April Fools On Polar Circus

1.a.) The thesis of April Fools On Polar Circus is "the dance with fear makes me wise."



b.)"I learn the language; I articulate the right series of moves, body positions, ice axe and crampon placements to dance with a frozen tongue of ice." Already, in the first instances of climbing Janet Roddan is acquiring knowledge/wisdom. She must contort and balance, adjust and maneuver to achieve a successful vertical hike. The geometric obstacles that are the contours and ridges of ice become her teachers.

Emotional wisdom can only be gained through experience. "One of the strong pulls of ice climbing is the tremendous range of feelings one is forced to endure." Unless one climbs a giant block of ice, they cannot know how it feels. During the hours of risk it took to achieve such glory the thoughts, sensations and emotions must have been enlightening.



2.) Roddan uses deductive reasoning to prove her thesis. She states her thesis at the beginning of the essay, and throughout establishes her reasoning with her first hand account of adventure.



3.) She effectively uses narration to support her thesis. She accounts her story in an exciting way using beautiful imagery, and vivid mental conceptions. "The dance becomes a struggle" is a sensational way to say "I was in peril." If not for her very personal account of this undertaking, knowing and feeling her experiences, there would be no evidence that any wisdom was gained.





Throughout this essay Roddan uses casual analysis to its full advantage. She examines and relays the reasons that produced the result of gained wisdom. She tells us of her emotions and what she is sensing. She stares into fears eyes and continues, becoming a stronger person with a deeper understanding within and of herself. "Filled with solemn focus, I proceed."



4.) "Two tiny fireflies humming and buzzing softly." I can only assume that there is no human emotion that can describe the sensation of conquering such a great height, so simile is used. When Roddan uses the images of two contented fireflies she creates incredible tone and we sense their joy.

"We are filled with our fear and our audacity." Parallel structure has been used very well in this example. Roddan is experiencing conflicting emotions and to express so, must list one after the other. It is contradictory at first glance, but with the style of the piece most beneficial.

It would be horribly boring to keep referring to the mountain as such. To breath life and personality into the hulk of ice Roddan uses personification as a common theme. "I witness her dark, foreboding pinnacles, her places of silent, quiet peace, her vistas too vast to contain in a single glance." She refers the the mountain as a woman. This allows the audience to perceive the mountain as a feminine energy and gives us imagery we can relate to since, presumably, we have not climbed an ice mountain ourselves. It is difficult to comprehend the unknown and is pleasing to the ear and imagination to visualize this goddesses silent, quiet places.

"The entire world shrinks to a section of frozen water in front of my face." A very great metaphor. The symbolism is very clear in this sentence. She is terrified and more aware of her surroundings then she ever has been. No other thoughts enter her mind but the struggle in front of her.

5.) A wedding is a commitment of two entities and the unification of two souls. Her voyage to the top of Polar Circus is a journey that allows her to connect deeply with her own soul and allows her to tap into the energies of the mountain. The two are entwined and therefore one. The climb up is the sweet yet unsure swooning of two young lovers - unacquainted with one another, yet learning intimate details as their time together increases. Her standing atop the peak is the exchange of vows - the proud happiness of achievement. And, much like marriage the climb down the magic becomes tedious. As soon as she is in her car, she is divorced from the mountain, though she will always have the memories of their time together.
Dancing is a synchronized movement of two. One must lead, the other must follow. The mountain is the leader, she is the partner. The mountain is strong and if she knows the rhythm it supports her through their dance. Like dancing, if her footing is awkward, she will fail. In climbing the same physics of dancing apply but on a momentous and dangerous scale.

6.) Many would consider Roddan and her friend fools for even considering such a professedly unnecessary feat aside from physically actualizing the endevour. Her circus is entertaining and the admission is time, energy and devotion. They are in actuality, two fools on April first who undertake the circus like confusion, absurdity and intrigue that is the icy Polar Circus.