. Discussion
Do you think we could prevent all those natural catastrophes?
If so, how?
If not, why?