IGCSE paper 2 question 2: Writer's Effect

Writer's Effect Practice

Choose words and phrases and explain how the writer creates effects through these descriptions.

I reached over to grab his outstretched hand but as our fingers were about to touch, I was engulfed in darkness. There was no transition at all, no sense of approaching danger. It was as if I had suddenly gone blind and deaf.

I was aware that my legs were surrounded by water, but my top half was almost dry. I seemed to be trapped in something slimy. There was a terrible, sulphurous smell, like rotten eggs, and a tremendous pressure against my chest. My arms were trapped but I managed to free one hand and felt around – my palm passed through the wiry bristles of the hippo’s snout. It was only then that I realised I was underwater, trapped up to my waist in his mouth.

I wriggled as hard as I could, and in the few seconds for which he opened his jaws, I managed to escape. I swam towards Evans, but the hippo struck again, dragging me back under the surface. I’d never heard of a hippo attacking repeatedly like this, but he clearly wanted me dead.

 ANSWER:  The word "outstretched" hand signifies the writer's desperate attempt to save himself. “Engulfed in darkness” signifies the writer could see absolutely nothing apart from darkness. He was literally swallowed in darkness. “no transition at all” signifies he hardly had any time to react to the attack, and escape. It was a swift move, with absolutely no noticed gap. The reader is also confused at this sudden move.
The writer has used 'tremendous' to create kinesthetic imagery. He has highlighted the pressure felt, and also his inability to do anything against the pressure. 

The use of senses is employed in “terrible, sulphurous smell, like rotten eggs”. Each word in the series, emphasizes and describes the smell more detailed. This attracts the attention of the reader, and paints a picture.
“the wiry bristles of the hippo’s snout” is another phrase that highlights the sense of touch. It enables reader to imagine how the hippo’s snout feels, channeling the writer’s feelings whilst stuck halfway in its mouth.
The writer felt as if he suddenly became “blind and deaf” portrays his shock, and inability to make an immediate response to change in situation. A reader can experience this shock, and lack of self consciousness to make a move.

"Wriggled" is another word that creates visual imagery portraying the difficulty with which the character freed himself.