Analysing the text
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa
Read the extract from Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan, by Jamie Zeppa
Zeppa describes the place, people and history of Bhutan in order to convey her thoughts and feelings about
the country.
Use the following table to briefly explain what each quote reveals about her feelings.
Number 4 in each box has been left for you to find your own quote and analysis.
Task one
Evidence Connotes feelings of …
Landscape 1. ‘Mountains all around … rolling into valleys, 1. She is in awe of the expanse of her surroundings.
again and again’ (line1)
2. .................................................................................
2. ‘a giant child gathering earth in great armfuls .................................................................................
…’ (line 4)
3. .................................................................................
3. ‘I watch mountains rise to meet the moon’ (line
10) .................................................................................
4. .......................................................... 4. .................................................................................
.......................................................... .................................................................................
..........................................................
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Analysing the text
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa
Evidence Connotes feelings of …
Town 1. ‘it took five different flights over four days to 1. Shows how remote the capital city is from her home country.
get here’ (line 8)
2. .................................................................................
2. ‘One-storied shops with wooden-shuttered .................................................................................
windows open onto the street.’ (line 34)
3. .................................................................................
3. ‘Thimphu is actually new’ (line 46)
.................................................................................
4. ..........................................................
.......................................................... 4. .................................................................................
.......................................................... .................................................................................
People 1. ‘Blue-suited policemen … using
1. ..................................................................................
incomprehensible but graceful hand gestures’
(line 31) ..................................................................................
2. ‘they have beautiful, aristocratic faces’ (line 56) 2. .................................................................................
.................................................................................
3. ‘I search for the right word to describe the
people, the quality that impresses me most’
(lines 66-67) 3. .................................................................................
.................................................................................
4. .........................................................
......................................................... 4. .................................................................................
......................................................... .................................................................................
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Analysing the text
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa
Evidence Connotes feelings of …
History 1. ‘the area is thought to have been long inhabited
1. .................................................................................
before that’ (line 73)
.................................................................................
2. ‘earlier names for Bhutan are just as beautiful …
Lotus grove of the Gods’ (line 80) 2. .................................................................................
.................................................................................
3. ‘Bhutan’s preservation of its independence was
remarkable’ (line 96)
3. .................................................................................
4. ......................................................... .................................................................................
.........................................................
4. .................................................................................
.........................................................
.................................................................................
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Analysing the text
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa
Task two
In pairs, list all of the Bhutanese vocabulary including place names used in the extract.
Write the translation for each word.
What does the use of these Bhutanese words add to the impression Zeppa gives of this country?
Bhutanese word Translation What does this add to our impression of the country?
Thimphu Capital of Bhutan
.................................................................................
Druk Sherig Hotel Name of the hotel
...................................................................................
Dzong
...................................................................................
...................................................................................
...................................................................................
...................................................................................
...................................................................................
...................................................................................
...................................................................................
...................................................................................
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Analysing the text
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa
Task three
Understanding the structure of the extract.
Jamie Zeppa structures her memoir in a particular way. Look at the line references below. Read back through those paragraphs and:
summarise what each part is about
comment on what each section is doing in terms of reflecting the writer’s thoughts about the country.
Abstract introduction to its main geographical feature. Starts with a sense of being blinded by the strangeness of it all to grab
Lines
1-6 the reader’s interest. Makes us feel as overwhelmed as she is.
..........................................................................................................................................................
Lines
7-18
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Lines
19-29
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Lines
30-53
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Lines
54-69
..........................................................................................................................................................
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Analysing the text
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa
..........................................................................................................................................................
Lines
70-86
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Lines
87-end
..........................................................................................................................................................
1. Look again at the first and last paragraphs in particular. Why do you think she opens and closes the extract in this way?
2. The whole purpose of this extract is to make us ‘full of admiration’ for the country and people of Bhutan. Write a paragraph responding to this
comment.
Task:
How does the writer use language and structure to convey her thoughts and feelings about Bhutan?
You should support your answer with close reference to the passage, including brief quotations.
Use the following to help you structure your answer:
Integrate at least eight brief quotations into the analysis.
Comment on the ways that language shapes her thoughts and feelings.
Comment on the structure of the extract.
Use key words: connotes, perspective, point of view, facts, feelings, thoughts.
Use key linguistic and structural terms:
metaphor visual imagery adjectives facts first person present tense temporal markers Bhutanese vocab
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Analysing the text
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa
Suggested answers
Task one
Evidence Connotes feelings of…
1. ‘Mountains all around … rolling into valleys, 1. She is in awe of the expanse of her surroundings.
Landscape
again and again’ (line 1)
2. Metaphor reflecting the enormity of the country’s physical landscape and how
2. ‘a giant child gathering earth in great self-aware she is that she is just a small part in something much larger.
armfuls …’ (line 4)
3. Magical description. The fusion of the alliterative ‘m’ sounds emphasise the
3. ’I watch mountains rise to meet the moon’ experience of how incredible the natural world is.
(line 10)
1. ‘it took five different flights to get here’ 1. Shows how remote the capital city is from her home country.
Town
(line 8)
2. Antiquated buildings using natural materials, no mention of pavements – the
2. ‘one-storied shops with wooden-shuttered vendor meets the street, this is normal here but unfamiliar to the Canadian writer
windows open onto the street’ (line 34)
3. The adverb of stance ‘actually’ reveals her surprise that this old fashioned place
3. ‘Thimphu is actually new’ (line 46) is only thirty years old. This is a country dull of revelations with things not quite
as they first appear.
1. ‘blue suited policemen … using 1. Suggesting the police, upholders of the law, are almost like dancers. This seems
People
incomprehensible but graceful hand so alien to her – the fact that they can direct traffic with hand gestures and do it
gestures’ (line 31) so gracefully – bemuses her.
2. ‘they have beautiful, aristocratic faces’ 2. Sense of admiration for the people’s appearance. Ironic description of the people
(line 56) looking ‘aristocratic’ when it is such a rural community apparently uninterested in
class, rank and status.
3. ‘I search for the right word to describe the
people, the quality that impresses me most’ 3. The enigmatic qualities of the people defy her capacity to describe them fully.
(lines 66-67) She is in awe of them, perhaps suggesting that she held less favourable
preconceived ideas.
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Analysing the text
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa
Evidence Connotes feelings of…
1. ‘the area is thought to have been long 1. The age of the country is unknown – reflecting its magisterial qualities –gives the
History
inhabited before that’ (line 73) country further dignity and gravitas.
2. ‘earlier names for Bhutan are just as 2. Translations from Bhutanese – reflects the country’s charmed beauty, magical
beautiful … Lotus grove of the Gods’ (line properties, physical grandeur and power.
80)
3. Zeppa’s awareness that this country, despite its more powerful aggressors, has
3. ‘Bhutan’s preservation of its independence retained its independence makes it seem like a survivor, fearless and strong.
was remarkable’ (line 96)
Task two
Bhutanese word Translation What does this add to our impression of the country?
Thimphu capital of Bhutan
Suggested answer:
Druk Sherig Hotel name of the hotel
The frequent use of Bhutanese vocabulary adds an authenticity
dzong fortress to Zeppa’s writing. Her attempts at familiarizing herself with
this new country are reflected in the way that she integrates
Tashichho Dzong seat of royal government key words into her memoir. She is making every effort to
inform herself about its people, history and traditions. These
Kira women’s dress
new words bring us closer to a vivid portrayal of a remote
gho men’s traditional dress culture.
buddhism main religion
shamanist traditional beliefs – harness the spirit world to cure illness
Druk Yul land of the Thunder Dragon
Bhotanta end of Tibet – name Bhutan derived from
Bhu-uttan highlands
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Analysing the text
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa
Task three
Abstract introduction to its main geographical feature. Starts with a sense of being blinded by the strangeness of it all to grab the reader’s
Lines 1–6
interest.
Focuses on the first night and the journey. Establishes her childlike excitement and nervousness. Places the country geographically for the
Lines 7-18
reader and informs us of its landscape in more detail and how different it is to India.
Temporal marker ‘the next morning’ – follows present tense, reads like a journal or diary. We meet the other people who she will be
Lines 19-29
working with. Focus now on people rather than the geography of the place.
Lines 30-53 Detailed description of Thimpu, getting close up to the streets and people now, focusing in on real human life.
Zeppa’s eye now moves to the people, she is completing our picture for us, a blend of facts and descriptions. At the same time we move
Lines 54–69
through the capital with her, indicators of place ‘at the end of the main road’ act like a map of the streets.
Zeppa moves out from the city now to explain about what she has learnt about the long history of the country, how it was named and its
Lines 70-86
religion. The extract becomes more factual once she has got us on board with the previous paragraphs about its mystery and people.
Final lines focus on its conflicts and its capacity to resist attacks from the Europeans, the Great Game and the British Empire – ends with a
Lines 87-end
personal description of the people and country as being ‘remarkable’ ‘admiration’.
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