India by Rail Commentary

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India by Rail Commentary

Aimed at the older, more experienced readers with sophisticated lexis,

'India by Rail' is an informing and entertaining piece of text, fit

for a supplement of a Broadsheet. Opened with literary devices and

simple facts, the scene and tone of the text are set solid leaving the

theme and mood to be subtly stressed.

The usage of the present tense rather than the past allows the text to

be more personal with the reader, in turn helping them to understand

and appreciate the true feel of travelling on an Indian railway. If

the text were in the past, it would reveal that the description has

been reflected upon, whereas in the present tense pen is put to paper

without any thought as the train is travelling.

The paragraphs are structured in a way such that the reader is taken

on the train journey to live the experience themselves 'as the

adventure rolls on'. One minute there is 'breathtaking flamboyance',

and the next, 'a city approaches in the distance', thus the reader is

allowed to vividly imagine themselves 'chug on the serpentine hill

tracks'.

The reader is able to interact with the text through the profound use

of phonological features enabling them to form a personal picture of

the scene. They are able to sense the 'buzz and bustle' of the city,

as the 'street-side stalls stand amidst the swarming crowd'. The

alliteration employed here presents a feeling of a dense and dynamic

atmosphere, particularly with the inter-related words 'swarming' and

'buzz' that indicate masses of flies all buzzing and talking at once.

Onomatopoeia is also employed, extending the reader's hearing to the

'chug' of the tra...

... middle of paper ...

...e very personal as the reader is addressed

directly.

As well as inform and entertain, 'India by Rail' could also be out to

persuade the reader. With the 'undying charm of the hill' described,

it would not be aimed at those looking for a package holiday with sun,

sand and beach. It is more for those who are outgoing, adventurous and

appreciate the beauty of different cultures and traditions, as a

broad-sheet reader would be. Along with the themes of freedom, natural

beauty and chaos, I feel that the extreme usage of adjectives, verbs

and phonological features aid 'India by Rail' to be a successful piece

of travel writing. Enhanced all the more by the cyclical structure of

the text, and the linear movement of the train, the readers begin to

believe that travelling on an Indian railway is a unique holiday on it

own.

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