This article uses a wide range of styles in rhetorical, figurative and structural senses. Entirely, there are examples of the story within a story, irony, juxtaposition, description in a piece that takes a narrative orientation.
Story within a story
William uses one plot to relate other stories that prevent the flow. While his focus is on telling Tompkins endeavors, there are times when reciting other stories in the interest of depicting the Chilean setting and the characteristics of the natives. An instance is when he hires a truck driver to take him to Tompkins residence. The author paints the perception of the natives about Tompkins and his forest activities by portraying his conversation and interview of sought with the truck driver. By telling the reader what he conversed with the truck driver, we get to know what the natives thought of Tompkins wives. In an earlier story of the narrators encounter with the governor, we get to know what the authorities in the Province of Palena thought of foreigners and their attitude towards them.
Irony
At the start of the story, the narrator meets with the administrator of the province of Palena. The governor helps in advancing irony in the activities of Tompkins. To him, it is ironical that Tompkins does seek to save forests from encroachment yet he uses wood to construct and for fuel. Besides, Tompkins ironically opposes the use of electricity by the natives when he uses generators to power his garden. He also, contrary to his opposition of mechanization and use of machines, ironically flies airplanes. He also contradicts his advocacy for animal-powered farms by employing machines such as tractors. Most of the Chilean natives view the goodness of foreigners in an ironical sense. They believe that Americans are never genuine in the goodness and show goodness to advance their selfish needs.
Juxtaposition
There is a juxtaposition between the governor of Palena on one hand and Tompkins on the other over their understanding of deep ecology and its values. The governor depicted as being intolerant and uncomely. He does not take the imagination of foreigners and shows contempt for them. On the other hand, Tompkins is depicted as a person given to service of others and tolerates all odds, endures and perseveres even after misconceiving his ideas. There is also a juxtaposition of the conditions in North America as represented by U.S.A and South America. It is terms of progress in business and agriculture. It portrays South America as backward and with an economy that is not well differentiated. It is also the recipient of the philanthropy of the west. U.S.A where Tompkins came from is portrayed as a centre of business, advancement and civilization.
Description
The story takes the form of description of events. It does this by using a vivid portrayal of events. From the start to end, the narrator employs a descriptive language in the way events are related. When the article begins, the narrator gives a vivid description of the landscape, terrain and vegetative setting of the province of Palena. The author describes Palena as “mountainous land of virgin valleys and steep-walled fjords, a labyrinthine wilderness inhabited by a scattering of peasant settlers who cling to its shores, fearing the evils of the deeper forest.” Sentences are dedicated to portray situations to levels that readers can picture. When going to meet Tompkins, the narrator hired a driver of the truck whom he describes wholesomely in size, occupation and background, “small, fine-featured man, a diesel mechanic with a young family in Chaitén.” It is one conspicuous characteristic of the whole article that employs highly descriptive language. Perhaps the most intriguing description is that of Tompkins. The narrator describes his nasal accent sparse voice and age suggesting that he looked old for his age, but also ‘fleetingly boyish.'
Narration
The article is entirely a narrative that focuses on relating events and passing them on. It also recalls events, circumstances for the mere purpose of it with no interest of proving appoint or defending an assertion. The narrator uses a descriptive motif to achieve his purposes and does little to influence the agreeability of the positions that the narration presents. The narration is also impersonalized with a little infusion of the thinking or attitudes of the narrator in the course of events. He stands aloof as an observer who records events, interviews people and pastes them descriptively to the reader. In the end, it is upon the reader to judge on the issues of contention in the narration.
In its stylistic devices, it takes a reporter’s orientation who describes scenarios, phenomena and the environmental for the reason of appearing as factual as possible. It is not an opinionated piece that involves argumentation, but rather a relation of happenings, illustration of facts and interpretation of certain pertinent issues affecting the mission of Tompkins in Palena. His activity as a purist who loves a plain life is well demonstrated without showing how good or bad it is. These are methods and styles that are used by most journalists who explain facts and opinions without influencing the judgment of readers.
