What you'll learn

• What happens in Kari Herbert’s extract and why her feelings are divided.
• How Herbert uses language, structure and tone to present the narwhal hunt.
• How the extract explores survival, nature, culture and moral conflict.
• How to write about this text for AO1, AO2 and AO3 in Component 1 Section A.

The basics: what kind of text is this?

The Explorer’s Daughter is a non-fiction text, meaning it is based on real people, places and experiences. Kari Herbert writes partly as a traveller, partly as a memoir writer, and partly as an observer of a culture she knows personally.

This extract is from Anthology Part 1, so it can appear in Component 1: Non-fiction Reading and Transactional Writing. Component 1 is worth 60% of the qualification. In the exam, Section A is worth 45 marks and assesses reading: AO1, AO2 and AO3.

Quick summary of the extract

Herbert describes watching an Inughuit narwhal hunt in the Arctic. The Inughuit rely on hunting for survival in an extreme environment, so the hunt is not presented as sport or cruelty for its own sake.

At the same time, Herbert is emotionally troubled. She sees the narwhal as beautiful, rare and almost magical — often associated with the idea of the “unicorn of the sea” — so watching it being hunted creates a powerful moral conflict.

AO1: understanding Herbert’s viewpoint

AO1 rewards your ability to understand, select and interpret information from the text. For this extract, that means you must show that Herbert’s attitude is balanced rather than one-sided.

You should be able to explain:

• The Inughuit live in a harsh Arctic environment.
• Hunting is connected to food, tradition and survival.
• Herbert admires their skill, patience and knowledge of nature.
• Herbert also finds the death of the narwhal upsetting.

Main themes

Survival

The Arctic setting is extreme. Food is difficult to obtain, and traditional hunting is part of how the Inughuit survive. Herbert encourages the reader to see the hunt in its real context, not through a comfortable outsider’s assumptions.

This matters because the extract challenges a simple modern reaction such as “hunting is wrong”. Herbert asks you to consider necessity, not just emotion.

Humans and nature

The Inughuit are shown as closely connected to the natural world. They understand animal movements, weather, sea conditions and the patience required to hunt successfully.

This relationship is not sentimental. Nature is beautiful, but it is also demanding. Humans depend on it, and animals may die so people can live.

Cultural understanding

Herbert writes with respect for Inughuit culture. She avoids presenting herself as morally superior. Instead, she tries to understand the hunt from within its own environment and traditions.

Moral conflict

The most important theme is moral conflict, which means being pulled between two opposing ethical feelings. Herbert knows the hunt has a purpose, but she cannot ignore the beauty and vulnerability of the narwhal.

AO2: language methods

AO2 rewards analysis of how writers use language and structure to create meanings and effects. You should name techniques only when they help you explain Herbert’s ideas.

Vivid landscape description

Herbert presents the Arctic as vast, beautiful and remote. Descriptions of the sea, ice, light and animal movement help create a setting that feels both magnificent and fragile.

This makes the hunt feel more intense. The natural world is not just a background; it is the environment that controls the lives of both humans and animals.

Contrast between beauty and brutality

A major method in the extract is contrast.

Herbert contrasts:

• the grace and beauty of the narwhal with the violence of the hunt
• the stillness of waiting with the sudden action of pursuit
• her respect for the Inughuit with her sadness for the animal
• the practical need for food with the emotional cost of killing

This contrast is why the extract feels tense and uncomfortable.

Specific detail and authenticity

Herbert includes precise details about the hunt, the environment and the Inughuit way of life. These details make the writing feel authentic and respectful.

Specific detail also supports her balanced viewpoint. She does not just describe her emotions; she gives the reader enough context to understand why the hunt matters.

Balanced language

Herbert’s language does not turn the hunters into villains. Instead, she often presents them as skilled, patient and deeply connected to their environment. This balanced language is important because it prevents the extract from becoming a simple anti-hunting argument.

Structure: how the extract builds tension

The structure of the extract moves from context, to waiting, to action, to reflection. This helps the reader experience the hunt as a slow build-up rather than a sudden event.

Opening: context and understanding

The extract first helps us understand the Arctic environment and the Inughuit relationship with hunting. This slows the pace and gives the reader background before the hunt itself.

Middle: waiting and anticipation

The waiting creates tension. The hunters must be patient and alert. Herbert’s focus on stillness makes the reader expect something sudden to happen.

Climax: the hunt

When the narwhals appear and the hunt begins, the pace becomes more urgent. The movement from stillness to action makes the violence more dramatic.

Ending: reflection

After the hunt, the focus returns to Herbert’s thoughts. This reflective ending is important because the extract is not just about what happened; it is about what the experience made her feel and question.

Tone: what the writing feels like

The tone changes across the extract:

• Respectful when Herbert explains Inughuit culture.
• Awe-filled when she presents the Arctic landscape and the narwhal.
• Tense during the waiting and hunt.
• Reflective and uneasy when she considers the moral problem.

This shifting tone mirrors Herbert’s divided feelings.

Key moments to remember

The Arctic setting

The landscape establishes scale, danger and beauty. It reminds us that the hunt happens in a place where survival is difficult.

The appearance of the narwhal

The narwhal is not presented as ordinary prey. Its beauty and rarity make the hunt emotionally charged.

The hunters waiting

This moment shows discipline, patience and traditional skill. It also builds suspense.

The kill and aftermath

This is where Herbert’s moral conflict becomes strongest. She understands why the hunt happens, but she cannot be emotionally detached from the animal’s death.

AO3: making comparisons

AO3 rewards your ability to explore links and connections between writers’ ideas and perspectives. In Component 1 Section A, you may need to compare this anthology text with an unseen non-fiction text.

For The Explorer’s Daughter, useful comparison angles include:

• attitudes to nature
• presentation of danger
• respect for different cultures
• emotional conflict
• survival in extreme conditions
• whether the writer is an insider, outsider or both

A strong comparison does not just say “both texts are about nature”. It explains how each writer presents nature and why their perspectives differ.

Mini paragraph model

Herbert presents the hunt as morally complex by contrasting the beauty of the narwhal with the practical needs of the Inughuit. The association of the narwhal with the “unicorn of the sea” makes the animal seem rare, magical and innocent, which increases the reader’s sympathy for it. However, Herbert also gives cultural and environmental context, showing that hunting is connected to survival rather than entertainment. This balanced presentation encourages the reader to respect the hunters while still feeling the emotional discomfort that Herbert herself experiences.